Media Contacts: Leanne Ingle, TRL Communications Specialist, (360) 704-4508.

The Olympia Timberland Library is offering the public an opportunity for thoughtful discussion and active participation in their democracy with the program, "The September Project: Panel Discussion & Advance Screening of Poetry in Wartime," from 1 to 4:30 p.m., Saturday September 11.

Starting at 1 p.m. five local members of the community will introduce themselves and their areas of focus and then facilitate a public discussion of ideas of democracy, citizenship, and patriotism. The panel will include Tom Rainey, Larry Mosqueda, Steve Niva, Carrie Lybecker and Nora Hallett.

Poetry in Wartime will begin at 3 p.m. The 75-minute documentary film looks at war through images and the words of poets. The screening and discussion are free of charge.

The library will also have a table set up with voter registration mail-in forms, local voters’ pamphlets, information and bookmarks of the Bill of Rights.

The library’s program is part of The September Project (www.theseptemberproject.org), a collection of people, groups, and organizations offering gatherings at public places like local libraries on September 11 to discuss ideas on democracy, citizenship, and patriotism. Libraries throughout Washington and the rest of the nation are participating.

Voices in Wartime (www.voicesinwartime.org) is the sponsor of the film as well as a website for people to publish their written and artistic responses to war and to view and comment on the works. September 11 is the special pre-release date for screening at public libraries around the country.

For more information, please call the Olympia Timberland Library at (360) 352-0595. The library is located at 313 8th Avenue SE, Olympia. (www.trlib.org)

The Timberland library in Aberdeen is also participating, screening the film at 1:30 p.m., followed by a discussion facilitated by Lynne Lerych, Instructor of English and Film at Grays Harbor College.