New York Libraries Lend In 59 Languages

The libraries in the borough of Queens in New York, USA have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people taking out its books in different languages during the past ten years. The libraries now lend out books, CDs and DVDs in 59 languages including Korean, Chinese and Spanish.

One branch has children’s books in several languages including Arabic, Bengali, Portuguese and Chinese. The surge in the number of items available in so many different languages has been due to the rapid internationalization of the borough by immigrants. ‘Chinese and Spanish top the list, but there are large collections of Korean, Russian, French, Hindi, Italian and Bengali as well, said Joanne King, a library spokeswoman’.

The diverse nature of the local population in New York has created the need for its libraries to carry books and other items in so many languages.

Read more about why the libraries in New York lend in 59 languages and what this means to the local population.