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Local Libraries Reach Out to Spanish SpeakersBy Leslie Fannon Summer has officially arrived, and it’s time to start those summer reading lists. Though it’s not always easy to get kids back into books once school’s out, the Norfolk library system may be able to help. Both the Kirn Memorial Library in downtown Norfolk and the Mary B. Pretlow Anchor Branch in Oceanview offer a bilingual story time in English and Spanish. It’s “an opportunity for children to learn Spanish…and we encourage both Spanish and English speaking children to come to the program,” said Public Relations Specialist Lori Crowe of the Kirn Memorial Library. The Kirn Memorial Library has two upcoming sessions, on July 12 and August 9. At the Mary B. Pretlow Anchor Branch, story time will take place on July 19 and August 16. Story time begins at 1 p.m. and should last about an hour. Spanish language story time is just one example of the Norfolk library system’s efforts to reach out to the Hampton Roads Latino community. The libraries have already begun preparation for Hispanic Heritage Month, an event that spans September and October. Currently on the shelves are several Spanish language and bilingual children’s books. There are a collection of encyclopedias in Spanish. Also, for readers interested in learning Spanish, there are guide books and educational materials, including business Spanish and basic medical vocabulary. All of the library’s events and materials, including computers with Internet access, are completely free and open to anyone from any city in Hampton Roads. “We hope that [more people] will come out for our services,” said Crowe. The library also welcomes suggestions for additional events and programming. |
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