Burton Barr Central Library, located at 1221 N. Central Ave., will host a traveling exhibit from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, “State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda” Feb. 20 – June 1, 2014.

The free exhibition is a thought-provoking exploration of Nazi propaganda that challenges visitors to think critically about the messages they receive today. School groups and others are invited to take a guided 30-minute tour with a volunteer docent. Tours are available 10 – 11:30 a.m. and 1 – 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For school groups, the tour concludes with an activity to reinforce lessons obtained from the exhibition. Call 602-262-7939 to schedule a tour.

The library and museum will also host a series of free programs at Central Library to complement the exhibition, including:

“Hitler Youth”
10 – 11 a.m. – Tuesday, March 4 (program repeats at 1 p.m.)Author Susan Bartoletti will discuss her award-winning book, “Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler’s Shadow,” and the effect on children and young adults of World War II propaganda.

“Technology in the Hands of Haters”
7 – 8 p.m. – Wednesday, March 19
“State of Deception” curator Steven Luckert, Dr. Nancy Snow (California State University, Fullerton), and 12 News anchor and reporter Brahm Resnik explore what the Nazis might have done with the Internet and social media. Presented by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Program is open to the public; reservations are requested. Visit http://ushmm.org/events/propagandaspeakerseries/ to register.

“Deceptive Images: Nazi Propaganda, World War II and the Holocaust”
6:30 – 8 p.m. – Thursday, March 20
Panelists Dr. Steve Luckert (“State of Deception” exhibition curator) and ASU faculty – Dr. Anne Holian (moderator), Dr. Anna Cichopek-Gajraj, Dr. Daniel Gilfillan and Dr. Volker Benkert – will discuss how we find meaning in the events of World War II.

“The Image of the Enemy”
6:30 – 8 p.m. – Thursday, April 24
Dr. David Welch (University of Kent) will discuss how different countries have targeted enemies, both within and without, in the 20th century using film and television.

“Do Words Kill? Hate Speech, Propaganda and Incitement to Genocide”
6:30 – 8 p.m. – Wednesday, May 7
Panelists include U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum staff Mike Abramowitz (Director, Centerfor the Prevention of Genocide) and Elizabeth White (Center for the Prevention of Genocide),and veteran journalist Len Downie, Jr. Presented by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Program is open to the public; reservations are requested. Visit http://ushmm.org/events/propagandaspeakerseries/ to register.

“Reporting the Message: Media and Propaganda”
6:30 – 8 p.m. – Thursday, May 8
ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication faculty will examine the relationship between the media and propaganda. Panelists include Mike Abramowitz (Director, Center for the Prevention of Genocide, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum), Dr. Dawn Gilpin (moderator), Dr. Joseph Russomanno and Dr. Craig Allen. Additional support for this program provided by Engelman Berger, P.C.

State of Deception Human Library Experience
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. - Saturday, May 17
Check out a Human Book – a person with experience or expertise – for a fifteen-minute one-on-one conversation. “Books” may include a Holocaust survivor, a former internee of a Japanese Internment Camp, and a journalist.

For a complete schedule of programs visit the Phoenix Public Library website.

The exhibition is produced by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and is underwritten in part by grants from Katherine M. and Leo S. Ullman and The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, with additional support from the Lester Robbins and Sheila Johnson Robbins Traveling and Special Exhibitions Fund established in 1990 and Dr. and Mrs. Sol Center. Additional support for the Phoenix presentation of the exhibition is provided by the Rosenbluth Family Foundation and Barry and Barbara Zemel. The program series is sponsored by the Friends of the Phoenix Public Library.

For more information, call 602-262-4636. Phoenix Public Library is a system of 16 branch libraries and the Burton Barr Central Library. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/phxlibrary and “like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/phoenixpubliclibrary.   back...