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Multilingual Library Resources

Searching for multilingual materials using the online catalogue

Tips for finding children's multilingual books in the online catalogue:

  1. Select SUBJECT KEYWORD from the drop-down menu
    • In the text box type: [language] juvenile language
    • (ex: Chinese juvenile language, Spanish juvenile language, etc.)
    • Good search for languages with smaller collections (Nepali, Tigrinya, Swahili, Lithuanian, etc.)
  2. Select SUBJECT KEYWORD from the drop-down menu
    • In the text box type: [language] juvenile bilingual
    • (ex: Nepali juvenile bilingual, Hindi juvenile bilingual, etc.)
    • Finds books with bilingual text in the specified language plus English
    • Good search for languages with smaller collections (Nepali, Tigrinya, Swahili, Lithuanian, etc.)
  3. Select SUBJECT KEYWORD from the drop-down menu
    • In the text box type: [language] juvenile fiction
    • (ex: Chinese juvenile fiction, French juvenile fiction, etc.)
    • Good search for languages with larger collections (French, Chinese, Arabic)

Tips for finding adult multilingual books in the online catalogue:

  1. Select SUBJECT BROWSE from the drop-down menu
    • In the text box type: [language] fiction
    • then click on [language] fiction from the list of subject headings
    • (ex: Hindi fiction)
    • This search has an extra step but is more precise (fewer English language books)
  2. Select SUBJECT KEYWORD from the drop-down menu
  • In the text box type: [language] fiction
  • (ex: Chinese fiction)
  • Simplest search but may include some English-language titles

Tips for searching multilingual DVDs in the online catalogue:

  1. Select SUBJECT BROWSE from the drop-down menu
  • In the text box type: [language] drama
  • then click on [language] drama from the list of subject headings
  • (ex: Korean drama, Arabic drama)
  • This search has an extra step but is more precise (fewer English language films)
  1. Select SUBJECT KEYWORD from the drop-down menu
  • In the text box type: [language] drama
  • (ex: Japanese drama, Swedish drama)
  • Simplest search but may include some English-language titles

 

Notes:

  • These search results may sometimes also include books set in a particular country but written in English.
  • Languages with their own page in this guide include direct links to catalogue searches for books and DVDs in that language. Click on the navigation links on the left-hand side of this guide.