By Somalilandtimes network

Somali people in Bristol are set to get a better library service from the city council, thanks to a new initiative, which will see hundreds of new Somali language books on the library shelves at St Paul's Family and Learning Centre in Grosvenor Road.

Bristol's Lord Mayor, Councillor Abraham will officially open the new collection at 11am on Saturday, March 4. The Lord Mayor will be joined by guest speaker, Martin Orwin, head of Somali Studies at the University of London. The launch will also include a drama performance by Amana students at 12 noon, followed by storytelling from the Bristol Somali Youth and Cultural Society.

Under the new initiative, Somali people will be able to borrow a range of Somali language books, including: children's story books; graphic novels for teenagers, adult fiction and self-help books.

"An estimated 15,000 people of Somali origin now live in Bristol," said Kate Davenport, head of Bristol's library services. "Many Somali people are already library members and use the library regularly. By creating this new collection we hope more Somali people will join their local library and enjoy a range of new titles in their mother-tongue.

"This Somali collection will add to the library services' growing range of ethnic language books. And helps to underpin our drive to make our libraries more welcoming and accessible to all communities in Bristol."

Bristol's library services range of ethnic language collections in stock included: Arabic; Chinese; Gujarati; Hindi; Punjabi; Vietnamese, Pashto; Farsi: Kurdish; Serbo-Croat; Bengali, Urdu; Albanian and Czech.

The official book launch will be followed by the Amana Education Trust AGM. Amana are an educational trust running supplementary school for the Somali community in Bristol.

11am on Saturday, March 4 at St Paul's Family and Learning Centre, Grosvenor Road.
For further information contact Helen Hewitt, Corporate Communications, tel. 0117 922 2646 or 07810 506 579.

February 27, 2006

For the latest information from Bristol City Council see

www.bristol-city.gov.uk
Helen Hewitt

Media & PR Officer

Corporate Communications

Bristol City Council

Tel. 0117 922 2646

Fax 0117 922 4330

Mob 07810 506 579

Kaysar C Maxamed

The Somali Voice

Unit 12-14 Old Co-op House

38-42 Chelsea Road

Bristol. BS5 6AF

Tel: 0117 941 4432

MOB: 07960236638

E-mail: somalivoice@europe.com