Discussion program planned at CdA library

Like the Corps of Discovery expedition itself, the upcoming “Reading Lewis and Clark” discussion program at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library may yield some surprises.

The Lewis and Clark expedition “is one of the things that people think they know about. They know what was taught in school,” said David Townsend, library public relations coordinator. “That may or may not be the whole story. We tried to get as many perspectives as we could.”

“Reading Lewis and Clark,” is part of the “Let’s Talk About It” program of the Idaho State Library to explore American values, history and culture. The program is sponsored by the state library and the Idaho Humanities Council through a grant from US Bank. Locally, the Friends of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library are providing required matching funds.

Held mostly in rural communities, “Let’s Talk About It” began in 1985. Each year the state selects 15 libraries to conduct a five-program series featuring a book and discussion centered on a theme. Discussions are conducted by an academic “scholar” familiar with history and literature.

“Reading Lewis and Clark” begins at the Coeur d’Alene library Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. with “Lewis and Clark Among the Indians” by James P. Rhonda, which studies the expedition from the viewpoint and experience of Native Americans.

Programs are spaced two weeks apart to give participants time to read the books. Subsequent programs will be:

Sept. 27, “The Essential Lewis and Clark,” by Landon Jones.

Oct. 11, “The Truth About Sacajawea,” by Kenneth Thomasma and “Sacajawea of the Lewis and Clark Expedition,” by Ella Clark and Margot Edmonds.

Oct. 25, “Sign-Talker: the Adventure of George Drouillard on the Lewis and Clark Expedition,” a fictional work by James Alexander Thom.

Nov. 8, “William Clark and the Shaping of the West,” by Landon Jones.

“Discussions on Sacajawea are always fascinating,” Townsend said, adding that not much is known about what happened to her after the Corps of Discovery. She’s “one of the persons who come into history, then goes out.”

Townsend said he is most excited about the final book in the series, “William Clark and the Shaping of the West.” It’s a new book and in the spring the author will do a reading in communities where the book was featured, so Landon Jones will appear at the library sometime then. “He’s coming here, it’s just a matter of when,” Townsend said.

An additional program will be booked as an adjunct to “Reading Lewis and Clark.” It will feature a person who took a canoe trip following the Lewis and Clark route, Townsend said.

“Reading Lewis and Clark” is open to the public. Registration is required to check out books for the program. Twenty-five copies of each book are provided by the Idaho State Library. Individuals who have not read the books also may attend the discussion.

Townsend said the library especially wants to reach young adults and middle- and high school students. Community partners for the series include history teachers at Lake City and Coeur d’Alene high schools. “We want to appeal to younger readers, but we don’t want it to entirely be an academic experience,” Townsend said. That was one reason for the fiction selection on Oct. 25.

Participants in the series “will take away a more well-rounded understanding of what happened, what (the expedition) meant to the history of the region and to our nation,” Townsend said.