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Glendale News Press, CA
July 6 2013
Glendale library system offers tales in other tongues: Armenian and Spanish
The Stories in Other Languages program expands its services to include toddlers.
By Daniel Siegal, July 6, 2013 | 5:03 p.m.
At the Library Connection in Glendale's Adams Square Saturday,
librarian Kristine Markosyan read children's stories to about 10
wide-eyed toddlers in a scene that is a common sight at public
libraries - except this story-time was in Armenian, and included
versions of traditional Armenian fairy tales.
The session was just one instance of the Glendale Library's Stories in
Other Languages program, which provides the same story-time
programming for young children that is offered throughout the system,
but in Armenian or Spanish.
The programs are offered once a month at the Library Connection and
the Central, Grandview and Pacific Park libraries.
Markosyan said after the program's conclusion that the program was
part of the library's efforts to encourage all members of the Glendale
community to take advantage of the library's services.
"I've been seeing more Armenian families in the library, at the other
story-time programs, she said.
Markosyan said the Spanish language story-time program has seen
similar levels of turnout as the Armenian one.
According to 2010 Census data, 55% of Glendale residents were born in
a foreign country, and Markosyan said that new arrivals might not
realize that the library wants to offer programs for them as well.
"We do have people asking if we offer programs in Armenian, and people
are surprised that we do," she said. "If there's more demand, we'll do
more."
For first-time attending parent Harout Shamamian, who was born in
Yerevan but grew up in America, the program was a chance to help his
children grow up bilingual.
Shamamian said that mostly Armenian is spoken in his household,
because his children, Patrick, 3, and Lillian, 6, are learning English
at school, but he wants to ensure they are connected to their
heritage.
Although the program has been in effect since 2008, Markosyan said
that recently the library started offering it to younger toddlers to
capture a new generation of the Armenian community.
"I think those kids grew up," she said. "I'm noticing, too, the new
generation are trying to reconnect with their culture."
Sam Darbinian, who was at the library Saturday with his 2-year-old
twins and their 5-year-old brother, said the program was important
because it instilled a love for reading in a generation that is
bombarded with digital temptations.
"You want to get them interested in reading," he said. "It's easy to
find entertainment, but not something educational."
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-gnp-me-glendale-library-system-offers-tales-in-other-tongues-armenian-spanish-20130706,0,3767237.story
July 6 2013
Glendale library system offers tales in other tongues: Armenian and Spanish
The Stories in Other Languages program expands its services to include toddlers.
By Daniel Siegal, July 6, 2013 | 5:03 p.m.
At the Library Connection in Glendale's Adams Square Saturday,
librarian Kristine Markosyan read children's stories to about 10
wide-eyed toddlers in a scene that is a common sight at public
libraries - except this story-time was in Armenian, and included
versions of traditional Armenian fairy tales.
The session was just one instance of the Glendale Library's Stories in
Other Languages program, which provides the same story-time
programming for young children that is offered throughout the system,
but in Armenian or Spanish.
The programs are offered once a month at the Library Connection and
the Central, Grandview and Pacific Park libraries.
Markosyan said after the program's conclusion that the program was
part of the library's efforts to encourage all members of the Glendale
community to take advantage of the library's services.
"I've been seeing more Armenian families in the library, at the other
story-time programs, she said.
Markosyan said the Spanish language story-time program has seen
similar levels of turnout as the Armenian one.
According to 2010 Census data, 55% of Glendale residents were born in
a foreign country, and Markosyan said that new arrivals might not
realize that the library wants to offer programs for them as well.
"We do have people asking if we offer programs in Armenian, and people
are surprised that we do," she said. "If there's more demand, we'll do
more."
For first-time attending parent Harout Shamamian, who was born in
Yerevan but grew up in America, the program was a chance to help his
children grow up bilingual.
Shamamian said that mostly Armenian is spoken in his household,
because his children, Patrick, 3, and Lillian, 6, are learning English
at school, but he wants to ensure they are connected to their
heritage.
Although the program has been in effect since 2008, Markosyan said
that recently the library started offering it to younger toddlers to
capture a new generation of the Armenian community.
"I think those kids grew up," she said. "I'm noticing, too, the new
generation are trying to reconnect with their culture."
Sam Darbinian, who was at the library Saturday with his 2-year-old
twins and their 5-year-old brother, said the program was important
because it instilled a love for reading in a generation that is
bombarded with digital temptations.
"You want to get them interested in reading," he said. "It's easy to
find entertainment, but not something educational."
http://www.glendalenewspress.com/news/tn-gnp-me-glendale-library-system-offers-tales-in-other-tongues-armenian-spanish-20130706,0,3767237.story