09/21/2006: "Pinwheels for Peace"

The San Juan Island Library will celebrate International Peace Day on Thursday September 21 at 6:30 PM with readings from literature and poetry, song, silence and the making of pinwheels. The event is conceived as a family event. Part of the time adults will explore the idea of peace through sharing readings and songs. Nine presenters from the community read aloud, sharing original work, selections from classic literature, and sing and play music. In another part of the library, children and adults will be invited to contemplate peace by making a pinwheel from paper on which they can write thoughts about what peace means. The event is free of charge and open to the public.

Ian Byington will serve as M.C., sing and play guitar.

Pinwheels made during the event will be on display afterwards. The library display case will also show dozens of books about the meaning of peace, making peace, building community and dealing with war.

International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations in 1981 and is intended to serve as a "...global day of ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day..." The library is celebrating Peace Day as one aspect of its participation in the "September Project" (www.theseptemberproject.org). In the September Project libraries around the world use their role as neutral community centers to bring people together to discuss citizenship, freedom and democracy as a response to the 9/11 attacks.

Library hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM to 8 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 1 PM to 5 PM. Library cards are free to island residents with proof of residency.