Q: AppleWorks; Shared Library Error

Whenever I try to open any of my CWK files or the application "AppleWorks" I receive the following prompt:

Application Launch Failure
The application "AppleWorks" could not be launched because of a shared library error: "<AppleWorks><MW_MSL.PPC.Shlb><InterfaceLib><>"

If anyone could shed some light on this, it would be greatly appreciated.
Also, if anyone knows of a free word processing program, I would be very appreciative to know about it. I don't have anything to open CWK files with and I need them open!

Thanks in advance,
-Shepherd