Services

Multicultural services

The Multicultural Service of the State Library of New South Wales collects books in over 40 community languages including English as a Second Language. In some languages audio books are also held. The collection is available on loan through local public libraries. For further information about this service please contact your local library. Information about public libraries in New South Wales is also available in a number of languages.

Collection

The collection of languages other than English can be borrowed by the public through their local libraries. The collection includes:

adult fiction
adult popular non-fiction such as history, poetry and drama, cookery, medical information, crafts, politics and others
resources for children such as picture books, nursery rhymes, fables, bilingual books and sound recordings
English as a Second Language

The resources are in book format, including large print and audio-visual format.
Resources for learning languages other than English are also available.

Electronic resources

MyLanguage

MyLanguage provides access to search engines, web directories and news in over sixty languages. MyLanguage is a partnership between the State Libraries of NSW, QLD, SA, VIC, and WA and the NT and ACT Library and Information Services.

MyLanguage is an electronic multicultural library service that enhances access to online information resources for culturally and linguistically diverse CALD individuals and community groups.

This interactive site features:

public access to search engines, web directories and news in over sixty languages
training materials for CALD individual and community groups including:
translated fact sheets and training manuals for introductory courses on using the Internet and email or searching the web
assistance to libraries in providing both traditional and electronic services to CALD communities. This includes access to guidelines, standards, reports, articles, research and conference papers on many aspects of multicultural library services
a growing resource bank of specialist technical information of interest to CALD community groups, libraries and government agencies

This service is a collaborative initiative between the State Library of New South Wales; the Northern Territory Library and Information Service; the State Library of Queensland; the State Library of South Australia; VICNET (a division of the State Library of Victoria); the State Library of Western Australia; and the ACT Library and Information Services.

Multilingual Glossary

The Multilingual Glossary database is a professionally generated signage tool designed for libraries. The glossary contains common library phrases in 49 languages. This tool facilitates communication between library staff and patrons from diverse linguistic backgrounds.