Trinidad Library Hosts Teen Book to Movie Discussion Series

The Trinidad Carnegie Public Library welcomed local fifth through seventh graders to a monthly book to movie discussion on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 202 N. Animas. Participants read a juvenile or young adult book in advance and then met on the third Saturday of the month to view the film adaptation together. After the screening, attendees compared similarities and differences between the text and the movie and evaluated how each medium told the story.

The event is part of a recurring program the library offers to engage middle grade students in critical thinking about narrative, character development, and adaptation choices. By pairing literature with its cinematic counterpart, the program provides a practical way for young residents to develop media literacy, practice discussion skills, and build a habit of reading outside the classroom. Holding the meeting on a weekend afternoon makes the program accessible to students and families balancing school and extracurricular schedules.

Local libraries serve as hubs for informal learning and civic life in Las Animas County. The Trinidad Carnegie Public Library’s emphasis on youth programming supports broader community goals for educational access and out of school enrichment. Regular events like the monthly book to movie discussion help sustain ongoing relationships between the library and area schools, and offer parents and caregivers a free option for constructive, social activities for children.

For students, the immediate benefit is a structured space to share reactions and deepen comprehension through comparison of different storytelling forms. For the community, the program reinforces the library’s role in promoting lifelong learning and in creating safe public spaces for youth engagement. As the library continues the series on subsequent third Saturdays, the program can help maintain steady participation among young readers and contribute to a culture of reading in Trinidad and the wider county.