Library events planned for September Project

The Sno-Isle Regional Library System plans these events for Saturday as part of the September Project:

* Arlington Library: Music in the stacks, with Paul Nyenhuis and Alex Gerber, 2-4 p.m.

* Brier Library: Register to vote, share stories about America, or make a craft, all day.

* Darrington Library: Book and bulletin board displays; all-day patriotic craft project.

* Edmonds Library: Community discussion, Remembering Sept. 11, facilitated by managing librarian Evie Wilson-Lingbloom and Edmonds City Council member Mauri Moore, 2-5 p.m.

* Freeland Library: Register to vote all day.

* Lake Stevens Library: Register to vote. Book display of titles about Sept. 11, terrorism, patriotism, war and related subjects. All day.

* Mill Creek Library: Month-long essay contest to share views about America. Preschool story times all month feature stories and activities about community helpers, including police, firefighters and librarians.

* Monroe Library: Essay contest, in English or Spanish, addressing themes about America.

* Mukilteo Library: Display of Sept. 11 materials.

* Oak Harbor Library: Building community through story and song with storyteller Jill Johnson, 3:30-4:30 p.m., all ages.

* Stanwood Library: Community Day of Remembrance, featuring city, police and fire department officials. Teresa Bateman, author of “Red, White, Blue and Uncle Who?” will talk about symbols of the United States, 1-3 p.m.

* Sultan Library: Book display and essay contest.

Libraries hope to start a Sept. 11 tradition of hope

It’s a day that changed the country. Founders of the September Project hope it won’t be a day of silence.

“Sept. 11 is an important day that engages all of us,” said David Silver, an assistant professor of communications at the University of Washington in Seattle. “It’s a day for discussion and dialogue.”

Silver and Sarah Washburn, formerly with the Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation U.S. Library Program, hatched an idea to get that conversation going. The aim is for libraries to help people explore the nature of democracy, citizenship and patriotism on this and every Sept. 11.

From Seattle, the September Project has spread around the world. At last count, libraries in about 450 communities in 48 states and seven countries plan to host programs on Saturday.

In Snohomish and Island counties, there will be music, essay contests, patriotic craft making, storytelling, Sept. 11 book displays and plain talk at libraries.

“We tossed the September Project idea out, and they went to work,” said Mary Kelly, community relations manager for the Sno-Isle Regional Library System. “What you see in the list of events is creativity and imagination.”

At the Stanwood Library, a community day of remembrance will include city officials, crafts and author Teresa Bateman talking about symbols of the United States.

The Edmonds Library invites the public to a community discussion from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday led by managing librarian Evie Wilson-Lingbloom and Edmonds City Council member Mauri Moore.

“I’m hoping people will feel comfortable addressing some of the issues around that catastrophic event, sharing a bit about where they were, talking about how the world has changed and the impact of Sept. 11 on freedom and democracy,” Wilson-Lingbloom said.

The Edmonds gathering will have guidelines. “We want people to be respectful of other opinions, avoid politicizing this event, and not express any racist or anti-Muslim views,” she added.

“If we had someone say something like that, I’d remind them that we have people of that faith in the United States who are American citizens who do not share the hatred that is directed against us. We don’t want racial bigotry to take over the discussion,” Wilson-Lingbloom said. “I do think it would be legitimate to discuss the extreme religious viewpoint, which is actually part of the 9-11 commission report. I think that’s valid ,and I understand that point of view. I would need to be respectful also.

“There are extreme points of view on both sides. It’s going to be interesting,” she said.

Funding from the UW’s Simpson Center for the Humanities helped get the September Project off the ground. Libraries were encouraged to include voter registration at events.

The setting was an obvious choice.

“Walking by the new library being built in downtown Seattle, it came to me. There’s a reason we didn’t use bowling alleys,” Silver said. “Libraries are sacred spaces. They are distributed across America, and they’re free. We believe information is sorely needed. Information can revitalize democracy.”

Edmonds librarian Wilson-Lingbloom is reading “The 9/11 Commission Report,” the result of months of investigation by a bipartisan panel. She’s finding the book well-written and accessible, and said it’s popular with library patrons.

After three years, the shock of that day has been distilled by politicians, journalists, artists and filmmakers.

“That day, I was in Nashville, Tenn., with a return ticket on American Airlines. I saw the second plane hit the building,” Wilson-Lingbloom said. “Those images, you don’t forget.”

September Project events touch on the magnitude of Sept. 11. Around the nation, subjects range from the Patriot Act to proper folding of the American flag.

“This is our country,” Silver said. “All of us have something to say about it.”

Columnist Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460 or muhlsteinjulie@heraldnet.com

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