Image by Gabriel Rodríguez on Flickr under CC BY-SA 2.0

Did you know the Queens Borough Public Library system is home to more than 800,000 foreign language books and employs 6 language specialists whose job it is to locate more materials for popular languages in the area?

Were you aware that Seattle Public Library teaches basic and intermediate English as a Second Language (ESL) classes every single weekday?

How about Pollard Memorial Library in Lowell, Massachusetts—did you know their blog is a great place to find out about local cultural events, like the Lowell Southeast Asian Water Festival, which celebrates the traditions of Khmer, Thai, and Laotian communities (many of which have large enclaves in Lowell)?

Are you sensing a trend here? That’s right—your local library wants to help you learn a language, and they’re equipped to do so! If you think musty old language books when you think of your local library, you’re in for a bit of a shock. Sure, they have a trove of books and audio tapes (both of which are still viable language-learning resources, not to mention they’re free at your library), but you may be surprised just how well-versed your local libraries are in terms of technology. They’re blogging, they’re tweeting, and they’re seeking out the best tech to provide to their communities.

The three libraries mentioned above, along with hundreds of others throughout the U.S. and worldwide, have stepped up their language resource game. They all offer Transparent Language Online accounts free of charge to their patrons, providing language-learning materials to their communities in 90+ languages! So, when you’re looking for language-learning resources, don’t count out your local library. Be sure to stop by and ask your librarians about their language offerings.

Want to learn a language with us? Find Transparent Language Online in a library near you!