World Languages
Information about the different world languages collections held in libraries, and online resources in a range of languages.
We also have books in different languages for children. These are found in the Children’s area of the library.
Ciao and Welcome to the Italian Language collection!
Chinese
Japanese
Korean
Tagalog
World Languages
We also have titles available in the following languages:
- Afrikaans
- Afrikaans (children's titles)
- Bengali (children's titles)
- Arabic
- Arabic (children's titles)
- Dutch
- Dutch (children's titles)
- Finnish (children's titles)
- French
- French (children's titles)
- German
- German (children's titles)
- Greek (children's titles)
- Hindi
- Hindi (children's titles)
- Italian
- Latin (children's titles)
- Persian
- Persian (children's titles)
- Polish
- Polish (children's titles)
- Russian
- Russian (children's titles)
- Slovenian (children's titles)
- Somali (children's titles)
- Spanish
- Spanish (children's titles)
- Tagalog
- Tagalog (children's titles)
Te reo Māori and Pasifika languages
All our libraries have titles in te reo Māori in their Ngā Pounamu Māori collections.
Some libraries have Pasifika collections. Most of these books are for children. These include books in:
- Niuean
- Niuean (children's titles)
- Rarotongan
- Rarotongan (children's titles)
- Samoan
- Samoan (children's titles)
- Tokelauan
- Tokelauan (children's titles)
- Tongan
- Tongan (children's titles)
Bilingual dictionaries
World Languages collections by library
World languages collections include adult fiction and non-fiction. Some children’s material is also available in these languages at each of these libraries. Please note that the children’s resources in world languages are usually shelved in the children’s areas.
Akaroa Library
Aranui Library
Niuean, Rarotongan, Samoan, Tokelauan and Tongan. A large proportion of this material is for children.
Fendalton Library
Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.
Te Hāpua: Halswell Centre
Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, and Russian.
Linwood Library
Chinese, Korean, Japanese (books for children) and Russian.
Matatiki Hornby Centre
Papanui Library
Chinese, Japanese and Korean plus children's books in Chinese.
South Library
Chinese, Dutch, German, Japanese, and Korean
Shirley Library
Tūranga
Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Polish, Russian, and Spanish are found in the world languages collection on Auahatanga | Creativity, Level 4.
There is also a small selection of magazines in the following languages - Afrikaans, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese and Russian. Children’s books are found on Hapori | Community, Level 1.
Books in Niuean, Samoan, Tokelauan and Tongan languages are found in the Pasifika collection on Tuakiri | Identity, Level 2 . Most of these books are for children.
Upper Riccarton Library
Collection policy
We do not actively collect books in every language. For more information please see our World Languages Collection Policy.
eResources
LOTE4Kids
OverDrive World Languages
Mango Languages
Enjoy world cinema with Kanopy
PressReader: Newspapers from around the world
Read in your language with OverDrive
Join the library: information in community languages
Code of Conduct: information in community languages
Learning English
Borrow English language courses, grammar titles, or books in simple English to help you learn or access online resources focused on improving your English skills.
