POLISH BOOKS IN PORTSMOUTH LIBRARY
Linda Collins in the Portsmouth Central Library is busy. There are piles of Polish books waiting to be catalogued and then placed on the shelves. Thank to a successful action Don't Be Shelfish With Your Book carried out in Poznan (Poland) the Polish community in Portsmouth will have access now to books in their native language.
Of course, migrant workers are very keen and determined to learn English as soon as possible in order to speed their integration with the British host community. However, keeping their native language alive is equally important. 
Inspired by BookCrossing (the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise) two young Polish people, Agnieszka Keck and Mariusz Piotrowicz came up with the idea of the Polish books crossing the English Channel to reach the Polish community in Portsmouth.
‘Many people's good will made it possible' says Agnieszka ‘the bookshop in Poznan, my home town, the local media who had broadcasted our appeal, many kind people who in response to our appeal brought us hundreds of books, Polish transport company helped us to cross the English Chanel and the Portsmouth Library who kindly received piles of books and now makes it available to us.
Many grateful thanks to the Portsmouth Library for their care and understanding of diverse communities' cultural needs.
