Back in spring, we asked members of The September Project about the future of the project. In particular, we asked whether or not the project – now in its 8th year – should continue.
Some of you answered, absolutely, the project should continue:
“Freedom, community, etc. do not go out of style, and new generations need to hear the message.”
“In this time when anti-intellectuals, intolerant people, and the ignorant are rampant, we need things like The September Project. If anything, it needs to expand.”
And some of you answered, it’s time for the project to end:
“When the September Project drifted away from its original purpose of remembering 9/11 in a coordinated movement it lost its interest to me.”
“Programming occurs year round. No need to designate events in September as The September Project in order to attract audiences.”
Much of what we heard from you were statements encouraging us to continue the project. One such statement was particularly moving:
“I think the September Project taps into the essential purpose of libraries in our community and our world. While we could do this alone, I think doing it together makes the message so much more powerful. It links us to something outside our community and it forges a bond for our common purpose. It also helps draw attention by the media by being something bigger than just our communities. Please let’s find a way to keep this project going for years to come.”
Let’s find a way: welcome to The September Project 2010!
This year, we’d like YOU to help contribute content by blogging on our site about events, about ideas, and about your library’s participation. We’re not asking for much; if a group of people blog a few times, we’ll have more community-inspired content providing a more rich experience for participants.
If you plan to participate in the project this year, please consider writing just one blog post. The more voices, the stronger the community.
If you are interested, please contact us – either by email, by replying to the mailing list, or, preferably, by adding a comment below.
Soon we’ll post more information about this year’s project, but in the meantime we want to welcome all of you to The September Project 2010.
At Flagler, we continue the remembrance with a special September 11 program hosted by a young fireman who speaks about what happened on that date. In addition to his verbal presentation, he has a slide show and various equipment to demonstrate what a fireman has to don during a response. This year a retired fireman will join his presentation with a photo display of September 11. By sticking to the main theme, it keeps the public aware of such a tragic event, its ramifications and how it should never be forgotten.
YAY! The September Project lives! I had hesitated writing, worried that my worst fears would be realized. But this morning, you and the Project were so prominent in my getting ready for work thoughts, I decided I had to inquire as to its fate. I turned on my computer, and much to my excitement, there you were! I can’t lie…an audible “whoop” escaped my lips.
Yes, the Goffstown Public Library will be there! Yes, we will throw open our doors for 24 hours on 9/11! Yes, we will celebrate Banned Books Week! Yes, we will show the movie “Taking Chance”! Yes, we will continue our helmet liner knit a thon, which was begun during last year’s September Project and has thus far produced nearly 700 helmet liners for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yes, we will have on display materials from the Long Island Coalition Against Censorship. Yes, we will host book discussions on “Horse Soldiers” and “Band of Sisters”. Yes, we will continue to spearhead efforts to develop information, resources and community support for families and loved ones involved in the deployment cycle through our involvement with the Goffstown Area Deployed Family Support Group. Yes, yes, yes! And this is just the beginning as we continue our mission to Inspire, Challenge, Engage!
Since 2002, I have honored September 11th with some special reading, display or movie. In 2009 we watched Man on Wire and sent a letter to M. Petit. In the past, we have talked about the dog heroes, tugboat heroes and I will never stop reminding the students about what a wonderful country we live in. I will continue that tradition this year with
14 Cows for America
by Carmen Agra Deedy, Thomas González (Illustrator), Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah.
I just returned from a trip to Africa( So. Africa,Tanzania, and Kenya) which my students have been hearing the planning for during the past school year. During my travels, I was able to visit a Maasai village and school. My students will hear about my visit in connection with September 11th and how that event has impacted the world.
When I arrived on Miami University’s campus in 2007, I collaborated with the librarians of King Libraries and Wertz Art and Architecture and introduced The September Project to our campus. The students American Studies 301: Practice of American Studies have hosted listening sessions, commemorations, and displays in campus libraries. In previous years, these events culminated in an exhibition in which non-art students make assemblage art that represents what they think it means to be an American in the post-9/11 world.
We will continue the tradition this year.
I hope others will too?
the Saint Martin’s University O’Grady library is participating!
Our focus is how libraries can help explore controversial topics.
A Digital Journalism class will explore the controversy surrounding the Olympia food co-op’s decision to boycott Israeli products (on a local scale) and issues surrounding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (on a global scale).
The Digital Journalism students will research the topic and create a slide show which will include 40-80 quotes, various sources and images, representing multiple perspectives on the issue. The slide show will run on the library wall monitors during a week in September. This slide show will also be made available online.
It’s official: Add King Library at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA to the list. It was a little wishful typing when I last posted, but I have the official permissions now. American Studies undergraduate students have been leading classroom conversations about our program. We will take it to the patio of our main campus library on September 10 between 11-1p.m.
Thanks for providing the inspiration to get us to think, act, reflect, and remember.
The Clairemont Library in San Diego, CA will honor September 11th by hosting a presentation by Colonial Educators called “Overview of Early Years of Colonial America”. This program also fits into the National Endowment for the Humanities bookshelf grant that we received called “A More Perfect Union”. We will have programs through April 2011 based on American history.
Portland State Library Special Collections Presents
The Making of the Documentary Film, The Seventh Day,
a September Project & Banned Books Week 2010 Exhibit
September 27 through December 10, 2010
Branford P. Millar Library
1875 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR 97201
In May 1970, student film makers from Portland State University’s Center for the Moving Image (CMI) grabbed their cameras and waded into the chaos of the campus “strike”, a student protest in the park blocks that culminated with violent police action. The Seventh Day, a dynamic and adept documentary, was recently selected by the National Film Preservation Foundation for preservation treatment. This Special Collections exhibit highlights production notes and other materials from the making of the film as well as historical documents from the Center for the Moving Image, Portland State’s film making and film studies program that launched the careers of numerous film and video artists and film studies scholars.
CMI was particularly strong in documentary film making and one of its best surviving examples of its work is The Seventh Day.The student strike was staged in response to the illegal bombing of Cambodia, and also, on May 4, 1970, the shootings of student protesters by the National Guard at Kent State University. Shot during the actual strike, The Seventh Day seamlessly integrates dynamic crowd shots, both impromptu and scheduled interviews, and footage shot directly in the mix as police descend on protesters and cars ram barricades.
A compelling documentary enveloping the scope of the 1st amendment, The Seventh Day is an extraordinary example of the right to the freedom of expression.
The September Project
Started in 2004 in response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, global academic and public libraries have come together in an international effort to support peace by connecting the world one library at a time. The Portland State University Library has participated in this grassroots project since 2005. For more information, visit http://theseptemberproject.org/.