North Idaho's libraries are focusing on one of the most famous and provocative novels written by the late Ray Bradbury for the region's book-sharing and discussion program and it is operating under a new name.

North Idaho Reads is the new name and the revolutionary title at the center of a series of related activities is "Fahrenheit 451."

Under the banner of "Our Region Reads," the program last year focused on "The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet," a novel by Jamie Ford. Activities included book discussions, exhibits, a concert and even a visit by the author.

A prolific author of hundreds of short stories and close to 50 books, as well as numerous poems, essays, operas, plays, teleplays and screenplays, Bradbury was one of the most celebrated writers of our time. He died this year on June 5 at the age of 91.

And while a visit by the author won't be possible this year, North Idaho Reads has planned a series of activities - based around the theme "F451: Be the Revolution" - designed to examine how close or far away our society is to the one described by Bradbury in "Fahrenheit 451."

"The 'Be the Revolution' campaign is designed to focus on intellectual freedom and our right to think and read as we choose," notes Twylla Rehder, Outreach and Adult Programming Coordinator for the Community Library Network, and chair for the NIR committee. "Independent thinking or refusing to accept the status quo is the first act of every revolutionary and American history is full of revolutionaries."

In "F451" Bradbury describes a world where information technology has evolved to the point where books and the written word are no longer valued and are, in fact, burned along with the structure that contains them. Firemen are not firefighters, but the people sent out to put books - and sometimes people - to the torch.

North Idaho Reads activities include book and movie discussions by scholars Dr. David Adler, part of the Idaho Humanities Council Speakers Bureau, Professor George Ives, Dr. Virginia Johnson and Dr. Brian Attebury; book club discussions, the Dystopian Film Festival with screenings of the 1966 version of the "F451" film and other movies; a dramatic presentation; and special activities for teens.

The discussion will continue during Banned Books Week, Sept. 29 through Oct. 6 and during Teen Read Week, Oct. 14-20.

Futurist sci-fi author David Brim will do a virtual presentation via an Internet link at several libraries at 7 p.m. Oct. 25. Brin, author of the popular sci-fi series, "Uplift Universe," and his latest work, "Existence," is a astrophysicist and science consultant. The public is also invited to log into the presentation from their homes as well.

Activities will wrap up with a ticketed event at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center in Post Falls on Oct. 27. The "Be the Revolution Costume Party" will feature banned music performed by "The Hitmen." Prizes will be awarded for best costumes. Tickets are available through Jacklin.

In conjunction with North Idaho Reads, extra copies of the book will be available at all participating libraries: the Coeur d'Alene Public Library, The Community Library Network, the East Bonner County Library District and the West Bonner Library District.

Funding for this year's North Idaho Reads is provided by the Idaho Humanities Council as part of the "We the People" Initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional funding has been provided by Friends of the Library groups at each of the participating libraries.

Community partners for the program include the Coeur d'Alene Press and the Jacklin Arts and Culture Center.

More information, including a full schedule of events, can be found at NorthIdahoReads.org and through the North Idaho Reads Facebook page, facebook.com/NorthIdahoReads.