100 Chinese language books donated to Cockburn Libraries

The books were gifted to Cockburn Libraries by the Cockburn Chinese Community Association which asked the City of Cockburn to establish the Stories in Chinese sessions during community consultations in 2018.

The new Chinese language books, many of them award-winning, cover different ages and topics including a collection from 2012 Nobel Prize for Literature winner, author Mo Yan.

There are books on learning the alphabet as well as graphic novels and picture books for children.

Two CCCA members volunteered at the library in the weeks leading up to the donation to help library staff catalogue the books into the lending system. The books are available to borrow from the Languages Other Than English (LOTE) collection.

“By donating these books, the CCCA is expanding our collection of Chinese books and has provided us with the opportunity to share books with our community that may not have gained attention otherwise,” Cockburn Libraries Young People’s Services Coordinator Jessica Donald said.

At this month’s Stories in Chinese session, held a week earlier than normal to host the donation celebration, CCCA chairperson Carol Zhang read one of this year’s Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Shortlisted books, Heads and Tails: Insects by John Canty translated to Chinese for the session. All attendees aged 18 and under were automatically entered into the library’s Children’s Book Week competition with nine age-appropriate prize boxes up for grabs.

So far this year, seven Stories in Chinese sessions have been held for 185 children, and 385 people in total including parents, with an average of 26-30 children from diverse backgrounds attending each session.

The first session in January attracted 50 children. They are part of the City’s efforts to reduce isolation in the community for Chinese-speaking residents and to maintain and pass on cultural heritage to the community as a whole.

Residents from a Chinese background are the top culturally diverse community in Cockburn, comprising about 3.5 per cent of our population.

Stories in Chinese sessions are normally held at Success Library by CCCA volunteers on the third Monday of the month. The next session will be held on 16 September 3.45-4.30pm.