The book might be better than the movie, but the silver screen isn't the only place to see your favorite novels come to life.

Many of this season’s offerings at New Bedford's Zeiterion Performing Arts Center have a literary bent, and Susan Pizzolato hopes that will translate into more library patrons in the theater.

Pizzolato, the Director of Mattapoisett Library, said, “We often talk about books made into movies but books performed on the stage seemed very exciting to me and something library patrons might like to know more about.”

The Z, as the Zeiterion is commonly called, offers discounts to many of its performances for cardholders in the SAILS Library Network, which includes Mattapoisett, Plumb, and Taber Libraries.

“That’s been my interest, bringing library patrons the opportunity to see literary performances at the Z. It’s another reason to have a free library card,” said Pizzolato.

As a member of the SAILS board, Pizzolato said she has been encouraging libraries along the South Coast to spread the word about the Z’s programs and to use them as an opportunity to create complementary programming.

In the lead up to a performance of “Pride and Prejudice” at the Z, The Mattapoisett Library had a showing of the classic Laurence Olivier movie version with snacks from the “The Jane Austen Cookbook.”

“It’s important for cultural institutions to support one another,” said Pizzolato. “We shouldn’t be in competition with our calendars and dollars. We need to work together.”

Pizzolato is also excited about the November 17 poetry event “Women, Words and Power: An Evening with Marge Piercy,” part of the Z’s Women’s Voices Series.

“Marge Piercy is certainly a celebrity when it comes to poetry and women’s voices,” said Pizzolato, herself a poet. “I think it’s going to be a very moving evening.”

With 125 seats on the Zeiterion’s stage, Pizzolato said the evening will be a unique opportunity to celebrate women, poetry and theater.

At only $10 a ticket, Pizzolato said, “It makes it affordable for students as well as folks who think they can’t afford a ticket to the theater.”

In February, the Z will bring its next literary performance with “The Secret Life of Bees,” based on the best-selling book of the same name.

For more information on the Z’s collaboration with the SAILS Library Network and its upcoming shows, visit www.zeiteron.com.