Beverly Holmes Hughes, the Director of the Sugar Grove Public Library (IL) recently shared with us that her library is once again participating in the September Project. After knowing Beverly through 
her posts and her library’s events over the years, David and I had an opportunity to meet Beverly during a visit to the Bensenville Public Library while we were in Chicago for ALA. It was a pleasure to put a face to her name and voice to her words.
One year I was able to participate in a global event hosted at Sugar Grove and at the National Library Board of Singapore.
Ivan Chew and Beverly organized a teen event that took place completely online using Instant Messenger, where teens from different sides of the world–Illinois, Singapore–discussed how they were different and how they were the same. It was a remarkable event, embodying my personal dreams for the September Project of bringing people together to learn from each other, to be challenged, and to consider a better world. I was honored to be a part of this inspired September Project event, and it remains one of my most treasured library experiences. Thanks, Beverly and Ivan.
Following is Sugar Grove’s 2008 program:
Libraries Remember, September 11, 2001
The Sugar Grove Public Library (IL) will be joining with other libraries across the nation in a day of remembrance and celebration. According to Bill Erbes, of the Bensenville Community Library “libraries represent the sum of all human knowledge, and they represent equal access to that knowledge. Libraries represent freedom of expression, celebration of diversity, a playing field that is level, preservation of heritage, and commitment to the future.”
The Sugar Grove Public Library will open our doors for service at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2008 and remain open for 24 hours. During this time we will host Ceremonies at our Flag Pole, provide the opportunity for community gatherings, and library business as usual. Sugar Grove Library Friends will be hosting a Coffee/ Snack Bar throughout the event in addition to their membership drive and silent auction.
On this day we are hosting the Sugar Grove Chamber of Commerce & Industry for their monthly meeting. Their meeting will be on our lawn as a community picnic. Mr. Ed Huss, Veteran and Local Activist, will be our speaker, his topic is “Being Patriotic.”
Library staff will encourage people to register to vote on this day. The Library will sponsor hourly door prize drawings for gift books. A gift book is a book placed in the library collection in honor or memory of an individual or group of your choice. We invite you to join us throughout this 24 hours remembrance to read, reflect and resonate with pride in celebration of our American freedoms.
