World On A Book Truck
The Farmington Valley Libraries, consisting of Avon, Canton, Farmington and Simsbury, have received an Grant for $20,000. The money will be used to purchase a collection of books in Japanese, Korean, Russian and Spanish based on the commonality of the demographics in the participating communities, as part of a new program called “World On A Book Truck.”
Libraries in Avon, Canton, Simsbury and Farmington used census statistics, obtained information from schools, social services and community organizations and did a survey of library users to determine what languages were represented in the community. The research confirmed the increasing diversity in the Farmington Valley. In keeping with the libraries’ mission of providing informational, recreational, and educational material in an accessible manner for all town residents and meeting the cultural needs and interests of the entire community, funding was sought for this project.
The target population for World On A Book Truck is adults over the age of eighteen, whose primary language is Spanish, Russian, Japanese or Korean. Many may be enrolled in English Classes For Speakers of Other Languages. They also may be new American Citizens. For them, reading in their native languages is pleasurable and comforting, offering an opportunity to retain their language literacy. Global technology has also reinforced the need to maintain fluency in more than one language and so participants are seeking convenient, recreational reading in their primary language.
By purchasing foreign language materials, the libraries hope to attract and retain library users who do not speak English, welcome them to the community, and offer them an opportunity to read in their native tongue. Individuals, who do speak English, though their primary language is not English, will also be able to enjoy the literature of their homeland.
The World On a Book Truck collection will be divided into four packets with materials from each language in each packet. When the program is in place, the packets will rotate between the four libraries quarterly, to offer interested library users the opportunity to have a variety of books.
Further information on this “ World On A Book Truck” Program is available by calling any of The Farmington Valley Libraries: Avon: 673-9712; Canton: 693-5800; Farmington: 673-6791; or Simsbury: 658-7663.
