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.
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
The Little Black Fish (Mahi Siah-e Koochooloo / ماهی سیاه کوچولو)
Country of Origin: Iran
Creators: Samad Behrangi and Farshid Mesghali
Summary: Written as a political satire, this is the story about a little fish with big questions about the world and is determined to find the answers.
Major Award: Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator Award
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