Prendergast Library will show two films during the first week of its Big Read 2011 celebration.

The first is a 34-minute documentary about Edgar Allan Poe as a poet scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, in the Fireplace Room.

Called “Edgar Allan Poe: A Journey in Verse,” it is part of the Master Poets collection and includes classics such as “The Raven,” “Annabel Lee” and “The City in the Sea.”

The second film, “Slightly Scary Movies and Spine-tingling Tales,” has been selected by the Children’s Room for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. 

It includes “The Teacher from the Black Lagoon,” “What’s Under My Bed?,” “The Three Robbers,” “Teeny-Tiny and the Witch-Woman,” “The Boy with Two Shadows,” “Space Case” and “The Witch in the Cherry Tree.” Those attending may stay and watch as many of the tales as they like.

In cooperation with SUNY Fredonia, members of the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System are featuring Poe’s stories and poems this year during The Big Read, an annual effort to encourage appreciation of literature. 

The National Endowment for the Arts presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.

Prendergast Library is located at 509 Cherry St., Jamestown. For more information, call 484-7135, Ext. 225, about the documentary or Ext. 234 about the children’s selection.