Mid-Summer 2006 Newsletter

Libraries Remember the Holocaust

What: Libraries Remember the Holocaust - 
Last Year, Libraries Remembered Pearl Harbor. This year, Libraries are Remembering the Holocaust. 

Why: There may be nothing more antithetical to terrorism, hatred, bigotry, and fanaticism than the American Public Library.

The Bensenville Public Library believes there can be no more fitting tribute, no more appropriate commemoration of September 11, 2001, than for libraries to simply be there. Therefore, on September 10, 2006, the Library will close as usual at 5:00 p.m. But then, at midnight, the library will re-open and remain open for the twenty-four hours of September 11.

Who: Marion Blumenthal Lazan - Holocaust survivor, author and lecturer, was born in Bremen, Germany and arrived in the United States at age 13, after enduring 6 ½ years in Nazi transient and concentration camps. Marion’s story is one of perseverance, determination, faith, and above all, hope. It is a story that Anne Frank might have told, had she survived. On Monday, September 11, Marion Blumenthal Lazan will tell her story again, this time to anyone anywhere in the world with access to the Internet.

When: Monday, September 11 at 2:00 pm Eastern, 1:00 pm Central, 12 O`Clock Noon Mountain, & 11:00 Pacific Time.

How: Register by clicking www.librariesremember.net 
or simply logging in on Monday, September 11 at the appropriate time in your time zone.
Indicate the number of computers you would like to have access the presentation, the name of your agency, school, library, (or whatever else it might be) and your town and state. Very simple directions for accessing the program will be sent out in mid-August to all who have registered. There will also be several days set aside prior to September 11 for participants to log in and make sure everything is working and ready for the program.

Libraries Remember encourages teachers to allow their students to spend this hour listening to Mrs. Lazan`s gripping account of both the unending horror of the Holocaust and the undeniable triumph of the human spirit. We encourage public librarians to offer this program to their patrons of any age -- simply log in the computer, and allow groups to listen, in real time, to this memoir of courage and hope. We encourage everyone with Internet access to observe this September 11 with Mrs. Lazan and reflect on her message of tolerance, understanding, respect, and love.

Any questions, please contact Bill Erbes, Assistant Director of the Bensenville Public Library at:billerbes@yahoo.com 

or call Bill at 630-766-4642.

Remember – there is absolutely no charge for participating in this unique event. 

Mid-summer is not the most propitious time to be sending this Newsletter, for schools are closed, and many of you are taking well-earned vacations. But, with schools in certain areas of the country not opening until after Labor Day, it was felt best to get a jump on publicizing this important event. You can be sure that more mail will go out prior to 9/11. 

If you in turn would bring this event to the attention of your local library and schools, and to personal acquaintenances in your e-mail address books, that would be so very helpful.Please spread the word.

My heartfelt thanks go to the Bensenville Public Library, its entire staff, and especially to the force behind this project, Bill Erbes, for helping pass the legacy of the Holocaust on to so many students and adults.

Have a great summer. I keenly look forward in speaking to and with you on September 11. 

Fondly, 
Marion

Visit us on the web @ www.FourPerfectPebbles.com
Email us @ marion@fourperfectpebbles.com