The Ames Public Library hopes to reel in community members to view and discuss films from around the world with its new program, Reel Connections.

Palestine Unabridged, a film series sponsored by the Ames Interfaith Council, Arab Student Association and the Axiom Foundation, will show films starting Thursday that focus on life in Palestine.

Lynne Carey, head of adult programing at the Ames Public Library, said she hopes the Reel Connections program sparks interest in the community.

“We want to connect people in Ames regarding worldly issues though films,” she said.

Palestine Unabridged is the first set of films that will be shown in conjunction with Reel Connections.

The films, which will be shown at 7 p.m. every other Thursday in the Ames Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave., will cover everything from the history of conflict in the Middle East to everyday living in Palestine. Discussions on the films will be held the Thursday after each is shown at Cafe Diem, 323 Main St. The first film, “Rana’s Wedding,” is a comedy by Hany Abu-Assad, about a young Palestinian women looking to get married.

There has been a lot of interest expressed in Reel Connections, Carey said.

However, Carey said there were some outcries from the community regarding the library’s showing of Palestine Unabridged.

“[The library] is not taking sides,” she said.

“It’s important for the library to cover the issues and cover the voice of our community.”

Carey said the library isn’t endorsing the programing. “We are just providing the forum,” Carey said.

She said the fact the film showings will begin on Sept. 11 was a coincidence.

Sana Akili, adviser of the Arab Student Association, said she hopes the film festival will show different cultures to the Ames community.

“It’s a cultural awareness program,” Akili said.

Carey said she hopes the library will open a forum in the community to allow it to deal with different issues, such as understanding the culture of the Middle East.

“It’s important for people to talk,” Carey said. “That can only be a positive thing.”

Zaid Rabadi, a member of the Arab Student Association and sophomore in industrial engineering, said after Sept. 11 more people have been aware of issues in the Middle East.

“The films will not give the stereotypical view of Palestinians as suicide bombers,” Rabadi said. “It will help people look past that fact.”

Rabadi said the films will show the more human side of life in Palestine.