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The World of Literature Travels To New Jersey Libraries

The International Youth Literature Collection (IYLC) curates children’s and young adult books—both translated and in their original language—that celebrate writing, visual style, and design from outside of this country. The collection of more than 1,000 books in print is permanently housed on the third floor of the Alexander Library at Rutgers University.

The IYLC is now launching a traveling collection that libraries may borrow. The sample collection invites libraries and the communities they serve to feature and display literature for children and young adults throughout the world. Participating public libraries have an opportunity to exhibit a curated sample of IYLC books that reflect a wide variety of cultures and peoples. The collection allows libraries to open the eyes and minds of all their patrons, particularly children and teenagers, to the riches of world literature.

The Traveling Collection includes:

  • Books representing a variety of languages from multiple continents.
  • Bibliographies of additional books from the collection that can be requested through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
  • A press kit for libraries with information about sharing world literature with their communities.
  • Program ideas for sharing global literature.
Curator Tao Yang and Marc Aronson show off the collection at Alexander Library.

Marc Aronson and Tao Yang are photographed in the Archibald S. Alexander Library Tuesday, December 12, 2023. (Photo/Mel Evans)

A Selection of Books in the Traveling Collection

Hatless

Hatless

Country of Origin: Kuwait
Summary: A young girl discovers a world beyond the hats that cover everyone’s heads and faces in the City of Hats.
Creators: Lateefa Buti and Doha Al Khteeb
Major Award: Sheikh Zayed Book Award for outstanding Arabic literature.

Frank’s Red Hat

Frank’s Red Hat

Country of Origin: Australia
Creator: Sean Avery
Summary: Frank’s big idea brings color to his black-and-white world, surprising his fellow penguins.
Major Award: 2024 Picture Book of the Year by the Children’s Book Council of Australia.

Fast Facts

Requests: The Traveling Collection and literature from the IYLC may be requested through the Interlibrary Loan program of JerseyCat.

Access: Browsing the collection is possible during hours when the Alexander Library Circulation Desk is open.

More information: Check out its LibGuide.

IYLC Core Team: Marc Aronson, Associate Professor of Practice, Library and Information Science, School of Communication and Information; Doris Gebel, Course Instructor, Department of Library and Information Science, and international youth literature scholar; Tao Yang, Collection Curator and East Asian Librarian, Alexander Library