Celebrating Diversity

Children's Foreign Language Collection

Korean Children's Books Unveiled

In celebration of the Lunar New Year, Fairfax County Public Library Foundation unveiled a new, special collection of Korean children's books made possible by a $20,000 grant from ExxonMobil. This 833-book collection, bearing gift bookplates in Korean, is housed at George Mason Regional Library. This is the first of four grants to build children's foreign language collections in Korean, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese.

"By supplying Korean materials, we help both Korean-speaking people as well as those who wish to learn more about the Korean culture," says Patrick J. Dexter, Community Relations and Contributions Advisor for ExxonMobil. Dexter also serves as the Chairman of Fairfax County Public Library Foundation. "Libraries are special entities where information is free to all in this country."

Let's Talk About It

This series was made possible through Fairfax County Public Library Foundation through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association, as well as a donation from the Friends of the Sherwood Regional Library.

Dr. Mobley led a discussion of Praisesong for the Widow, a 65-year-old woman's search for her heritage.

Dr. Keith Clark led a discussion of If He Hollers Let Him Go. The story covers four days in the life of a black foreman in a southern California shipyard during World War II. Dr. Clark teaches English at George Mason University, and his area of scholarship includes African American literature.

Dr. Mobley discussed Devil in a Blue Dress. The book is an evocative tale of the author's well known protagonist, Easy Rawlins, in gritty post-World War II Los Angeles.

Funded through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association, as well as a donation from the Friends of the Sherwood Regional Library.