Writers Read Their Works in Latest Literary Series : Books: ‘Racing Toward the Millennium’ focuses on eight authors of the West.

The Los Angeles Public Library and the Museum of Contemporary Art will present “Racing Toward the Millennium: Voices From the American West,” a new literary series to begin Sunday.

The eight events, featuring author readings and discussion, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sundays at Central Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium or MOCA’s Ahmanson Auditorium.

In conjunction with the series, a group of high school-age writers will be invited to participate in master classes conducted by the writers.

On Sunday, Barry Lopez, author of the National Book Award winner “Arctic Dreams,” and “Of Wolves and Men,” will read at Mark Taper Auditorium.

William T. Vollman, whose partially completed seven novels “Seven Dreams” explore the history of the North American continent, will appear Feb. 5 at Mark Taper Auditorium.

Poet, novelist and translator Ana Castillo will read Feb. 26 at Ahmanson Auditorium.

On March 5, California writer Gretel Ehrlich, author of novels, short stories, poetry and essays, will read at Ahmanson Auditorium. Also at the Ahmanson on April 23, will be Lars Eighner, author of “Travels With Lisbeth: Three Years on the Road and on the Street.”

Lawrence Ferlinghetti will read May 7 at Mark Taper Auditorium and Susan Griffin will appear May 21 at Ahmanson Auditorium.

Reading on June 4 at Mark Taper Auditorium will be Richard Rodriguez, whose essays and autobiography “Hunger of Memory” explore alienation, assimilation, growing up and education.

The series will conclude with “Will Books Become Obsolete?” on June 17. West Coast publishers of books and CD-ROMs will discuss the future of publishing at this free symposium, sponsored with PEN Center USA West, at Mark Taper Auditorium.

Series tickets are $35. Single tickets are $5 in advance or $7.50 at the door. For tickets, call MOCA, (213) 626-6828.