The Palestine Library: What is it and what are its goals? By Alan Santistevan

The Palestine Library:

What is it and what are its goals?

By Alan Santistevan

Al-Awda, August 12, 2008

The following progress report will appear in the upcoming 6th issue of Al-Awda's Until Return Newsletter

Palestine Library Progress Report
Al-Awda Media Center Administrative Assistant

The Palestine Library will be a place where information on Palestinian
history and the Palestinian struggle to regain their homeland is housed and
made available for individuals within and outside the community. It is
envisioned as a resource for those interested in the narrative and real
history of the Palestinian people presented through their own voices via
biographies and memoirs, historical and current events analyses, and
literature and poetry.

Due to the long years of Zionist influence over the cultural institutions of
the US, today's public libraries, and unfortunately even some college
libraries, have little or no material representing the Palestinian
narrative, creating a void of real and accurate information. With the
obvious bias of mainstream media and deliberate attempts to ignore or
silence our voices, it really becomes crucial to make this important
information available for all.

The establishment of a Palestine Library is especially important at this
time because this year marks the 60th year of a tragic event in the history
of humanity and for the Palestinian people with the Nakba. While Israel
celebrates its so-called 60 years of 'statehood' its supporters ignore the
reality of 60 years of Zionist occupation and 60 years since the Zionist
genocide and forced expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and
land. Not only is this 'celebration' problematic due to the true nature of
Zionism, but more so because so many are celebrating without knowledge of
why, supportive without really knowing what it is they are supporting. And,
all the while, totally apathetic of the daily massacres and continued land
theft, and unaware of the seven million refugees created by this state's so
called "independence" the result of which still stands as the longest
standing and largest refugee situation in modern times. And every country of
our world bears some responsibility for it.

There are two main goals for The Palestine Library:

1). To serve the Palestinian community within the U.S. by creating a place
that is 100% dedicated to the history, the struggle, the politics, the land,
the heritage and culture of the Palestinian people. The Palestine Library
will be a centerpiece for Palestinian unity in the local area and beyond. We
view this Library as a place where Palestinians can reclaim their Arab
culture, language, history and the numerous other things that have been
stolen from us, and to rightfully explain just why this heritage was stolen.
It is intended to be a place where Palestinian-American youth can learn
about their history, culture and heritage.

2) To serve as a resource of information for the greater community by
providing books not found in libraries, or information not given in
mainstream media. The library will serve anyone who is unaware, interested,
or even passionate about Palestinian or Arab history. It will be a place
where people may come to get answers to their questions. It will serve as a
place where people can come to begin to identify the truth through exposure
to the Palestinian people's own narrative that is largely ignored in the US.
Ultimately, The Palestine Library will serve as a community space where
students, parents, professors, workers and activists may come together to
peruse the library's books and journals, conduct research, write papers,
browse the Internet, watch a DVD, or meet others with similar interests.
What progress have we made on the Palestine Library?

Before and since the 6th Al-Awda convention, we have obtained some book,
furniture, and monetary donations, along with several computers and printers
for general use. We have also added new books from author/speakers such as
Ramzy Baroud, Saree Makdisi, Ghada Karmi, along with other great works from
Edward Said, Nur Masalha, and Naseer Aruri. During our convention workshop
about the Library Project, we also recruited volunteers to donate
generously. We have created a couple of individual workspaces for people to
use for research topics or internet browsing. Monetary donations will be
used for acquiring more books and upgraded furnishings and computers for
those who wish to use the library. We would like to make our first major
acquisition: the entire written collection of Edward Said!

We hope to fill the Palestine Library in the near future with new state of
the art computers for reference and web surfing, TVs and DVD players for
viewing documentaries and movies, additional library furnishings such as
desks and chairs for studying and conducting research, along with lounge
furniture for reading and relaxing.

Most importantly we need books for reference, reading, and check out.
Finally, we would like to establish an online source that compliments the
library for those without physical access to the library. This online source
would include additional references, useful links, online journals, and
representative work such as academic or research papers written by students
or professors where the information they gathered was from the Palestine
Library. Making the Library an international resource is a very exciting
possibility.

So how can you help?

The Palestine Library is a community project and will thus greatly benefit
from your input or assistance. If you have an idea you think would work,
contact us by email or phone or visit us. Below are some of the ways you can
help:

1.) Think about some great books you've read that are consistent with
our goals and points of unity and donate a copy to the library.

2.) Become a monthly or yearly sustainer. Even small sustained donations
really do help. For instance a $10 per month donation adds up to $120 a
year. Think of all the books that can buy!

3.) Are you an author? Make your book(s) part of the Palestine Library
collection by donating a copy.

4.) Reside out of the area? How about contributing to the online data base
of additional references outside the library.

5.) Donate your time working as a library aide. Library aide tasks would
include organizing and arranging book titles, maintaining library tidiness,
or managing the library computers and workstations.
There are many ways to help out with this project. Whatever your donation,
you will be participating in supporting our Palestinian people's great
cause: the achievement of Return! Donating to this project assists students
and future generations in the pursuit of the knowledge needed to reclaim the
homeland.

What can be more rewarding, more liberating, more vital to the future than
this?

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To contact us by email, please write to library@al-awda.org To submit a monetary donation, please go to http://al-awda.org/donate.html and follow the instructions.

To send us a donation by mail, the Palestine Library is currently located at the Al-Awda National Center in Carlsbad California. Our address is: PRRC, 2734 Loker Avenue West Suite K, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA

To donate by phone or to inquire about our library hours, call us at 760-918-9441. Our fax number is 760-918-9442

Thank You For Your Generosity. We depend on it!

Until Return,

Alan Santistevan

http://www.al-awda.org

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition