Grand Prairie Public Library System | 901 Conover Dr. | Grand Prairie, Texas 75051
Phone: 972- 237-5700 | Fax: 972-237-5750 | infodesk@gptx.org
Named for one of the first successful women directors, the collection of more than 160 films (in dvd format) showcases the exciting variety of motion pictures directed by women since the earliest days of film creation. The Loan Star Libraries grant program, sponsored by the Texas State Library, encourages and enables Texas libraries to make available materials normally out of reach to many library patrons.
Wanting to focus on both the historical and ongoing contributions of women in the motion picture arts, we decided to acquire a core collection of films directed by women, far-ranging in terms of time period, subject matter, style, and country of origin.
It is our goal to create a growing collection that becomes the most expansive and diverse library of films directed by women in the world, supported by books and other research material.
Lois Weber, for whom the collection is named, began as an actress at the Gaumont Film Company in 1905, and directed her first short feature in 1911. By 1916 she was Universal Studios’ highest-paid director. Unafraid to reflect her convictions in her work, she examined social issues such as corruption, politics, birth control, and capital punishment. Movie archivist and author Anthony Slide has described her as “certainly the most important female director the American film industry has known.” Image credit: Lois Weber, Library of Congress,
LC-DIG-ggbain-32125
In July 2011, the Grand Prairie Public Library in conjunction with the Grand Prairie Arts Council hosted the Lois Weber Film Festival at Grand Prairie's historic Uptown Theater. The weeklong festival showed 15 films, hosted 2 guest speakers, and featured performances by the Arts Council summer arts camp participants.
The Film Festival was made possible by the City of Grand Prairie and the Uptown Theater, the Grand Prairie Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Using the Collection:
Films may be checked out free of charge using a Grand Prairie library card. Library cards are free, and available to anyone with current photo id. You may also check out materials using your Texshare card.
Books and these films check out for a two-week period (Educators, please ask about longer loan periods).
Currently, there is no in-library viewing of films, except for scheduled film festivals.
For more information about the films, visit the library’s catalog at library.gptx.org (or use a terminal at one of our libraries). Search any film title, or the subject “Women motion picture producers and directors” to see a list of feature films and related books. An annotated list is also available at the Main Library Information Desk.
Our library catalog's list of feature films
Our library catalog's list of documentary films
The latest newsletter about the collection. Want to subscribe? Sign up for any of our library email newsletters.