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The Significance of Plurilingualism in Sustainable University Library Services

Journal: Information and Communication Sciences Research

Issue 23/2019, p. 47-55

Author(s): Tina Petroiu
Subject(s): Library and Information Science, Communication studies
Published by: Universitatea din Bucuresti, Colectivul de Stiinte ale Informarii si Documentarii
Keywords: university libraries; language; plurilingualism; library services; communication; translating services; foreign language learning;

Summary/Abstract: Language is the main and the most effective vehicle of communication among people, a tool to fix their ideas and express them to their neighbour. The degree to which people manage to raise a foundation based on the rules of the language which they was born with depends on the degree to which their message has been received and understood; the higher this degree is, the better the communication is and the happier people are. This fact is imperative nowadays, in a vivid and modern society, since the unprecedented explosion of the media, especially the virtual one, requires that people should know other languages, mainly English, besides speaking their mother tongue. Free movement, especially of individuals looking for a job or for completing studies, should be taken into account. The university libraries face a great flow of young foreign students, so it is important that any librarian from all library services possess a bit of foreign languages, at least a bit of English; the more this bit, the more sustainable their activity. This goal could be achieved by means of language-learning courses, of all levels, but the university curriculum must include such compulsory foreign language-learning courses (English language learning), focused on both general and professional thesaurus. No less important is the role of language proficiency in other library services, other than communication and reference services, especially in the research activity, where librarians deal with texts mostly written in English. This article, therefore, aims to argue the importance of knowing foreign languages, especially of knowing English, in the effort to raise and maintain a high standard of the library services. Read more... >>>>