George Mason Library to get collection of Muslim resource materials
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| A 15th century map of the coast of Spain. [from the National Endowment for the Humanities website] |
Four public libraries in Fairfax County, including George Mason Regional Library in Annandale, will be given the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, a collection of books, films, and other resources aimed at introducing the American public to the complex history and culture of Muslims in the United States and around the world.
Thomas Jefferson Library in Falls Church, Woodrow Wilson Library in Bailey’s Crossroads, and Tysons-Pimmit Library in Tysons will also receive the collection.
The Fairfax County library system is one of 842 libraries and state humanities councils to be awarded the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, which was developed by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association with input from scholars, librarians, and public programming experts. It is designed to provide trustworthy, accessible resources about Muslim beliefs and practices and the cultural heritage associated with Islamic civilizations.
Each participating library will receive 25 books, three films, and access for one year to Oxford Islamic Studies Online.They will also have access to a Muslim Journeys website to be launched in February by the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies at George Mason University.
The Muslim Journeys Bookshelf project is part of the Bridging Cultures initiative, which highlights the importance of civility in American life and embraces the role of libraries in fostering community conversations that bring the humanities to the public in new ways.
30 responses to “George Mason Library to get collection of Muslim resource materials”
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Any Mohammed picture books or anything that mentions his love of little children? Or would that get a librarian killed? If you're going to teach kids, you need to give them the full picture.
Let's also make sure there is a full explanation of Female Genital Mutilation.
We do not need more religious books that teach intolerance – where are the liberals on this? Isn't this right in the ACLU's wheelhouse because Muslims are intolerant toward sexual orientation, among other things? Where is the outrage from the left? Oh, I forgot, they'd rather beat up on tolerant Christians who live and let live here in Annandale and try and find fault with their beliefs and remove the bible and other religions from our libraries. Now all of the sudden Fairfax County has to educate its citizens "the truth" about a religion. Where is the push to get the truth out about Christianity and when can I look forward to that new book series? What a joke and double standard!
And it's so nice to see "tolerant Christians" like yourself turn into such a frothing mess at the very thought of diversity…
Be interesting to know why GM library was chosen., as well as the other selected branches. Must have to do with demographics. And if that's the case — more Muslims in the areas — wouldn't you think they would already know their complex history? Or is housing the collection there aimed at the non-Muslims (sometimes called 'infidels') who are in more frequent contact with Muslims than in other parts of the county. In any event, it's an interesting choice of library branches.
This is a wonderful idea. Part of the reason I love living in Fairfax County. I love this idea of libraries working to foster civility…just when some people need it the most (see above comment).
The two moronic foaming-at-the-mouth posts above clearly illustrate why this is needed (although I doubt it would do them any good, cognitive dissonance is a powerful thing). Very cool! I appreciate the effort to explain a complex, ancient society and culture, rather than reducing it to a one-dimensional monster under the bed.
These are fun videos too, and they have cartoons.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpcbfxtdoI8
No they have it right!! They should watch something other than MSNBC or CNN to see how that culture really treats women. If women protest, the MBH sends out thugs to rape them in the square… A loving society?
It is really depressing that anonymity allows the kind of bilge that the first two posters have shared with us. Elsewhere in Mason District, my church and Dar Al-Hijrah cooperate to feed the homeless. And no, I've never heard us referred to as "infidels," poster #3.
Not everyone's brand of Christianity–nor Islam–is as extreme and absolute as the posts above would suggest. Please don't try to speak for all of us.
Dude, go live in an Islamic country and tote a bible. See how "tolerant" these folks really are when they get to tell everyone to be Muslim. You'll get your head handed to you. The only thing saving us in this country is our religious tolerance and the govt staying OUT of the religion business. That I think is why people above are staying Fairfax County should stay out of the "trying to influence" what is tru about religions or not. So calm down and actually read their posts before YOU anonymous as well (and I have no problem with that) sling arrows.
"Dude" yourself. This isn't about how things are in some other nation–it is about things here. We are a nation that has room for diversity–thank God–and that extends to having Muslim…and Christian…and Jewish…and Wiccan…materials in a public library.
Fairfax county isn't violating the establishment clause, nor is it determining "what is true" about religion. Nor would you find that FCPL discriminates against Christian lit, despite what anon #2 believes. Besides, don't tell me that separation of church and state is what anon #1 was concerned about when tossing out that slander about Mohammed.
Besides, it's kind of funny that you're intolerant of the fact that I'm intolerant of the intolerance above.
Maybe we can allow some Scientology books there too.
