journalists ignore celebration of

the reopening of britain's only

INDEPENDENT multilingual library

 

 

The celebration of our re-opening, which was held on Saturday March 23 was a joyous occasion with friends old and new visiting. We estimate around 100 people must have joined us - some discovering us for the first time. We signed up a few new members during the afternoon and expect many more will return soon. Sadly the press and media completely missed the opportunity to record this event which our Patron, David Crystal said would go down in the history of Gateshead.

 

The afternoon began with Professor David Crystal joining us via a Zoom link. His talk is to be seen HERE

we are so grateful that he took the time during the weekend to speak to us about multilingual libraries - both he and our other guest, John Vincent said they don't know of any other multilingual libraries like this in the country. There are a few multilingual children's libraries, or corners of public libraries with books in different languages, but a library for adults and children, with well over 100 languages and dialects, open to all, with a very modest membership fee seems to be unique.

 

John Vincent came all the way from Devon to join us. John has worked in the public sector since the 1960s, primarily for Hertfordshire, Lambeth and Enfield public library services. In 1997, he was invited to become part of the team that produced the UK's first review of public libraries and social exclusion (from which The Network, which he now coordinates, originated).

John runs courses and lectures, writes, produces regular newsletters and ebulletins, and lobbies for greater awareness of the role that libraries, archives, museums and the cultural & heritage sector play in contributing to social justice.

He is particularly interested in supporting the work that libraries do with people seeking sanctuary and other 'new arrivals' to the UK, young people in car and with LGBTQ+ people.

His talk can be seen HERE