Today (8th of February) is National Libraries Day, a day to celebrate and cherish our libraries.
We visit the Chandler’s Ford Library quite often. Today, I’m going to show you some features of the library. First, the multi-language automatic check-out machines.
What are the four languages on the check-out machines?
On the machine, you’ll notice that there are four language options: English, Chinese Simplified, Polish, and, astonishingly, Russian.
I could never understand why the Russian language is an option on the check-out machine in Hampshire libraries. I asked a few people in the library before but no one ever knows why. You will also notice that on the top left of these machines, the place name is spelt Chandlers Ford on three foreign language pages, but Chandler’s Ford on the English page. The irregularity is rather confusing.
(Note: click to view the picture, then click again to enlarge the picture.)
Second, Chandler’s Ford library runs interesting courses. Here is a list of courses and workshops in Chandler’s Ford library. Chandler’s Ford library also sells reading glasses, stationery, and souvenirs. You can also buy books at a great price during its clearance.
On Chandler’s Ford Today, we recently discussed how to spell our place name correctly. Based on my survey, on Welcome To Chandler’s Ford Today and Chandler’s Ford Or Chandlers Ford? posts, the majority of you argued that it is grammatically correct and logical to spell Chandler’s Ford with an apostrophe (plus s) after the singular noun.
However, I’ve found that Chandler’s Ford library is not consistent. It uses Chandler’s Ford as a logo, but it does not always stick to its principle in its notice to the public.
Library is a place to inform, to educate and to enlighten the public. I have high expectations on our library. I would love to see Chandler’s Ford library to be consistent with its spelling of our place name Chandler’s Ford.
Which languages?
In my other blog post The Polish delight on Janet’s Notebook, which I published last year, I argued that the languages chosen by our Hampshire libraries on the check-out machines possibly should support the more needy groups in our society, and their needs for education.
“Based on my encounters with people from different ethnic groups, the majority of the people who can’t (or can’t be bothered to, or who are culturally discouraged to) learn English are from South China, especially women. Sadly, a lot of people (especially women) whose dominant language is in Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali or Gujarati (which I called the Big 4) can’t function in English in this country. If the library is to offer any practical support to the needy groups, I feel that the languages needed would be the Big 4.”
From Janet on Janet’s Notebook: The Polish delight
In my post, languageomnivore shared his view about how libraries in the US responded to communities that speak another language:
“In the US, most libraries are responsive to communities that speak another language in their services and collections when people from that community identify themselves to the library and advocate for services or collections in that language. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
“In my observation, however–and this is just a layman’s observation–people in the US from South, East and SE Asian backgrounds advocate for the inclusion of collections in their language or about their cultural heritage less than people who identify with European cultures. In a hypothetical East Coast town that’s 2% Portuguese and 6% Filipino, my guess is that the library is apt to have a small but credible Portuguese selection and virtual nothing about Tagalog or the Philippines.”……
“Without doubt, however, the librarians are really in the driver’s seat; they control the library’s budget and collections. The onus is on them to look at census data and build collections that reflect their communities.”
“There’s also some work to do, however, (in the US at least), in educating under-represented groups about what the library is, where it is, and what resources it offers. I’m not sure they always know. ”
Comment by languageomnivore on Janet’s Notebook
Do you visit the local library? Do you think Chandler’s Ford should be spelt with an apostrophe by the library? How best can we make use of our libraries to support our multi-racial community?
Related Posts:
- Chandler’s Ford Today For Chandler’s Ford Community
- Is Chandler’s Ford A Jaguar? Meet Roger Clark.
- Neil Duddridge: The Man Behind Chandler’s Ford Today (With Huskies)
- Lib Dem Joined The Apostrophe Debate of Chandler’s Ford
- Chandler’s Ford Or Chandlers Ford? You Choose.
- Does Spelling Matter? Notes On Chandler’s Ford Library.
- How I love Your Comments
Print 
PDF
While I agree with you about the Big 4 (though many of these people cannot read their own language either), a case can be made for Russian as there are a surprising number of Russians about, particularly in the nursing or care industries.
I have only met one Russian lady in the past 15 years in this area. Thanks for this information – I don’t realise there is a huge Russian community which looks after our elderly people.
If you have more information, please share with us.
Many years ago, a few nursing students from north China arrived in Chandler’s Ford and worked long hours in a few local nursing homes. I met some of them and it was a big shock to them to be placed in Chandler’s Ford. They came to England through an agency which linked up with their university. The girls thought they were going to London. They left Chandler’s Ford after about a year.