“We are going to the library,” Cecilia, our lovely Spanish teacher, told our class as she walked into the room.
All of us looked at her with surprise and a bit of confusion.
“We are going to the library now,” she went on to say.
Vincent and I watched the other students begin to pack up their things and get up from their seats. We did the same—following suit.
I started to put on my coat (Yes, it’s cold in Spain!) and take my purse.
“Is the library here in the community center?” I asked in my limited Spanish.
“Yes,” our teacher said with a smile.
“I don’t know the library here,” I replied—again in broken Spanish.
Thankfully, Cecilia is used to “broken language,” so she is more than able to piece it all together in her understanding.
Our class of seven students walked down the hallway into a small library room lined with books—Spanish books.
Oh, how I love books, bookstores, and libraries! I love to be surrounded by books—even ones that I never read. They comfort me and make me happy.
“Wow, there’s a library in our community center!” I thought to myself. “Granted, I can’t read these Spanish books yet, but soon.”
The librarian welcomed us warmly and then began to speak to our class in Spanish—only in Spanish—and rapidly. Perhaps she didn’t realize at first that we were newbies in her native language. Our vocabulary and fluency were obviously quite limited.
“Hoy es el dia internacional de la biblioteca,” she said proudly, with a smile.
‘International Library Day’?
Then, knowing that I was an American, she turned to me and said with a strong accent in broken English, “Today is International Library Day.”
My jaw dropped open, and I replied, “No sé.” I wanted to say, “I didn’t know,” but since I am limited right now to verbs in the present tense, I said, “I don’t know.”
After a 5-minute presentation of the center’s library and resources, we walked back to the classroom.
I went on to tell my teacher that my current level of reading in Spanish is equivalent to my six-year-old son’s level. Pierre regularly brings Spanish children’s books home from his school library. We can read them together. There are a lot of beautiful illustrations and only a few words per page for me to decipher—with the help of the pictures.
I Need Children’s Books!
Unfortunately, our community center’s library doesn’t have any children’s books. I asked the librarian if there was another library nearby. She informed me that there is a larger one at the Cultural Center in town. They have children’s books there, so Vincent and I will soon make a trip to the library. It will be another cultural learning experience as we navigate how to obtain a library card, find books, and check them out to read at home.
Lots to Learn
It was a fun and short Spanish class field trip to the center’s library down the hallway; however, I learned so much.
I learned . . .
—There is a library in our community center.
—Our town’s Cultural Center has a library.
—Today is “International Library Day.”
—How to say “library” in Spanish—“biblioteca.” Thankfully it’s close to French “bibliothèque.” I won’t forget!
Curious
Curious to know if “International Library Day” is a Spanish national holiday or an international day celebrated around the world, I did some quick research on my telephone in class.
I put on my cultural awareness glasses and became a “Cultural Learner.” It doesn’t take much time or effort—thanks to google!
Through a quick search on my phone, I discovered that today, October 24, is “International Library Day” in Spain only. It is a national—not an international—holiday.
I found a great website, NAPLE (National Authorities on Public Libraries in Europe), that gives a list of all the countries that celebrate “International Library Day” and their specific dates of celebration.
Here is what NAPLE says about “Library Days” around the world:
“Library Days are held nowadays in many countries as a day for celebrating libraries, highlighting their importance in today’s society. Sometimes they are devoted to a specific theme each year, or focus in reading, or in a specific target audience . . . Sometimes the activities last the whole month!“
NAPLE
You can look at NAPLE’s list and find out if and when your country celebrates “International Library Day.”
Spain
Here is what it says about Spain:
“In Spain, we have celebrated ‘Library Day’ on the 24th of October every year since 1997 to commemorate the destruction of the Sarajevo National Library, set on fire in 1992 during the Balkans War. It’s an initiative from the Asociación Española de Amigos del Libro Infantil y Juvenil, (Spanish Association of Friends of the Children and Young Adults Book) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture.“
NAPLE
Very interesting!
Let’s Celebrate!
Whether or not your home country celebrates “International Library Day,” let’s all take a moment to celebrate libraries, books, reading, and free and public access to knowledge and information!
If you have a library near you, go by yourself and explore it, or take your child or a friend along with you . . . or even your dog!
If you don’t have a library near you, find a book to read at your house or online, or listen to an audio book on the internet.
Go to the library today—it’s “International Library Day” in Spain!
El Dia Internacional de la Biblioteca!
In the meantime, here’s a peek at “The World’s Most Beautiful Libraries—In Pictures” to get us all started celebrating!
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON YOUR CULTURAL GLASSES AND DEVELOP YOUR CULTURAL AWARENESS, JOIN US ON THE “5-DAY CULTURAL AWARENESS CHALLENGE.” SIGN UP HERE.
—THE CULTURAL STORY-WEAVER
LET’S WEAVE CULTURES!
Did you know that today is the “International Library Day” in Spain? Do you know if your country celebrates “International Library Day”? If you don’t know, or if you don’t know the date, check out NAPLE’s list of countries and dates or do some research on your own country.
We invite you to tell us your own cultural stories and global adventures . . . as you engage with the world, breaking down barriers, building bridges, and “weaving cultures”! Write about them in the comment box below.
