NPR has created an exceptional list of books for Middle School readers about the events and aftermath of 9/11. Opening a discussion about the recent related scenes from Afghanistan in the past weeks can be challenging with young people who are too young, in fact, were not born when the twin towers fell. Books can always be a way into these discussions. As the memories, reminiscences, and heartbreak of that single and singular day in September of 2001 have filled the news outlets this weekend, those who were witnessing the events unfold at that time do remember how they first learned of the twin towers falling. Most knew at that moment that our lives in the United States and the world would be significantly altered for the foreseeable future and the next decades. I was just starting my second year at Wheeler as the Lower School Librarian for grades 3-5, waiting to welcome my first third-grade class to the library. Dana Hahn, Head of the Lower School, came in looking for access to a television monitor to see this story unfolding in real-time. I don't recall exactly how we managed to share the information with Lower School students that day, but knowing Dana I am certain it was appropriate, thoughtful and the decision was made and communicated effectively and quickly.
Twenty years later the phrase "we will never forget" has manifested itself in memorials built on the site and around the country, non-profit organizations created to sustain the families of the lost, and countless books, written to give us a lens into the actions of that day and the ensuing decisions in the days to follow. In a post-truth world in which any bits of information on the internet can be given credence without authority, the stories preserved by the librarians have provided us with a collective history of the day.
Most knew at that moment that our lives in the United States and the world would be significantly altered for the foreseeable future and the next decades.
American Libraries, the journal of the American Library Association, published an article on September 1st, 2021 in tribute to the work of librarians in the days and weeks to follow. The story that sparked my interest was about the efforts of the Gander Public Library staff to help provide a Safe Haven for some of the 6,500 people whose flights were diverted to the little island in Newfoundland Canada. Commercial airliners landed on the tiny airstrip that had served as a strategic post in WWII and a refueling station in the 1950s and '60s for transatlantic flights. The disembarking passengers went through an intense security process. They had no idea where they were or why. Many thought they had landed in Greenland or Iceland. Librarians have played an important part in preserving the remnants of the 20+ libraries lost in the destruction of the towers, dispeling dangerous stereotypes, creating a digital archive of memories, and protecting the rights of citizens endangered under the Patriot Act.
Gander's citizens opened schools and other municipal buildings to provide shelter and scoured the island for food, clothing, and places for people to sleep. The passengers would remain there for twenty hours. The next morning the main branch of the public library opened early and swarms of passengers rushed in to use the 30 computers, make long-distance phone calls, and send faxes to find out if friends and family were safe. In return, families were reassured that these passengers were safe and well cared for. As the day wore on folks sought refuge and quiet in the library. The crowded school gyms and church basements left little room to stop and reflect on the enormity of what had happened. The librarians recall serving over 1000 people during that 24 hour period. They served not only as a central location to get information and communicate with loved ones but at times as a place for a quiet conversation and shared homemade lunches with the library staff who welcomed them in this time of crisis.
The story of the Gander Island experience has been dramatized in the Broadway musical Come From Away. It is returning to Broadway this month on September 21st after more than a year-long absence from the stage. The librarians mentioned in the Safe Haven article went to see the show, and while there were (sadly) no librarians featured in the play, they thought it was quite good!
Librarians have played an important part in preserving the remnants of the 20+ libraries lost in the destruction of the towers, creating a digital archive of memories, and protecting the rights of citizens endangered under the Patriot Act. To learn more the resources in the works cited below can inform you about the consistent and persistent role of libraries and librarians in the collective history of our time.
Works Cited
Giles, Juanita. “Books Can Help Kids Learn about What Happened on 9/11. Here Are Some Good Ones.” NPR, NPR, 9 Sept. 2021, www.npr.org/2021/09/09/1035408925/books-can-help-kids-learn-about-what-happened-on-9-11-here-are-some-good-ones.
“A Safe Haven in the Sea.” American Libraries Magazine, 9 Sept. 2021, americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2021/09/01/911-gander-safe-haven-in-the-sea/.
“Special Report: The Legacy of 9/11.” American Libraries Magazine, 1 Sept. 2021, americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2021/09/01/special-report-the-legacy-of-9-11/.
