Library officials greeted their latest gifts with enthusiasm.
"We don’t have much on Hispanic-Americans, so this is great,"said library director Kathee Rhode, running her fingers over the glossycover of "16 Extraordinary Hispanic Americans" by Nancy Lobb.
Several of Lobb’s books, among the 31 books and posters from the ADL,should find their way into many little hands, according to Marian Borneman,president of the library’s board of trustees. "Circulation is incredible here," Borneman said, noting that the average book at the library is borrowed nearly six times each year. "We only keep books on our shelves that people read."
ADL regional director Barry Morrison said he hopes Wednesday’s arrivals get read and that they help keep the Klan "a fringe element." During a short ceremony in the periodical reading room, Morrison thanked the assembled leadership of the coalition and made a point to credit the "anonymous members who worked to meet hate head-on, with persistence,with creativity, and with tenacity."
"It is important that we confront and not allow these ugly phenomena to follow their natural course," he said.
In an interview, Morrison cautioned that books on such topics as the Holocaust should be read by children with proper guidance from parents and educators. Just as Project Lemonade could unintentionally give hate-mongers attention they seek, teaching tolerance requires the proper context, he said.
Coalition treasurer Dwight Lydic echoed Morrison, suggesting that Project Lemonade is effective because "the organizations targeted understand that money is going directly to organizations working against them, groups which have clearly defined their roles against the Klan, the Aryan Nations and other hate groups." Lydic presented the Southern Poverty Law Center’s gifts, including "The Ku Klux Klan: A History of Racism and Violence," and a multimedia package, "America’s Civil Rights Movement."
The ADL, an 85-year-old organization founded to combat anti-Semitism, fights bigotry and hate on many fronts, using litigation, education and publicity efforts, Morrison said. Its donations Wednesday included "Hitler’s War Against the Jews"by David A. Altschuler and "How to Explain Judaism to Your Non-Jewish Neighbor" by Rabbi Edward Zerin.
One book immediately caught the eye of former chef and coalition spokeswoman Louise Doskow. "My contention is that if everyone in the world can get together and eat together, we can all be friends," said Doskow, proudly holding "Everybody Bakes Bread" by Nora Dooley.
Project Lemonade on the Internet: www.users.fast.net/~isaacs/projectlemonade.htm