Libraries and leisure

Library services for people from minority ethnic groups

We have a broad range of services on offer to meet the needs of Hertfordshire's diverse communities.

Books, newspapers and magazines

• Books for adults in Indic, Chinese, Arabic and European languages. (If the language you require is not stocked at your local library, you can request a small selection to be sent free of charge. Requests for a specific title are subject to a reservation charge, if you are not entitled to concessions. Please ask the staff for details.)
• Dual language children's books in Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Italian, Panjabi and Urdu
• Fiction and non fiction titles in English reflecting the diverse cultures of the communities who live in Hertfordshire
• Newspapers and magazines in most of these languages and titles in English to cater for the needs of specific communities. Many community language newspapers are also on the Internet, which is available in all our libraries. Click on the external Kidon Media-link on the right hand-side.

Music and film

• Asian music collections at Hemel Hempstead, Letchworth, Hitchin, St Albans and Watford libraries
• Bollywood DVDs - the latest releases and classics - at Cheshunt, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hitchin, Letchworth, North Watford, Rickmansworth, St. Albans, Stevenage, Watford, Welwyn Garden City and Woodhall libraries.
• A wide choice of world and foreign language films with English subtitles at libraries across the county.

You can see the full details of all book, music and film titles listed on the catalogue and reserve them at any library or online. (Please note new feature films are not reservable).

Computers and the Internet

• Use of computers, email and the Internet is free for one hour a day for library members
• Word processing software in Chinese, Bengali, Gujarati, Panjabi and Urdu is available at a range of libraries
• Libraries run IT and Internet taster sessions to help you get started with computers. Ask at your local library for details.