Fairfax County Public Libraries online catalog shows copies of Dianetics, Evolution of a Science, and Self Analysis available at George Mason. Head over to 299.936, the Dewey classification for Scientology. For the Anonymous below, books on Mormonism (including a copy of the Book of Mormon) can be found at 289.3, right next to their one book on Swedenborgianism. Catholicism is at 282, and Judaism at 296.
All of this, and more, at your public library!
Look forward to a "celebration" of Scientology, Mormonisn, Catholisism, Judiasm and new collectins at Fairfax County libraries by what the govt judges as "trustworthy" sources purchased and promoted. Yeah, this sounds like a good road to go down.
From today's news:
At least 590 people were injured nationwide in a spasm of anger against Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood party. A political solution to end the widening unrest seemed unlikely.
This the tolerance some were naively expecting from the Muslim Brotherhood as a result of the "Arab Spring" – I have to wonder if the library is obliged to take this gift – or shelve it.
You are painting with a pretty broad brush to simplify a billion people into "that culture." In Northern Ireland, Catholics and Protestants spent decades killing each other. Does that say much about your church or mine here in Fairfax County? Would you like for someone to use that as an example of Christianity in action?
You really have a selective and uninformed position. It is estimated in the Northen Ireland violence that lasted decades perhaps 3000 people died. Tragic, but you know how many people were killed by Muslim extremists in one day 9-11? 3000. Again, another apologist for a religion that has a HUGE jihadist faction yet you choose to focus on the unfortunate Christian violence where Christians fought each other – not even anyone else. Wake up please.
As a seventh-generation WASP American citizen, it depresses me to see the xenophobia that apparently surrounds me in Annandale, even in one of the best educated counties in the nation.
News flash: Libraries contain all sorts of information–even some you might not agree with.
Bridging Cultures is nothing more than a Saudi propaganda campaign to establish an intolerant religion on our society. The have dumped millions into establishing Islamic curriculum department in most major universities including Harvard where “Bridging Cultures” was created. Wake Up!!!
That is why the government should not accept "gifts" like this. If so, I'm sure the Mormons would love to gift several bibles. Would they be shelved?
So… you have first hand knowledge? Care to back that up with some actual facts and not just Fox talking points?
I agree with Andrew, I think it is a wonderful idea and those of us who will take advantage of this collection will be rewarded in knowledge. It is sad that those people who probably need to read and learn the most are the ones less likely to engage in those activities.
It’s also appalling that people can be so narrow-minded in their views of Muslims and Islam. Fairfax County public libraries are not displaying religious texts or objects to be worshipped by us all; they are making them available so people can learn about a religion and culture.
Agreed the more we read the better but there are already plenty of books on all religions in the library selected by librarians – think the "gifters" have an agenda here. How is this different than a gift from the Catholic Church given to the library to educate people on that religion – would it be accepted and embraced? Doubt it, and that is why folks seem uncomfortable with this,
It is nice to see you are one of those tolerant Christians you mention… NOT.
I don't believe that's a fair reading either of my comments above or of my life.
However, there is only One who is qualified to make that judgement, and that One is likely not posting anonymously to the Annandale blog.
Pretty sure – as you damn 99% of the posters that post to this blog as "anonymous" because that is common sense – that the One posting is NOT using the name Andrew either. You seem outnumbered.
Andrew: That was in response to "Anonymous" from 1/24, 10:16 pm, having fits over lack of response from liberals who (according to the poster) want to "beat up" tolerant Christians and remove the Bible from libraries… a viewpoint which doesn't seem to match up with the posts that have your name attached to them.
No need to get all riled up people, the books will end up being weeded out of the collection after 3 years due to no one checking them out.
Regarding the posts above. I have been to Muslim countries and they are nice people just like in any other country. Did you actually visit a Muslim country or are you just going by media reports? There are extremes in all cultures but they are the exeptions and not the norms. Try actually reading the Koran and you will see that Christianity and Judaism are both to be respected. Educate yourself before speaking.
It really comes down to which countries have adopted Sharia law. How can you deny reputable media reports though on what has been going on in Nigeria lately?
From the BBC, Christmas Day, 2012
Gunmen in the northern Nigerian state of Yobe have shot dead at least six Christians, the army and local officials say.
They say a church in Peri village near Potiskum, the economic capital of Yobe, was set on fire in an attack late on Christmas Eve.
The Boko Haram Islamist militant group has targeted a number of churches in the north since 2010.
It has killed hundreds in its campaign to impose Sharia law.
How many Muslims have been killed in the US thi year because of thir faith – not many.
And did you try and express non-Muslim religious beliefs in public in a country with Sharia law that in public and in what country? Jordan does not count.