The following piece was provided by freelance writer David Boyajian:
During April 2019 the Belmont Public Library is displaying a selection of books, DVDs, and CDs on the Armenian Genocide and Armenian history and culture.
Library Director Peter Struzziero and his staff facilitated the display whose items can be borrowed by patrons.
The display has so far included The History of the Armenian Genocide by Vahakn Dadrian; Killing Orders by Taner Akçam; Architects of Denial, a film by Dean Cain and Montel Williams; Armenia, the Survival of a Nation by Christopher Walker; Tadem, My Father’s Village by Robert Aram Kaloosdian; Neither to Laugh nor to Weep by Abraham and Vartan Hartunian (the latter was a minister in Belmont); Goodbye, Antouraby Karnig Panian; Treasures from the Ark: 1700 Years of Armenian Christian Art by Vrej Nersessian; Komitas-Aslamazian, a CD by the Chilingarian Quartet; Armenian Folk Arts, Culture, and Identity by Levon Abrahamian and Nancy & Sam Sweezy; The History of Armenia by Simon Payaslian; The Kingdom of Armenia by M. Chahin; Armenia and Karabagh Travel Guide by Matthew Karanian; The Forty Days of Musa Dagh by Franz Werfel; The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian; and other titles.
As items are borrowed, additional ones are added.
A group of local Armenian Americans conceived the display for Armenian Genocide Commemoration Month. They suggested nearly 40 titles available in the Minuteman Library Network on topics and genres such as the Genocide, history, religion, art, music, film, food, travel, and fiction.
The group consisted of Jirair Hovsepian, Lucine Kasbarian, Heather Krafian, Marc Mamigonian, Judith Ananian Sarno, and the author.
Hovsepian brought about the town’s annual official proclamation on the Armenian Genocide and is an elected member of Belmont’s Town Meeting. Kasbarian is a book and article author and a political cartoonist. Krafian is a board member of the Armenian Relief Society, Eastern Region and co-chairs St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School’s School Committee in nearby Watertown. Mamigonian is the Director of Academic Affairs at the National Association of Armenian Studies and Research based in Belmont. Ananian Sarno is active on town government boards and is an elected member of Belmont’s Town Meeting. The author is a freelance journalist and activist.
The Belmont Media Center is producing a community cable television spot about the display.
The Belmont Public Library is located at 336 Concord Ave. in Belmont.