Exploring the Cultures of Iran: A Global Project

Dr. Irina Gendelman just notified us that Saint Martin’s University O’Grady Library in Washington will participate in The September Project 2009 by educating their patrons on the history and current events of Iranian culture.

As one of the world’s oldest civilizations, Iran has contributed greatly to our understanding of literature, art, science, math and philosophy. Therefore, O’Grady Library will:

• Facilitate a discussion of Twitter and its role in recent Iranian street protests
• Show Persepolis, a film based on a graphic novel by an Iranian writer Marjane Satrapi
• Set up an interactive display on Iranian culture. Faculty and students are invited to participate by sharing their classroom assignments that explore the culture(s) of Iran. These projects will be documented and shared with libraries all over the world!

What we love so much about this September Project is that, in addition to being very informative and educational, it creatively utilizes technology to reach people around the globe. By digitally documenting the faculty and student projects, librarians will be able to share these great ideas with countless people. It is truly a global collaboration because participants get a chance to educate the world through their projects.

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“World Trade Center” Screenings

We were glad to hear from Roma Baristaite, the Chief Librarian of Lithuania’s Povilas Višinskis Šiauliai County Public Library. They will be participating in The September Project again this year by showing three screenings of Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center on September 11. The film is based on the true story of John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno, two heroic Port Authority Police Officers who become trapped in the rubble of Ground Zero.  It stars Nicolas Cage, Michael Peña and Maria Bello.

Siauliai County Povilas Visinskis Public Library participated last year by hosting a poster exhibit “September 11 by the World Press” and the documentary film 9/11.

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2009 Timberland Reads Together Program: Three Cups of Tea

Thirza Krohn, in charge of Aberdeen Timberland Library‘s Adult Services, announced that her Washington library will host storyteller Rebecca Hom who will present tales of peace, justice, and humor from the Islamic World on September 11. Their TSP event is part of their 2009 Timberland Reads Together program: Three Cups of Tea. Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin co-wrote the New York Times Bestseller about Mortenson’s real-life mission to spread freedom and hope to others by building schools in Pakistan. It shows how simple acts can make a great difference in people’s lives even from half a world away.

Aberdeen Timberland Library will have a display of patron-recommended books and will serve tea with Pakistani snacks.

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What I’d Like the World to Read!

Public Libraries Singapore has announced its What I’d Like the World to Read! For The September Project 2009. Patrons are invited to create a short video, audio or Power Point presentation on any book they choose and why they think it is important for the world to read it. Here is a sample of one of their submissions, What I’d Like the World to Read- The Giver, by Lois Lowry.




Public Libraries Singapore- Past September Projects
For the Public Libraries Singapore 2008 September Project, teens from CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School created a giant interactive game board on Our Nation’s heritage, culture and history on landmarks at the Jurong Regional Library. Patrons were then free to play the game and learn more about their community.

In a past year, Ivan Chew of the Public Libraries Singapore also hosted a global event with Beverly Holmes Hughes, the Director of the Sugar Grove Public Library (IL). They coordinated an event in which teens from Singapore communicated with teens from Illinois via Instant Messenger, discussing how their lives were different and similar. This awesome event remains a TSP favorite!

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The September Project at Hargrove Library on Mohave Community College’s Bullhead City Campus

As part of their September Project, the Hargrove Library on Mohave Community College’s Bullhead City campus will be hosting a presentation as part of their “Talking Loudly in the Library” series. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will be presenting “The Constitution and the Bill of Rights,” at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008.

As Samara Vega, Library Operations Assistant at Hargrove Library, noted in an email to the project listserv:

In preparation for this upcoming event, Hargrove Library, in conjunction with the DAR, has set up a patriotic bulletin board display. The purpose of this display and presentation is to emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution, and preserving it for posterity. The DAR seeks to encourage all citizens across the country to take some time out this week and reflect on America’s heritage of freedom by reading and studying this great document that safeguards our American liberties.

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Terrebonne (LA) perseveres and participates

The Terrebonne Parish Library has seen some tough times the past few years. Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike have all been unwelcome visitors to the community the library serves, and each year, Terrebonne comes back, a bit shaken, but strong.

We were so delighted to hear from Lauren Ledet once again, proof that her community and her library can overcome, can unite, and can persevere again and again. I’ve said it many times before: Welcome back, Terrebonne, we’re glad you’re safe.

Here’s Lauren’s report:

Hi friends,

After the last two weeks, Terrebonne has finally gotten back on its feet and is ready to (partially-fully) participate in the September Project.

Much like the 2005 hurricane season featuring Katrina and Rita, Terrebonne Parish witnessed back-to-back hurricane’s that nearly devastated the parish. First, Gustav made a direct hit on our parish with the eye making landfall on our coast and basically traveling up the entire parish. Our damages were thankfully minor (trees, power lines, roofs, and the worst: no electricity for nearly two weeks).

