By Diana Graham
Marshes of Glynn Libraries is a single-county public library system with two libraries located in Brunswick and St. Simons Island, Georgia. Glynn County residents enjoy a variety of free programming at both libraries. Following the COVID restrictions and lockdowns of 2020, Marshes of Glynn Libraries’ programming was primed for revamping and new ideas. It was perfect timing for Adrienne Brown, a community member offering to lend her knowledge and services to start a conversational French program. Conversational French was an instant hit and has since developed into a tight-knit group centered around their love of French culture and language.
That was in early 2021. Now in early 2023, Marshes of Glynn Libraries boasts an offering of five language programs that are free and open to the public: Conversational French, Conversational Spanish, Conversational Italian, American Sign Language, and English as a Second Language. Program attendance has grown, necessitating the split of the French, Spanish, and Italian programs into beginner and intermediate classes.
These five language programs help us accomplish our mission of “providing responsive, dynamic library services to meet the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs of the population.” While our library system does offer great online resources for our patrons to learn various languages, there is nothing like the camaraderie of an in-person program where everyone shares a common goal.
Follow this link to learn more about the Marshes of Glynn Libraries and their array of programs: https://moglibraries.org/.