Saturday 29th June 12pm

Come and visit the Kittiwake Trust Multilingual Library in Gateshead – the first Library of Sanctuary in the North East. The Multilingual Library started more or less by accident when a student volunteering at Borderline Books mentioned that we had more books in a wider selection of languages than the universities have now. That led us to stop giving them away free and preparing them to build a library. 

We currently have 126 languages and dialects and more than 20,000 books, with perhaps nearly as many again waiting to be catalogued. New stock arrives every week from publishers, authors and agents who have no use for multiple copies of translated books. Where we receive more than one copy of a book the rest go to Borderline Books and on to hospitals, community groups, schools and other multilingual libararies (of which there are very few). Our Patron Professor David Crystal reckons our library is unique, being independently run, open to the public and with such a wide range of languages.

We will show you round the somewhat unconventional arrangement of the library, answer your questions, listen to your advice and look forward to sitting round a table with you to share some lunch.

It would be great if you could bring food to share (like a potluck) – coordinate with kittiwake@kittiwaketrust.org.uk so we don’t end up with 20 kilos of potato salad and nothing else. 

Visit the Kittiwake Trust Multilingual Library website.

How to register for the tour

Registration for this visit will be open until 22nd June 2024

A maximum of 15 people can attend the visit to the Multilingual Library.

This event is free for CILIP members. 
The charge for non-members is £5 + VAT.

For queries about this visit please contact Amina Marix Evans kittiwake@kittiwaketrust.org.uk 

Your confirmation email will include details of where to meet for the tour and information about public transport.

Book now

Location Map