Wilkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome to the Library!

In this space, we have talked about using resources of the library, without coming to the library. You've read about downloading eBooks to be used on your mobile reading devices, and you've heard about our new iPhone app that lets you use our catalog and check your account from your mobile phone. 

Are you beginning to think that no one comes to the library anymore? Well, our neighbors visited Sherwood Regional 372,638 times last year (FY 2010) to borrow books, read magazines, and attend meetings of non-profit groups like homeowner associations and scout troops. This week, we wanted to tell you about a service that the Sherwood branch is instituting on Tuesday June 14. Many of our neighbors speak a first language other than English. Two volunteers have stepped forward to lead an English conversation group at the library on Tuesday mornings at 10:30. It will be similar to programs at other branches, including Kingstowne Library on Telegraph Road. These sessions  are free, and the intent is to give adults the chance to practice speaking English. Calling the branch to make reservations to join us is the very first step. Volunteers who lead these efforts field questions about our national holidays, explain American idioms, and provide suggestions about solving problems. Those wishing to practice their skills in written English are encouraged to sign up for classes at the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia (www.lcnv.org) or to enroll in Adult Education classes with Fairfax County Public Schools (www.fcps.edu/aceclasses).    

It is the mission of the Fairfax County Public Library to serve the educational and recreational needs of our residents. These conversation group sessions, our collection of English as a Second Language (ESL) materials, our recorded world language materials, and our new Mango online resource in some 34 languages are ways we seek to help our customers become fluent in English--and other--languages. For those who wish to learn to communicate by computer, our tech tutor volunteers conducted some 205 sessions in FY 2010. If you prefer to learn by watching DVDs, we have plenty of those for adults and for kids. Just give us a call or stop by the information desk and we'll help you find the right resource!