DERRY — For those wishing to learn or improve their skills in other languages, Derry Public Library is launching a new "neighborhood" for world languages. A neighborhood within a library is a collection of related material, shelved together to expedite locating everything available in a special subject area.
"Our 'Travel Neighborhood' and our 'Jobs and Careers Neighborhood' are both popular and convenient" said Susan Brown, head of reference services at the library. "We decided it would make sense to put all of our language learning materials together — books, audio books, Playaways, dictionaries, videos and DVDs — so people wishing to learn German, for example, can find everything we have for that purpose in one spot."
The creation of this neighborhood coincides with the Library's new subscription to Mango, a language learning system available through the library's Web site, www.derrypl.org/electronicresources.htm.
Anyone with a Derry Library card can log on and start learning one of 21 foreign languages. Mango is an easy to use online language-learning system that teaches actual conversation skills via the Internet on a home computer. Web access, microphone, Derry Public Library card number and a PIN are needed. By listening to and repeating after native speakers, you'll not only learn the individual words and phrases, grammar, and conjugation, you'll also know how to communicate in practical situations and conversations.
The Derry Public Library reference department staff will be happy to help you get started using any of these resources. The library is open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
