Marathi-speakers will now have the opportunity to check out Books in their language from the Chandler Public Library, which expanded its collection recently to include 85 volumes in Marathi, the third-largest language in India.
Marathi is spoken in the state of Maharashtra, where it’s the official language. Pune, a capital of education, and Mumbai are located in Maharashtra.
The Books were donated by Akshaybhasha; the organization’s name is usually translated as “that language does not erode away.” In 2017, Akshaybhasha donated a similar number of Books to the public library in Tempe. The organization is encouraging other groups to recommend Books in their languages to library officials, to help keep the languages alive, and promote literacy among those who speak them.
The Chandler library’s collection manager, Marybeth Gardner, says the new Books are a start toward taking the library in somewhat different direction. She sees libraries as gathering spots for community members, and if people in the Marathi community are comfortable seeing the library as a spot they can come and enjoy themselves, she wants to help the library fulfill that role. Officials of facilities like this can use flyer printing to create a newsletter for patrons, telling them about new acquisitions.
Marathi speakers and other performers were on hand to celebrate the arrival of the new Books. Speakers discussed the Books, while actors and other performers read prose in both Marathi and English.
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