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 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
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.
Open again
It is wonderful to have the library open again in what was once The Gloucester pub in Gateshead.
We are gettting such positive comments and making some really useful contacts with other local groups.
We have more than 100 new members, some people renewing their memberships and books being returned - one from 2017!
We have a community space where people can sit and read or study, or play chess, dominoes, draughts, Go, MahJongh
or do jigsaw puzzles. - OR.... sit and talk and make new friends.
We will have a celebration in the spring.
In the meantime we are registering as a Warm Space. News to come shortly.
To find us, look for the Kittiwake Trust Multilingual Library Gateshead on Google maps -
they finally have the pin in the right building!
You can keep up to date on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
(or whatever it's called this week - but look for the Borderline Books account) for any news and changes.
And if you want to lend a hand please get in touch.
CILIP AGM 2021
The official presentation of the Library of Sanctuary award was made during the AGM of CILIP North East
(the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals).
The recording of the event is available here.
New Acquisitions
We are receiving some wonderful books for children from Macmillan, Nosy Crow and others in lots of languages including Turkish, Thai, Hebrew, Dutch, Swedish, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Estonian, Ukranian, Chinese, Danish, Finnish, Slovene, Greek and more...
COMMENTS
“Lovely place, good choice of books. Friendly folk. Peaceful"
"Nice little place"