The amazing David Silver asked me to help spread the word about The September Project as September draws closer and closer. And I couldn’t think of a better place to talk about it than here - because this project connects so closely to the things we’ve been talking and writing about — about how our libraries connect and contribute to our communities.
Here’s the project in David’s words –
Welcome to the 5th annual September Project! The September Project is a grassroots effort to encourage events about freedom and democracy in all libraries in all countries during the month of September. September Project events are free and organized locally.
In 2004, we began the September Project to break the silence following September 11, and to invite all people into libraries to consider topics of patriotism, democracy, and citizenship. Initially, events focused on September 11 and largely took place on September 11. As the project evolved, events spread throughout the month of September and focused on issues of freedom and democracy.
To date, public, academic, school, and government libraries around the world have organized September Project book displays, community book readings, childrens’ art projects, film screenings, theatrical performances, civic deliberations, voter registrations, murals, panel discussions, and so much more. What will this year bring?
How can you participate? Organize an event at your library, and tell us about it! We’ll post all events on this site as they develop around the world.
One of the many great things about the September Project is that it’s both distributed and connected - and draws strength and power from both of these sources. Each library designs its own program and events and those can be and should be deeply connected into the unique communities that make up those libraries. But there’s something really powerful about all of this activity happening in all of these communities, in all of these libraries, all over the country world.
Here’s what some other libraries have done -
Multnomah County Library — events and booklist
University of Washington Libraries
I’ve just sent off the email to try and get on board this year. We don’t start classes until the end of September so timing might be tricky, but I’m excited.
thanks, anne-marie, for the blog post about the september project!
it’s exciting to see more and more academic libraries participating in the september project. we’ve also noticed over the years that because so many campuses don’t get rolling until late september (or even early october), they are holding their september project events in october.
our response? not a problem!
i think you really nailed something special about the september project when you note that it’s at once distributed and connected. the distributed nature of the project, with libraries organizing events about issues that matter to their communities, generates a diverse, creative, and engaging series of local, civic-minded events. at the same time, collectively, the libraries generate a larger, more global sense of citizenship. it feels local, national, and global, often at the same time!
thanks again for blogging about TSP and i’ll look forward to hearing more. in the meantime, i’ve added COMMAND F to my feevy - excellent blog you three!