Webster Free Circulating Library staff circa 1904.

Webster Free Circulating Library staff circa 1904.

Credit: New York Public Library

Next week, Independent Lens looks at how public libraries shaped a nation and remain a beloved sanctuary for Americans today. Take a look at what’s coming up!

A lighthouse.

View Finders: Vermont - Monday, April 28 at 9:30 PM

Chris and Paul spend time exploring Stowe and the Green Mountains of Vermont during autumn. While photographing quintessential New England scenery, they learn about conservation efforts that are preserving this land for future generations to enjoy. 

POV: The Taste of Mango - Monday, April 28 at 11 PM

Spanning three generations of women, their narratives, by turns difficult and jubilant, bear witness to the complex, ever-evolving nature of inheritance and the hurt and protection entangled within familial bonds.

Pati Jinich Explores Panamericana - Tuesday, April 29 at 9 PM

Join chef Pati Jinich on a journey inspired by the Pan-American Highway to celebrate the many cultures of the Americas and how they enrich each other. Follow her as she travels from the top of Alaska through Alberta.

Independent Lens - Free for All: The Public Library - Tuesday, April 29 at 10 PM

Hear the story of the pioneering women who helped the U.S. public library system shape a nation and how today's dedicated librarians remain dutifully protective of this beloved institution despite working in a contentious age.

A black and white photo of people in a doctor's office.

NOVA - Critical Condition: Health in Black America - Wednesday, April 30 at 9 PM

Black Americans are nearly twice as likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease than White Americans, and their life expectancy is about five years shorter. Why? In this special feature-length documentary, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Stanley Nelson investigates the dramatic health disparities in the US, even as scientists confirm that there are no meaningful genetic differences between races.