Community Languages

Community language collections

We have books for children and adults, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, and CDs in 13 different community languages.

عَرَبيْ (Arabic) - Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy
中文 (Chinese) - Brunswick, Coburg, and Glenroy
Hrvatski (Croatian) - Coburg
Français (French) - Coburg and Brunswick
ελληνικά (Greek) - Brunswick, Coburg, and Glenroy
हिंदी (Hindi) - Glenroy
Italiano (Italian) - All Merri-bek libraries
नेपाली (Nepali) - Glenroy
Polski (Polish) - Glenroy
සිංහල (Sinhala) - Glenroy
Español (Spanish) - Coburg and Brunswick
Türkçe (Turkish) - Coburg and Glenroy
اردو (Urdu) - Fawkner and Glenroy

There are also books, dictionaries, kits, and online resources for learning English and other languages.

Bilingual books and DVDs

Merri-bek Libraries have a selection of children’s picture books, picture dictionaries, ESL learning materials, and world movie DVDs in additional community languages alongside English text or subtitles. You can search to see what is available on our Merri-bek Libraries catalogue.

Suggestions and requests

We welcome suggestions for new items in community languages that are suitable for the library collection. You can make a suggestion for a new item in a community language using the form on our How to borrow page.

Before you suggest an item, please check to see if we already have the item in the library catalogue.

Community language collections at other Victorian libraries

You can find information about community language items for all Victorian libraries on the Public Libraries Victoria website. If items in a community language are not held by Merri-bek Libraries you can request up to 10 items from another Victorian library for free.

Please email ill@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or call 9389 8600 if you would like to request a bulk loan.

Community language eResources

Access to all online library resources (also known as eResources) requires using your Merri-bek Libraries member details. You will need to log in using your library card number (e.g. 2000301xxxxxxx). If you have not updated your password, it will be your date of birth in 8 numbers (e.g. DDMMYYYY).

eBooks, eMagazines, and eAudiobooks

Digital materials in community languages are available through the Merri-bek Libraries Overdrive website. You can also read eBooks, eMagazines, and Audiobooks when you are offline by downloading the Libby app from the Google Play Store website or from the Apple App Store website.

LOTE4Kids
Read and listen to children’s eBooks. Learn a language through storytelling on the LOTE4Kids website. With over 65 languages from all over the world, each book is provided with an English translation to help develop multilingual listening and reading skills. You can also enjoy LOTE4Kids through their app on the Google Play Store website or the Apple App Store website.

Newspapers and magazines

Access national and local newspapers and magazines from around the world in their original languages on the Press Reader website.

Language learning

We offer access to an online preparation and practice resource for learning how to read, write and speak English. This preparation and practice resource is called Road to IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The resource is available at two levels:

access the 'general' level of Road to IELTS on the Clarity English website
access the 'academic' level of Road to IELTS on the Clarity English website

If you are looking to learn and prepare for realistic conversations and communication in a new language, we recommend using the tools on the Mango languages website. The tools on this site are available in over 70 world languages including Spanish, French, Greek, Italian, and English.

Multicultural events

Conversation Cafe

Conversation Cafe is a weekly social group for adults who speak English as a second language and anyone interested in intercultural conversations. At Conversation Cafe you can practise speaking and listening in English. Updated times, dates, and locations of Conversation Cafe sessions are available on our Learning English and other languages page.

Chatty Cafe

Chatty Cafe brings the community together for friendly conversation, English practise and social connection. No need to book, just come along and make some new friends over a cuppa. Updated times, dates, and locations of Chatty Cafe sessions are available on our Library activities and events page.