Sunday, Sept. 11, is the 21st anniversary of 9/11, the morning terrorists hijacked four American airplanes resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. Villanova University lost fifteen alumni that day. Falvey Memorial Library honors the Villanovans and all those who lost their lives, displaying a tribute each year to mark the tragic anniversary. The display, located in Access Services, lists the names of the Villanovans killed on 9/11 and is juxtaposed against flag designs and vases containing red, white, and blue flowers.

Photo courtesy of Joanne Quinn, Director of Communication and Marketing. Display curated by Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS.

Happy Friday, Wildcats! After a year off, Falvey Memorial Library is bringing back Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Jenna, a Graduate Assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. 

Tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 11, marks the 20th anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people. Below are resources to help you reflect on and explore the legacy of the events of 9/11 whether you have 3 minutes or a whole day.  

If you have 4 minutes… listen to the Oral History of Bruno Dellinger, a 9/11 survivor, compiled by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Would you rather read than listen? View the full transcript here. 

If you have 30 minutes… Explore the 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s interactive timeline of the events of 9/11. 

Content warning: The timelines contain some graphic images and sensitive content due to the explicit nature of events surrounding the 9/11 attacks. 

If you have 7 hours…  borrow Reluctant Hero by Michael Benfante through the Falvey website. Belefante recounts his experience as a 9/11 survivor and the wrenching personal challenges of critical emotional and psychological depth.  

Michael Benfante is speaking at the Riley Ellipse at 3 p.m. today, Sept. 10. Refreshments will follow. 

If you have the whole day… consider attending one of these Philly-area commemoration events listed in this Philadelphia Inquirer article. 

Jenna Renaud is a graduate student in the Communication Department and graduate assistant in Falvey Memorial Library.

Word of the Week: 積ん読, Tsundoku  

There’s a handful of words from other languages that should probably be adopted into the English language. One Japanese word, “tsundoku,” will most likely strike a chord with most book lovers. 

Tsundoku literally means “reading pile” and refers to the pile of books that you have next your bed that you meant to read, but still haven’t. How many books are in your tsundoku right now? 

This Week at Falvey  

Wednesday, Sept. 8 

Fall 2021 Falvey Forum Workshop Series: Introduction to Google My Maps / 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. / ZOOM / Register Here 

Friday, Sept. 10 

Villanova Gaming Society Meeting / 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. / Speakers’ Corner / Free & Open to the Public 

This Week in History 

September 11, 2001 – 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks 

Villanova University is hosting a variety of events for everyone on campus to learn about, remember and explore the legacy of the tragic September 11 terrorist attacks. The attacks claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people, including 15 alumni.  

To find a full list of events going on, starting September 8, visit the Villanova Remembers 9/11 page. In addition, stop by Falvey to view the 9/11 display.  

Today, Friday, Sept. 11, is the nineteenth anniversary of 9/11, the morning terrorists hijacked four American airplanes resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. Villanova University lost fifteen alumni that day. Falvey Memorial Library honors the Villanovans and all those who lost their lives, displaying a tribute each year to mark the tragic anniversary.

The picture above is from Sept. 11, 2019. The display, located in Access Services, listed the names of the Villanovans killed on 9/11 and was juxtaposed against flag designs and vases containing red and white roses. The stained glass window in Corr Hall Chapel, installed November 2006, which was designed by the late Rev. Richard G. Cannuli, OSA, ’73, who was an artist, professor, and Director of the University Art Gallery, was also featured in the library’s tribute.

Due to COVID-19 guidelines, there will be no physical tribute to receive Falvey Memorial Library visitors; still the Villanova community honors and remembers all those whose lives were lost.