Explore Books in Many Languages at Your Library
Library customers use world language books in many different ways
You can find almost any information at your local public library. Everyone knows that libraries are filled to the brim with knowledge and resources. People are more than familiar with computers, reference materials, and the many genres of books available. Many haven’t realized they can come across books in other languages at their library.
Libraries carry books in many different world languages, and library patrons use them in many different ways. Some utilize these to learn new languages or practice a language through reading. Others find that they are great for refreshing themselves in a second language. Some find books in their native language or use them to read to their children in their native language. Books in world languages can even be used to explore different cultures. Cookbooks in various languages are an excellent example of this. This library offers a world of uses, and bringing awareness to these resources can significantly impact the community.
New and Familiar Languages
The world languages section of the library comes with valuable materials for those learning new languages or trying to familiarize their families with a native language.
Spanish, for example, is the second most common language in the United States. Many people want to learn Spanish out of interest or to build new language skills to make them competitive in the job market. Therefore, libraries will house language learning books in Spanish and translated versions of popular books. Many libraries have fiction and nonfiction books for adults and children. These include books for pleasure and those that can be used for learning.
In addition, libraries have dictionaries, audiobooks, magazines, eBooks, and online resources that members of the public can use to learn. The library’s website is a great place to start if you’re looking for the types of language books available. Most sites will have a page listing the languages they have, media, and books. There is a wide variety of language books at libraries, from Arabic and Chinese to Swahili and Urdu. If something is not physically available, interlibrary loans are a quick way to solve the problem, making language books accessible anywhere.
English as a Second Language
Learning languages at the library isn’t only centered on foreign languages. Many new readers and English speakers utilize library collections to improve their English skills. English as a second language is something that many struggle with, from immigrant parents to students who have only ever spoken their native language until entering formal education. The library is also an excellent resource for helping people learn English. Most libraries offer ESL classes as well.
Library Collections
There are all sorts of library collections in world languages that you can find. With so many different reading resources available, there would be no end to the amount of reading and learning someone could do through their local library.
The New York Public Library has an exciting spotlight on its website that showcases the 21 most checked-out titles in world languages and what younger New Yorkers have been reading. In French, the most checked-out book is Albert Camus’ novella; in Russian, the most checked-out book is an analysis of Stalin’s military policies and purges; in Japanese, it is a collection of stories about three women, written by a world-renowned contemporary fiction writer.
Many forget to include braille titles under languages, but this is also a unique collection that the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled at the Library of Congress houses. There are audio and braille titles available in many languages. The audiobooks are made in a “talking book” format, and while most foreign language braille titles are hard copies, digital content can also be sourced in many ways.
Online forums are also an excellent way to learn about the types of books available at local libraries. A Language Learners’ forum has a discussion question asking members worldwide what languages their library keeps in stock. The answers are interesting to browse and show that whether you’re living in a small town or a large city, supporting various languages on shelves is an essential part of connecting communities and the world.
Libraries are Windows to the World
There is much to discover at the local library. The next time you want to take a step away from your regular reading selections and explore something completely new, try picking up a book in a different language. This is one of the many ways libraries can transport you to somewhere entirely different.
EveryLibrary helps libraries provide relevant materials for their users. Visit www.everylibrary.org to find out how you can help libraries provide the best resources to the communities they serve.
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