CAIR's Package

WASHINGTON, October 20 (IslamOnline.net) – Now that nearly one year has elapsed since the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) launched its ambitious project to put quality materials about Islam in the roughly 17,000 U.S. public libraries, the Muslim advocacy group has succeeded to date in ordering a record 6,900 sets of 18 Islamic books, tapes, DVDs and videos for libraries nationwide. 

Thanks to efforts made by Muslim Americans, who ordered the CAIR package (package value over $300) for a nominal price ($150) and donated it to local libraries, 'Bring Islam to Your Library' project has received a positive feedback from libraries staff, who agreed that the package helped clear stereotypes vilifying Muslims after the 9/11 attacks, The Washington Times highlighted the effort Monday, October 20.

Susan Woodcock, one of the book collectors for the Fairfax County Public Library, said all its 21 branches have a set of CAIR's books.

"These books were useful and the staff was happy to have them," she said.

Julie Pringle, coordinator of the library's book acquisitions system, echoed his colleague's enthusiasm.

"CAIR's material was in demand and it has been used since we ordered it," Pringle said.

Even many libraries, which have endured deep budget cuts this year because of shrinking state and federal revenues, have welcomed the project.

"I wouldn't have taken such a large donation had I not felt this was an area that needed additional materials," Kay Ecelbarger, chief of collections and materials management for the Montgomery County library system, told the U.S. daily.

"A lot of things on that list were from mainstream sources, so they fit pretty well with the needs of librarians."

Donations

CAIR spokeswoman Rabiah Ahmed said the project  is based on donations, asserting that no foreign government was financing the project.

"Muslims pooled resources to give. One individual has donated thousands of dollars for this; another one says they will give to one library a month until the project is done. It's a way of getting out accurate information on Islam," Ms. Ahmed said.

Runia Jahan, the Sterling-based distributor for the books, said she receives thank-you letters "daily" for the donations.

By the time the project ends, almost $2.5 million will have been spent.

The American Library Association (ALA) has no guidelines on donations and does not track how many and which groups seek to donate materials.

ALA spokeswoman Larra Clark said the package "was a pretty good supplement" to the county system's collections."

CAIR said that the highest percentage of orders is in southern libraries in the Bible Belt - specifically Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana.

Several books are part of the package, including "The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?" "The Essential Koran" by Thomas Cleary; "Critical Lives: Muhammad", "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam," by Yahiya Emerick, "Daughters of Another Path: Experiences of American Women Choosing Islam" by Carol L. Anway; and the 62-page "Gender Equity in Islam" by Jamal Badawi.

CAIR's next move is to go to with its package to university libraries after all public libraries are serviced.

This is not the first time CAIR has embarked on an ambitions campaign to defend to defend the image of Islam in the eyes of the world.

Last year, the council also published a guide to the North American Muslim community.

The 350-page book, called "The North American Muslim Resource Guide: Muslim Community Life in the United States and Canada [Rout ledge]," was the first comprehensive analysis of the structural make-up of Muslim communities in both countries.