Texas Border Business
The McAllen Public Library is launching a new World Languages Collection with an international festival with food, visual displays, storytime, and arts and crafts activities on Saturday, February 8, 2020. The festival will celebrate the successful introduction of new materials offered in Korean, Tagalog, and Hindi, adding to the library’s wide selection already offered in English and Spanish.
According to Library Director Kate Horan, “The New World Languages Collection will act as a gateway to introduce people in our community from diverse groups to the Library’s many services. We are excited to bring this new collection to the public and we plan to expand it in the future.”
All ages are invited to the free, family-friendly World Languages Festival on Saturday, February 8, 2020, where guests will enjoy stories featuring multi-lingual storytellers Cat Avila, Dr. Mohammed Uddin, to name a few.
Additionally, on display set to delight festivalgoers will be the temporary exhibit of Korean Lanterns on loan to the City of McAllen from the City of Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The City of Jinju famously hosts a world-renowned lantern festival every year. The Library is set to glow with more than a dozen giant lit sculptures depicting Korean characters, folk games, animals, instruments and other shapes of cultural significance.
Festivalgoers will enjoy complimentary food samples from some of McAllen’s diverse restaurants including Kusina, Kabob Guys, Seoul Asian Market & Café, and many more. In addition to food and stories, families will enjoy free children’s crafts and activities provided by the library and collaborating community organizations, including St. George Orthodox Church, Al Khair Islamic Society of RGV, India Association of the Rio Grande Valley, RGV K-pop Shop, India Association of the Rio Grande Valley, and others. Rounding out the entertainment will be an energetic demonstration of K-pop or Korean popular music by Moonlight Dance Team.
The World Languages Festival is a part of a weeklong celebration of international culture and languages. Discover Languages Week runs February 2 – 8, 2020 with special programs at all three McAllen Public Library locations, including the Lark and Palm View Branch libraries.
- Chinese Calligraphy – Just for Teens
McAllen Public Library, 4001 N. 23rd St., Tuesday, February 4, 6:30 p.m.
- Origami for Adults
McAllen Public Library, Tuesday, February 4, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- Duolingo
Lark Branch Library, 2601 Lark Avenue, Tuesday, February 4, 11:00 a.m.
- Bilingual Story Time
Palm View Library, 3401 Jordan Road W., Wednesday, February 5, 6:00 p.m.
- World Read Aloud Day – Families
McAllen Public Library, Wednesday, February 5, 6:00 p.m.
- World Languages Festival – Everyone
McAllen Public Library, Saturday, February 8, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
For more information, please call (956) 681-3000 or visit the library’s website www.mcallenlibrary.net.
