The We Speak Your Language (WSYL) Collections consists of material in Chinese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese languages.  Locations with permanent bilingual staff usually have proportionately larger WSYL Collections, with some smaller collections housed at locations without bilingual staff. The collections may include juvenile, teen, and adult titles in print, DVDs, music and audio cds, periodicals, and e-content.

We Speak Your Language Collection Locations:

Note: these may be in flux during bond work. See Where are collections during the bond construction projects?

Chinese: Holgate, Midland, Woodstock, and Central 

Russian: Gresham, Hillsdale, Holgate, Midland, Rockwood and Central

Somali: Capitol Hill 

Spanish:

All audiences: Albina, Central, Fairview, Gregory Heights, Gresham, Holgate, Hollywood, Kenton, Midland, North Portland, Northwest, Rockwood, St. Johns, Troutdale, Woodstock.

Children: Belmont, Capitol Hill, Sellwood

Children & Teen: Hillsdale

Vietnamese: Gregory Heights, Holgate, Midland, and Central 

Refer to the catalog to identify other library locations that may house smaller collections in these languages. 

All WSYL language materials, both adult and juvenile, are selected by the respective language selector with assistance from bilingual staff throughout the library system.

The World Languages Collection includes print material in Arabic, French, German, Ukrainian, and Japanese. There are adult and juvenile collections at Central Library and at Midland Library.

Materials are purchased through a vendor plan from Multicultural Books and Video (MCVB).