Then, we dodged Ike’s direct hit, but were inundated by his storm surge. Over half our parish was underwater due to the storm surge caused by Ike. In some homes, the water level reached over five feet. Luckily, no libraries were directly affected by the storm surge. For Gustav, however, we did see windows blown out and roof damage to branches, and that eventually resulted in mold growth. That’s being dealt with currently. Of our nine branches, four are back up and running, one being our book mobile!

So, because of our shortage of branches and our reopening to the public only this week, we are really having a condensed version of the program this year. On September 28 the community band will play a patriotic concert at the Main Library. Other than that, we will have a display of photographs of the USS New York, built of scrap metal from the World Trade Center that was melted down in a foundry in Amite, Louisiana, about 100 miles from Houma. We had many things scheduled here (a voter registration drive, broadcasts of presidential debates, and library card sign ups with a diplomatic twist), but I think, for now, we’ll make do with our safety, our lives, and our libraries!

Thanks,

Lauren

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A September Project and Constitution Day display at University of Washington’s Gallagher Law Library

Via the project listserv, we learned that the University of Washington’s Gallagher Law Library has designed a September Project and Constitution Day display. The display includes books on the US Constitution, democracy, and freedom.

The display was organized by Jessica Moskowitz, a Library Technician at Gallagher Law Library, a MILS student in UW’s Information School, and … a former undergraduate student of mine! Rock on Jessica!

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A world away, but not really that far: Povilas Visinskis Public Library (Lithuania)

Each year, I’m amazed and humbled by the people who join this project. Although each event is unique, libraries are united by their dedication to organizing events that reflect their communities. Events explore notions of what it means to enjoy freedom, or what a peaceful planet may look like, or how the pursuit of a better world means difficult discussions with potentially enlightening results.

These thoughts surrounded me as we heard from Roma Baristaite, of the Povilas Visinskis Public Library in Lithuania. She was kind enough to include photos of her library’s program, which truly brought to life her library, her patrons, and her community. I’ve never visited Lithuania, but now I feel a bit closer, and a lot more curious.

Roma sent several photos, and this one, above, caught my attention. The intense focus intrigued me; proof that Roma and her colleagues organized a compelling event.

Here is what Roma sent to our listserv about her library’s program:

On September 11th we watched the documentary film “9/11” (2002, USA). The participants had possibility to remember the tragic events in USA, in 2001. After the film they discussed about the situation in the USA and World today, how everything is changing after events in 2001, and what can we do, that it would never happen again.

Also there is Poster exhibition “September 11th by the World Press”. The visitors have possibility to knowledge of information, what was written in the World Press on the next day after September 11th event. This exhibition is till September 28th.”

In response to Roma’s post, another librarian, Rachel Carpenter, from the James P. Adams Library at Rhode Island College shared,

I want to let Roma Baristaite and the Povilas Visinskis Public Library know how much I appreciate reading about their September Project program and viewing the photographs. For me, this really underscores how a feeling of community with people elsewhere in the world can develop from such sharing of experiences and knowledge. I’m deeply touched. This is just what the September Project is all about. Thank you and thanks to the Project and all participating organizations.”

Nicely said, Rachel. What you describe is what David and I dreamed of five years ago, and it is overwhelming and beautiful to read your words and nod my head in agreement. Thanks to everyone for being a part of it.

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Exhibits at Bar-llan University in Israel

We are pleased to welcome another library from Israel to the September Project. Their timely event is certain to spark thoughtful, and important conversations. Gita Hoffman posted to our listserv:

Bar-Ilan University Library System, Ramat-Gan, Israel, will be exhibiting books and posters in the lobby of the Wurzweiler Central Library. The title of the exhibition is: “September 11 — Terrorism and Introspection.” The focus of the exhibition is Iranian Terror.

At the official opening of the exhibition, Dr. Ze’ev Maghen, a leading scholar on the subject will speak on: IRANIAN TERROR. Greetings will be given by the University President, Prof. Moshe Kaveh, the Assistant-Rector, Prof. Haim Taitelbaum, the US Cultural Attaché, Mr. Efraim Cohen and other dignitaries.

This timely subject is very relevant to Israel, therefore, we choose to highlight Iranian Terror, as our contribution to The September Project.”

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“For freedom!” The University of Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala participates

It is with great pleasure that we welcome the Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala as one of the latest participants in the September Project. Since I am not a Spanish speaker, I translated Luis Guillermo Pineda’s message to us using an online translator:

The Library Ludwig von Mises at the Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala City has organized the following events to commemorate the month of Freedom and Independence.

– During the first week of September were displayed in the lobby books on philosophical and ethical principles of germ independence.

– The second and third week of September will be displayed books on the history of the Independence of the United Provinces of Central americas the September 15, 1821. Also exhibited are books on the process of separation of the Province of Central americas and the consolidation of the Republic of Guatemala from the year 1839.

– The fourth week of September will have an exhibition of books commemorating the life and work of Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises (1881 – 1973). Mises is one of the greatest exponents of the Philosophy of Liberty, the defense of private property as a cornerstone of the free market and human action. (more information: http://www.biblioteca.ufm.edu/vonmises/default.asp)

For Freedom!”

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