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August 10, 2005

the September Project (Year II)

I mentioned the September Project last year. On Sept. 11, 2004, people met in hundreds of libraries to conduct civic events as a positive, democratic response to the attacks of 9/11/01. There were voter registration drives, discussions and citizens' forums, performances, and art projects for people of all ages. This page provides many examples, wonderful in their diversity.

The organizers are back at work preparing for Sept. 11, 2005. Their website has evolved to include a blog and other interactive features. (This is the homepage: www.theseptemberproject.org.) Co-director David Silver, formerly a fabulous graduate student at Maryland and now a professor at University of Washington, tells me that 2005 will be different and better than 2004 in the following ways:

  • The number of countries involved is up from 8 to 16, and includes Cuba, Bangladesh, India, and others in the Global South. Multiple libraries are participating in many countries: for instance, 11 in India.

  • In 2004, most of the participating libraries were public. This year, many academic libraries have joined.

  • There are more collaborations between libraries and other groups, such as schools, the League of Women Voters, and the ACLU.

    • Posted by peterlevine at August 10, 2005 02:36 PM

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