The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., will host the free program, “A Merry Christmas Carol: Dickens’s Holiday Novel,” at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 17.

The program will be presented by Joseph W. Smith III, a local retired English teacher, speaker, film critic, journalist and author who currently writes for Webb Weekly, West Branch Life, NorthcentralPa.com and more.

Marley was dead, to begin with. But of course, “A Christmas Carol” is still very much alive – after nearly 200 years. Smith will discuss the world’s most beloved holiday book; examine Dickens and how he created the novel; share the book’s various symbols, meanings and trivia; and have a “spirited” debate about which movie version is the best.

Smith has a master’s degree in English and American Literature from New York University. He is the author of eight books, including “How to Write a Research Paper,” “The Best of Doug Smith” and “The Best Movies You Never Saw.”

The program will be presented in the Lowry Room on the third floor of the Welch Children’s Wing. Registration is required and may be made by visiting https://jvbrown.libcal.com/event/13233990 or calling 570-326-0536.

A complete listing of all library programs is available at calendar.jvbrown.edu.

This program supports the PA Forward state initiative by providing social and civic literacy opportunities for learning and highlighting the transformative nature of public libraries within a community.

The James V. Brown Library is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. To place a hold, visit www.jvbrown.edu or call 570-326-0536 during the library’s operating hours. Walk-in passport services are available from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., Williamsport, Pa., is the place to go to learn, connect and grow. Founded in June 1907, the library champions the love of reading, opens new doors to lifelong learning, provides a haven to those who seek and ensures the preservation of public library services for future generations. The library has more than 225,000 visitors in a year and circulates a half-million items annually. A member of the Lycoming County Library System, the James V. Brown Library participates in PA Forward, a statewide initiative to promote literacies in our communities to power a better future for everyone.