Half Moon Bay Odd Fellows Film Series ~ "Free for All: The Public Library"

Half Moon Bay Odd Fellows, Half Moon Bay Public Library, and Friends of the Library are proud to co-present FREE FOR ALL: THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, the extraordinary story of how a simple yet powerful idea shaped a nation, and the quiet revolutionaries who made it happen.

Director: Dawn Logsdon
Producer: Lucie Faulknor

A beloved American institution, the public library’s founding principle is simple: build a place where anyone can enter, free of charge, and encounter a universe of ideas. “Free for All: The Public Library” chronicles the fascinating evolution of the American public library’s trajectory, from the original “Free Library Movement” that began in the late 19th century to the present, when many libraries find themselves caught in the crosshairs of the culture wars and struggling to survive amid budget cuts and closures.

By the time she was 12, director Dawn Logsdon had visited over 100 libraries in almost every state as she and her teacher-parents road-tripped across America during their summer vacations. In “Free for All,” she and co-director Faulknor embark on a new journey – a fun and eye-opening jaunt from Louisiana to California, Massachusetts to Wisconsin, New York to Oregon, and more, visiting landmark sites in library history and uncovering the stories of the colorful personalities who shaped our libraries and the communities they serve. The film highlights inspiring librarians, past and present, mostly women dedicated to upholding the library’s integral position within our democracy, spreading literacy, offering solace and refuge, and uplifting their communities.

Join us for a Q&A with the filmmakers following the film

Thanks to Friends of Half Moon Bay Library, the film is Free For All!
No admission fee.

Please reserve your seats. Space is limited.