Voter registration and Library card sign-up month go hand-in-hand throughout the month of September. The Village Clerk of Morton Grove is scheduled to conduct voter registration on two Saturday mornings (September 6 and 13) and on four Wednesday evenings. In addition, Library staff will be trained as deputy registrars in August so that when new residents apply for their library cards, they can also register to vote.

Voter registration will also be offered as part of a Low Vision Fair sponsored by six north suburban Chicago public libraries on Sat., 9/27/08. The Low Vision Fair will be held at the Niles Senior Center, 999 Civic Center Drive, Niles, IL, from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm.

A documentary on the B-2 Stealth Bomber will be shown on Tues., Sept. 9, at 11:30 am. The documentary will be part of a weekly series of programs (called Movies, Munchies and More) primarily for older adults.

A book and DVD display about September 11 will be set up on a table in the New Book area.

This September Project is so smart in so many ways. I like how Morton Grove librarians fold existing programs like their weekly film series into their September Project: the B-2 Stealth Bomber documentary shown on September 9th is part of their weekly Movies, Munchies and More series (bring your lunch!) that features travelogs, documentaries, feature films, lectures, interviews and artistic performances.

I also like how Library staff will be trained as deputy registrars in August so that when new residents apply for their library cards, they can also register to vote. Free, public grassroots democracy at its best. Perfect.

If you are unable to make the September Project events at Morton Grove Public Library, you are surely encouraged to visit their innovative web site. The Webrary hosts seven top-notch blogs, including MGPL Parents and the teen zone blog. Check out their slideshow to see the library-as-community in action.

The Beaufort Branch Library in Beaufort, SC is a medium-sized library located along the beautiful South Carolina coast known as the Lowcountry. This is our first time joining the September Project!

As the adult events programmer, I have planned two special events in addition to our usual book clubs and computer classes for the month of September that fit the aims of the September Project. Our programs are:

1) Saturday Movie: Saturday, Sept. 13th
National Treasure: Book of Secrets, PG open to all ages

Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates is back and looking to discover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He finds John Wilkes Booth’s diary and is determined to uncover the mystery within the 18 missing pages in this great action adventure.

2) Brunch with Ben Franklin, Saturday, Sept. 27th

Historical impersonator and professor emeritus, Ed Beardsley, will be performing as Benjamin Franklin during an all ages brunch. [See Beardsley as President Woodrow Wilson!] As participants enjoy a hearty breakfast of waffles, muffins, and fresh fruit, they will learn about the formation of the Constitution from an entertaining Ben Franklin.  At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to mingle with Ben Franklin asking questions and snapping pictures.

You heard that right: “As participants enjoy a hearty breakfast of waffles, muffins, and fresh fruit, they will learn about the formation of the Constitution from an entertaining Ben Franklin.” It is exciting to see so many of this year’s September Projects involving food and community meals! I hope folks at Beaufort Branch Library and ol’ Ben Franklin will take a lot of photographs because these events sound delicious.

ICANA’s esperanza sanchez reports about the event:

“Visitors received a piece of stencil art by Simulacro group from Centro Cultural Ricardo Rojas. They were exposed to art in several exhibitions: Historia con Zapatos and Tiempos Inhumanos, by the artist Malena Gainza.

Professor Julio Manjovsky lectured on four great twentieth century American photographers: Dorotea Lange, Lewis Hine, Dianne Arbus, and Eugene Smith.

Regarding music, there was projection of Elvis Presley’s 25th Anniversary Concert, and the documentaries Flashing on the Sixties and Empire of the Industry at the Auditorium.

Ricardo Poyo Castro delivered a talk on jazz and African American music. Participants could also enjoy some live music shows performed by Peter Bronzini and its duet and Roberto Moreno’s Quartet. James Murray and Proscenio presented some Broadway musicals.”

thank you, esperanza, for the excellent summary and photographs!

update: here is a new image of Tiempos Inhumanos:

activities include jazz, performances of classical broadway musicals by the proscenio school, and a celebration of elvis. there will also be a live installation of street art and stencils so that members of the public can make his or her own works of art. ricardo rojas, instructor of the cultural center, will be there to help. there will be presentations about art, photography, literature, and jazz, and la biblioteca centro lincoln will provide a book display. there will be an art exhibit featuring malena gainza’s “cruel times” and gagali gociol’s “histories with shoes.” all events and activities are free.

from ICANA:

Puertas Abiertas, es una invitación a degustar los idiomas, la gastronomía y la cultura de cada país, este año bajo el lema “Imágenes del Tiempo”.

El Jazz y los musicales estarán presentes. La escuela Proscenio a cargo de James Murray presentará los clásicos musicales de Broadway. Celebraremos los 25 años de Elvis.

El arte estará en la muestra de Magali Gociol “Historias con Zapatos” y la presentación de “Tiempos Inhumanos” de Malena Gainza. También habrá una instalación en vivo de Street Art y Stencils para que el público realice sus propias obras de arte con instructores del Centro Cultural Ricardo Rojas.

Conferencias sobre arte, fotografía, literatura y jazz nos acompañaran durante toda la tarde. Quiere saber mas sobre los Estados Unidos? no se pierda las charlas sobre vida universitaria, y acérquese a retirar, mapas y folletos.

La Biblioteca Centro Lincoln hará un book outlet donde podrá adquirir libros a precios increíbles!

En el laboratorio habrá sesiones de radio a través de los programas radiales de Voice of America. Para descansar y tomar un café habrá un coffee store a cargo del Instituto Gastronomico de Buenos Aires. Stands de comidas típicas de Estados Unidos de Kometo y Agroandina; y Pop corn para degustar en los espectáculos Proyección de videos con imágenes del cine norteamericano durante toda la jornada.