For immediate release | June 19, 2012

NEH, ALA accepting applications for 'Muslim Journeys,' a Bridging Cultures Bookshelf

Libraries will receive books, films to support programs exploring Islamic culture

CHICAGO — The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office, is accepting applications through September 25, 2012 for “Muslim Journeys,” a Bridging Cultures Bookshelf program. The program aims to familiarize public audiences in the United States with the people, places, history, faith and cultures of Muslims in the United States and around the world

In January 2013, up to 1,000 public libraries, community college and academic libraries, and state humanities councils will be selected to receive:

  • a collection of 25 books that highlight the pluralism of cultural forms and traditions within the Muslim World
  • two documentary films, with public performance rights
  • access to Oxford Islamic Studies Online, which will allow libraries access to primary source documents and current works of scholarship
  • bonus resources to support programs for public audiences including thematic essays, discussion questions, podcasts, and proprietary film and Internet content
  • materials to support program promotion, including bookmarks, posters and bookplates.

All of the materials and resources included in the “Muslim Journeys” Bookshelf have been selected with the advice of scholars, librarians and cultural programming experts. For more information, including complete lists of books and films, thematic description and resources to help get your application started, visit www.programminglibrarian.org/muslimjourneys or www.neh.gov/divisions/bridging-cultures. The Bridging Cultures Bookshelf is a project of NEH and the ALA Public Programs Office, offered with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Additional support for the arts and media components was provided by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Arts.

Bridging Cultures is an NEH initiative that engages the power of the humanities to promote understanding and mutual respect for people with diverse histories, cultures, and perspectives within the United States and abroad.

The ALA Public Programs Office promotes cultural and community programming as an essential part of library service in all types and sizes of libraries. Successful library programming initiatives have included “Let’s Talk About It” reading and discussion series, traveling exhibitions, film discussion programs, the Great Stories CLUB, Live! @ your library and more. Recently, the ALA Public Programs Office developed www.ProgrammingLibrarian.org, an online resource center bringing librarians timely and valuable information to support them in the creation of high-quality cultural programs for their communities. For more information on the ALA Public Programs Office, visit www.ala.org/publicprograms.

Related Links

"Muslim Journeys," a Bridging Cultures Bookshelf"

Contact:

Angela Thullen Baker

Program Officer

Public Programs Office (PPO)

athullen@ala.org

312-280-5286