The Kittiwake Trust
Multilingual Library
our patron
our patron
After the library had been running a few months, we approached Professor David Crystal, author of over a hundred books on language, to ask if he would be our Patron.
He agreed enthusiastically.
He visited the library in April 2016 and gave a talk that is available here
We are indebted to Professor Crystal for his continuing support and advice.
His website is here
the kittiwake trust
the kittiwake trust
The Multilingual Library is a project of the Kittiwake Trust, registered charity 1165318.
You can find more information about the Trust and the Trustees here
our philosophy
our philosophy
There is no such thing as a foreign language, just languages you don't understand.
Words are vitally important.
We never say 'asylum seekers' -
If they need defining further than human beings or refugees we use
the term 'asylum applicants'.
Feel the difference.
Words like 'diversity' suggest the opposite.
We are all notes in a melody that resounds around the globe.
ON THE MOVE
ON THE MOVE
We moved (reluctantly) from the lovely spaces we occupied in
Eldon Garden for 5 1/2 years. The units that made up the library
still stand empty...
We are hoping to move into a new location in Gateshead very soon.
We thought we would have been in by last Christmas but the months
have gone by and we have now been homeless for over a year.
I'm sure you can imagine how frustrated we are...
We have considered 14 properties and viewed 8 of them, had various
promises and crossed our fingers for so long we can barely type.
You can keep up to date on Facebook and Twitter
for any news and changes.
In the meantime, please be patient, you can still reach us
by email or via messages to the Facebook account.
CILIP AGM 2021
CILIP AGM 2021
The official presentation of the Library of Sanctuary award was made during the AGM of CILIP (the Library and Information Association). The recording of the event is available here
Black History Month
Black History Month
“Lovely place, good choice of books. Friendly folk. Peaceful"
“Lovely place, good choice of books. Friendly folk. Peaceful"
"Nice little place"
“A very welcoming library! We brought students from Action Language to visit this week. They were so pleased to find so many books in their own languages. They'll be back! Thank you!"
“The Library is a lovely, charming place. I am so grateful for such places in Newcastle, this one made me eventually truly get to like the city!.”
“Very welcoming - we popped in to see what it is all about (I am a linguist) - kids got crafty and I had a nice peruse followed by a sit down. Everyone is welcome :) x.”