Booth Library to Host 'Let's Talk About It: Muslim Journeys'
Jan-17-2014
Booth Library on the campus of Eastern Illinois University encourages area residents to learn more about the people, places, history, faith and cultures of Muslims in the U.S. and around the world through its program series, “Let’s Talk About It: Muslim Journeys.”
The series will kick off with an opening at 7 p.m. Jan. 29 in the library’s West Reading Room and will continue through April 15.
Leading the program series at EIU will be project scholar Brian Mann, assistant professor of history, along with Jaysinha Shinde, assistant professor of business; Ahmed Abou-Zaid, professor of economics; Michael Loudon, professor of English; Janet Marquardt, professor of art; and Bonnie Irwin, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities. Other EIU faculty members and students, as well as area community members, also will participate.
Through the “Let’s Talk About It” grant, the library will host a five-part book discussion moderated by project scholars. A limited number of free books will be available for participants. Those interested in participating in any or all of the book discussions are asked to register online by visiting the Web page.
In addition to the book discussions, programs will include two film screenings, a student research panel, an interfaith panel and a panel discussion titled “Women in Veil.” “Muslim Journeys” exhibits will be on display in the library throughout the program series, and the Tarble Arts Center will present a related exhibit, “In the Light of Darkness: A Photographer’s Journey after 9/11,” from Jan. 11 through Feb. 23.
“These presentations and book talks give us the opportunity to learn about Islamic culture and religion from well-informed scholars who make the materials very approachable to the layperson,” said Kirstin Duffin, reference librarian at Booth Library. “Whether you have read the books or not, you are welcome and encouraged to attend our thought-provoking and amicable discussions.”
All events are free and open to the public, and will be held in Witters Conference Room 4440 at Booth Library, unless otherwise noted.
-- Opening program/reception, Jan. 29, 7 p.m., Booth Library West Reading Room, keynote speaker, Brian Mann: “Islam and the Monotheistic Tradition.”
-- Book discussion, “The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam,” Feb. 5, 6 p.m., led by Brian Mann.
-- Film screening, “Prince Among Slaves,” Feb. 12, 7 p.m., led by Michael Loudon.
-- Book discussion, “Muhammad: A Very Short Introduction,” Feb. 19, 6 p.m., led by Brian Mann.
-- Film screening, “Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World,” Feb. 26, 7 p.m., led by Janet Marquardt.
-- Book discussion, “The Story of the Qur’an: Its History and Place in Muslim Life,” March 5, 6 p.m., led by Brian Mann and Ahmed Abou-Zaid.
-- Student research presentations, March 19, 6 p.m., moderated by Brian Mann.
-- Book discussion, “The Art of Hajj,” March 26, 6 p.m., led by Brian Mann.
-- Interfaith panel, April 1, 7 p.m., Newman Center, moderated by Daniel Otto, instructor of philosophy. Panelists will be Carly Froomkin Burak, Cohen Center for Jewish Life, Champaign (Judaism); Roy Lanham, director of campus ministry, Newman Catholic Center at EIU (Christianity); Jyoti Panjwani, professor of English (Hinduism); Jaysinha Shinde, assistant professor of business (Islam); and Duangrudi Suksang, professor of English (Buddhism).
-- Book discussion, “A Rumi Anthology,” April 9, 5:30 p.m., led by Jaysinha Shinde.
-- Panel discussion, “Women in Veil,” April 15, 7 p.m., moderated by Bonnie Irwin. Panelists: Reham Hamdy Abou-Zaid, Huma Malik, Shannon Mavi.
More information on these events is available here or by calling Kirstin Duffin, reference librarian, at 581-7550. Updates also will be posted on the library’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
“Let’s Talk About It: Muslim Journeys,” a reading and discussion series, has been made possible through a $4,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities in cooperation with the American Library Association. Booth Library is one of 125 libraries and state humanities councils across the country selected to participate in the project. Local support is provided by EIU’s Academy of Lifelong Learning and the Interdisciplinary Center for Global Diversity.
