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How did The September Project begin? While living in Amsterdam last summer, David Silver noticed that European television covers many issues that are not covered by American television. In public spaces, Europeans were discussing issues and events that Americans rarely discuss. He wondered what would happen if Americans gathered to discuss issues that mattered. Could such a conversation occur all over the United States, all on the same day? Cut to last November. As Silver walked past the nearly-completed Seattle Public Central Library, he realized that libraries are not only repositories of books, but are “sacred spaces for the community.” Libraries are free and open to the public. What would happen if Americans gathered at their local libraries to discuss issues that mattered? Surely Americans would be inspired to do so, especially on September 11. Silver started speaking to his friends and colleagues about this idea. In December, he spoke to librarians at the University of Washington, Seattle Public Library, and Santa Cruz Public Library (his mother lives in Santa Cruz). It was quickly apparent that David had found, in libraries, a national infrastructure that cares. The librarians loved the idea of The September Project because it exemplifies what librarians are all about--providing free access to information and encouraging free and open exchanges of ideas. The September Project became a reality when Sarah Washburn became co-director of the project. Before Washburn came on board, Silver’s vision was for a staff based in Seattle to plan and organize events that would occur at libraries around the country. Washburn realized that a distributed model would be easier and more successful because people living in each community would plan events that were meaningful to their communities. The project was born. All Silver and Washburn asked is that events be free, open to everyone, and touch on the themes of citizenship, democracy, and patriotism. How did The September Project jump continents? David Silver credits his friend “David from Spain” (David de Ugarte) for making the project go international. After de Ugarte heard about the project, he quickly mobilized, and 7 cities in Spain hosted events on September 11, 2004. After Spain joined the project, hosts in other countries including Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Venezuela signed up. Why did this work? It worked because people across the United States, in different communities, took ownership of their September Projects. Libraries were the physical hosts and librarians the organizers, but their collaboration with local groups, organizations, and members of the community made September 11 a day where citizens gathered to celebrate and engage in peaceful and thoughtful conversations. The September Project at the University of Washington Libraries Implementing The September Project at the University of Washington (UW) proved a challenge, as Fall Quarter did not begin until September 29. Led by Jessica Albano, a small group of staff met and decided to pursue a combination of programming and displays that would begin in September and run into October. All three UW campuses actively participated, with many individual staff members volunteering their time and creative energies to pull off an impressive array of programs. The University of Washington-Bothell/Cascadia Community College campus hosted a lecture series, beginning on September 11, featuring UWB professors, local citizens and nonprofit groups. Lectures on topics such as "Human Rights in an Age of Terror," "Informed by the Media," and "Who's Afraid of the Bill of Rights?" were open to both the campus community and the general public. One event was held at the Bothell Regional Library. The UWB/CCC Campus Library featured a display of artists' responses to September 11 through their books and an interactive exhibit on the Patriot Act and intellectual freedom. University of Washington-Tacoma produced a series of display posters on arresting topics -- "Libricide: Terrorism and the Destruction of Libraries;" "9/11: Views on the Street," featuring photographs and quotes from everyday people about how 9/11 has affected them; "A Day like Any Other Day," with photographs documenting one person's experience of September 11, 2001; and, finally, "In the Tideflats, Anything But a Dungeon," about the Northwest Detention Center -- a newly opened facility for undocumented immigrants in Tacoma. Programs at the University of Washington Seattle campus were centered at the Suzzallo/Allen and Odegaard Undergraduate libraries. Each day the undergraduate library showed a rotating series of films on relevant topics from their media collection. An exhibit at the entrance to the library featured the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, the United States Bill of Rights, and rights statements from around the world. Students and visitors were invited to respond to questions such as "What Does Democracy Mean to You?" by writing or drawing on a large display.
Susan Kane is the Reference and Collection Development Librarian at Odegaard Undergraduate Library, University of Washington. |
ACRL Washington
Newsletter, November 2004, No. 55 © 2004 WA/ACRL |
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