Tel: 023 9282 2251
Cultural Diversity Services
Last updated: 23 August 2010 13:01 UK
Linda Collins - Cultural Diversity Librarian
Central Library
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth
PO1 2DX
023 9268 8259 (please use 023 9281 9311 whilst Central Library is closed)
libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Mission statement
- To provide a library service to the black and ethnic minority groups of Portsmouth
- To support and sustain the development of indigenous language
- To promote greater understanding of other cultures, traditions and religions
- To celebrate the cultural diversity of our city
Role
The Cultural Diversity Service has two main roles:
- To provide resources
- Outreach to black and ethnic minority groups
Resources in other languages
- Newspapers
- Leaflets
- Books
- Multimedia Packs
- Videos and DVDs
- Compact Discs
- CD Roms
Portsmouth Central Library
- Dictionaries
- European Literature Collection including Czech, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
- Children’s Dual Language Fiction in a wide variety of languages
- Ethnic collections including: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Kurdish, Punjabi, Thai, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese
- Basic English texts: Skills for Life
- ESOL
Many of these resources are stocked at or can be sent to the branch libraries in Portsmouth.
Tours of the Central Library can be arranged for black and ethnic minority groups as well as ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) students. Please contact the Cultural Diversity Librarian for more information.
The People's Network
Computers are available to use free of charge in all of Portsmouth’s Libraries. Software packages are available in a wide variety of languages.
Outreach
The Cultural Diversity Librarian is a member of the Multicultural Link Group, PASG and PRENO and will endeavour to regularly visit black and ethnic minority groups within the city. Where appropriate these groups may be issued with a library ticket so that resources may be lent and exchanged.
LASA (London Advice Service Alliance) has produced a 'Multikulti' website that has further information on Library Services in the UK written in Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Gujarati, Spanish and Turkish. To see their website, please navigate to their link located under External Links.
Multicultural Groups in Portsmouth
There are a number of organisations in Portsmouth that promote race equality issues.
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PRENO's mission is to promote race equality in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire by empowering minority communities to have an effective voice and promoting good practice among service providers. To see their website, navigate to their link located under External Links.
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Portsmouth Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS) work in partnership with schools to reduce the level of under achievement of ethnic minority pupils and provide support for parents needing additional information, knowledge and translation in order to participate actively in the education of their children. To see their website, navigate to their link located under External Links.
ESOL providers in the Portsmouth area
These are some of the LEA and WEA ESOL providers in the Portsmouth area and their contact details:
- Craneswater Centre: Christine Pickard - (023) 9289 3921
- Havant College: Agneta Powdrill - (023) 9271 4055, email agneta.powdrill@ntlworld.com
- Highbury College: Christine Rumsey - (023) 9229 8983
- Portsmouth College: Simin Walton - (023) 9266 7521
- South Downs College: Jenny Chandler - (023) 9279 7979
- Surestart Centre and Brambles Nursery: Supta Das Gupta - (023) 9234 4340, email supta.dasgupta@tpc.ac.uk
- WEA, Omega Centre - (023) 9229 1346, email info@omegacentre.org
