Update from The (Booming!) September Project
As many of you know, The September Project is a coordinated effort to encourage people around the world to attend public places like libraries on September 11 and engage in talks, deliberations, and performances about democracy and citizenship. All events are free and public. Click below to read the Project's July 1, 2004 update, which includes news about the 101 libraries that are currently involved, the American Library Association meeting that David and Sarah attended recently, and about the Project's surprising international reach. You can also reach more about the Project in NCDD's new feature, "The De-Polarization of America."
There is so much going on right now. So ready yourself for a long email!
The number of states participating in the project continues to grow. We are currently working with 101 libraries and schools in 23 states: Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. (If you are reading this list and do not see your state, please do your best to correct this!) Some states are filled with red pins, like Texas and Illinois, a result of a number of individuals using various networks - digital and otherwise - to spread the word. www.com.washington.edu/september/map.asp
Sarah and I hope you all will share your outreach strategies with the list. What kind of library networks - local, regional, state, national, international - exist and how can we use them most effectively?
Discussion Forum
As a means to share all of our ideas and spark new ones, we have changed the announcement list into a discussion forum. That means that instead of only Sarah and I posting messages to the list, all subscribers can now post. We are excited to make this change because we are receiving so many great ideas that need to be shared. May the discussions be inspired! Sign up for the discussion forum.
Library Spotlight
The state of New Jersey has just launched the New Jersey Libraries September Project. This is a simply a great idea. The project is a collaboration among the New Jersey State Library, New Jersey Library Association, Rutgers School of Communication, Information and Library Studies, Central Jersey Regional Library Cooperative, INFOLINK Regional Library Cooperative, South Jersey Regional Library Cooperative and Highlands Regional Library Cooperative, and is directed by Peggy Cadigan. It is exciting to witness people organizing on a state-wide level!
American Library Association Meeting
The ALA meeting in Orlando was incredible. Sarah and I talked to librarians from all over the world and attended many inspiring sessions. One session titled "Libraries and Community: Fostering Civic Engagement in your Library" and moderated by Taylor Willingham (Kettering Foundation and National Issues Forums Institute) was particularly engaging. We also met Mordicai Gerstein, author of the children's book, "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers," which we believe would be an ideal children's book to read aloud in the American libraries on September 11.
International Reach
The September Project is now international. Spain's El Proyecto Septiembre is inspired and inspiring. Please take some time to visit http://septiembre.ciberpunk.org. If you do not know Spanish, you can translate it by cutting and pasting the URL into this http://babelfish.altavista.com/. Largely through David de Ugarte, Spain is in contact with folks interested in setting up similar projects in Chile, Italy, Portugal, Uruguay, and Venezuela. We expect Canada and the Netherlands to set up projects soon.
This is very exciting.
david silver and sarah washburn
www.theseptemberproject.org
The September Project is a coordinated effort to encourage people around the world to attend public places like libraries on September 11 and engage in talks, deliberations, and performances about democracy and citizenship. All events are free and public.
http://lists.drizzle.com/mailman/listinfo/theseptemberproject
