Minaret, written by Leila Aboulela, is the first SCC Book of the Year! The novel is about an upper-class Sudanese woman who has to flee to London with her mother and brother when the coup of 1985 led to her father’s execution. The novel follows her life as she transitions from a Westernized teen in Sudan, to a devout Muslim woman working as a maid in London. The book, examining issues of class, religion, culture and gender through one woman's personal journey, is available to check out at the Library On Wednesday Nov 20 at 12:30 in D-220, the Library is hosting a Panel discussion of the novel, to include Annan Aboul-Nasr from the Islamic Institute of Orange County, along with faculty members Doug Deaver (World Religions), Rick Adams (Literature) and Nooshan Shekarabi (Political Science).

The SCC Library has been selected to receive Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, a grant project of the National Endowment for the Humanities Bridging Cultures Initiative. The Bookshelf includes twenty-five books, three films and one year subscription to Oxford Islamic Studies Online and other resources related to the history, faith, cultures of Muslims in the United States and around the world. On May 8th, librarians hosted a movie program "Prince Among Slaves" as the first of a series of the programs celebrating the collection. More activities and programs have been planned for fall 2013.

The traveling exhibit "The Courage to Remember" will be on display March 4th through March 18th at SCC Library The traveling exhibit is based on the internationally acclaimed “Courage to Remember” Holocaust exhibit of the Museum of Tolerance, the educational arm of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The Foundation first made the traveling exhibit available to California communities in 1991. Two decades later its message is still relevant. With nearly 200 original photographs, many never before seen by the general public, The Courage to Remember poster series offers compelling, new insights into the Holocaust. The story unfolds through four major themes: Nazi Germany, 1933-1938 Moving Toward the 'Final Solution" 1939-1941 Annihilation in Nazi-occupied Europe 1941-1945 Liberation-Building New Lives Stop by the SCC Library to view this memorable exhibit!