March 29, 2006 – The diverse cultural traditions and heritage of the Arab American community will be celebrated throughout April by Montgomery County Public Libraries at Arab American Heritage Month programs.
Special events will be held according to the following schedule:
April 1-29– Meet the Arab Culture Exhibit. Rockville Library, 99 Maryland Ave. Available for viewing during library hours. Call 240-777-0140.
Tuesday, April 4– Arab American Heritage celebration. Speakers- The Honorable Mary Rose Oakar, president, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and Helen Samhan, executive director, Arab American Institute Foundation. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Executive Office Building, Terrace Level cafeteria, 101 Monroe St., Rockville. Contact Yuli Estler, 240-777-0024.
Saturday, April 22– Arab American Heritage Month family program, including an introduction to Arabic culture, story times, traditional henna and hand painting, arts and craft, traditional clothing and musical instruments. Free for all ages 11:30-1 p.m. Gaithersburg Library, 18330 Montgomery Village Ave. Call 301-840-2515.
The programs are sponsored by The Montgomery County Public Libraries; The Office of the County Executive, Office of Community Outreach; The Multicultural Library Advisory Committee; Friends of the Library, Montgomery County and several Arab community organizations from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.
For more information about the special Arab American Heritage Month events, call Yuli Estler at 240-777-0024.
To request a sign language, cued speech or an oral interpreter for a library-sponsored program (seven days notice requested), contact the library hosting the program, or the Special Needs Library at 240-777-0960 or TTY # 301-897-2217. Other accommodations provided with advance notice.
For more information about these and other library programs, including library locations and hours, visit or call the local library, logon to MontgomeryCountyMD‘s website, or call the Ask-a-Librarian/Language Line/Línea en otros idiomas at 240-777-0001. TTY users call Maryland Relay at 7-1-1.