Language resources
Do you want to learn a new language?
You can borrow a wide range of language courses in book, cassette and CD format in Westminster's community libraries. Telephone first to check whether the one you want is in stock, or search the catalogue and reserve online. You can also find Language websites using the Westminster Libraries Gateway to websites.
Do you want to read a book in another language?
Most Westminster lending libraries have collections of fiction in languages other than English. Here is a chart to show you which library has which languages. The last column shows which library in Westminster has the largest collection. Please note that this should not be understood to mean that the library specialises in a language, only that they have more stock than the others.
| Language | Libraries with stock | Best library to visit |
|---|
| Arabic | Church Street, Maida Vale, Paddington, Queen's Park, St John's Wood | Paddington (collection includes magazines for loan and some newspapers) |
| Bengali | Church Street, Maida Vale, Marylebone, Paddington, Pimlico, Queen's Park | Church Street |
| Chinese | Charing Cross, Church Street, Maida Vale, Marylebone, Paddington, Queen's Park, St James's, St John's Wood | Charing Cross (this is a specialist collection including music cassettes, CDs and periodicals for loan - visit the Chinese Library home page for further details) |
| Dutch | Paddington | Paddington |
| Farsi | Paddington (small amount) | Paddington |
| French | Charing Cross, Maida Vale, Marylebone, Mayfair, Paddington, Pimlico, Queen's Park, St James's, Victoria | Paddington |
| German | Charing Cross, Maida Vale, Mayfair, Marylebone, Paddington, Pimlico, Queen's Park, St James's (very small amount), Victoria | Paddington |
| Greek | Paddington (small amount) | Paddington |
| Italian | Charing Cross, Maida Vale, Marylebone, Mayfair, Paddington, Pimlico, Queen's Park, St James's (very small amount), Victoria | Paddington |
| Japanese | Paddington (small amount), St John's Wood | St John's Wood |
| Polish | Marylebone, Paddington and Victoria | Any of these three |
| Portuguese | Paddington (small amount), Victoria (small amount) | Paddington |
| Russian | Paddington, Marylebone | Paddington |
| Spanish | Charing Cross, Maida Vale, Marylebone, Mayfair, Paddington, Pimlico, Queen's Park, St James's, Victoria | Paddington |
| Urdu | Paddington, Queen's Park | Paddington |
