Class of 1965 Term Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania Jamal J. Elias will present the last of a series of three Willis D. Wood Distinguished Lectures in Islam about "Islam, Mis/Representation, and the Defenders of God." Elias is interested in Islamic intellectual history in the Middle East and South Asia. He has written several books, including "The Throne Carrier of God" (1995) and "Death Before Dying: The Sufi Poems of Sultan Bahu" (1998), which is a translated collection of Sufi poetry from "South Asia and Islam" (2002). (4:30 p.m., Wed., Paino Lecture Room, Earth Sciences Building. No admission charge.)

The Friends of the Library will host a roundtable discussion called "The Truth About the Future of the Library: Amherst College and Beyond" about the future role of the library at Amherst, and those elsewhere. A panel will facilitate discussions. It includes Oxford University Press Vice President and Publisher Niko Pfund '87; Dean of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois John Unsworth '81; Friends of the Amherst College Library Vice Chairman Paul Ruxin '65; Professor of American Studies and History Marni Sandweiss; and Professor of Classics Rebecca Sinos. (3 p.m., Fri., Robert Frost Library. No admission charge.)

The Emily Dickinson Museum's celebration of National Poetry Month, named after her poem "A Little Madness in the Spring," happens at Amherst this weekend. There will be a variety of inspirational lectures and programs. The event will pay special tribute to Carlo, Dickinson's dog -a perennial companion to the poet during her last years. For a full schedule of events, visit www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/events.html. (11 a.m., Sat. and 12:30 p.m., Sun., Amherst Women's Club. No admission charge but reservations recommended at nfischlein@emilydickinsonmuseum.org.)

Amherst Christian Fellowship presents "Amherst's Got Talent," styled after Bravo's "America's Got Talent." The performances will be randomly selected from submissions collected from the audience before the show, so be prepared to perform! (6:30 p.m., Fri., Friedmann Room, Keefe Campus Center. No admission charge.)