St Albans Library Pilot: allow donations of Ukrainian and Russian books for our children

CONTENTS:

1. Our Goal
2. Proposal to Hertfordshire Libraries
3. Why Should I Sign?
4. Benefits for St Albans Library
5. Why This Petition Is Needed (Problem Statement)
6. Why This Matters to Families
7. Call to Action

1. Our goal:  Help create a welcoming library space where every child can find books in the language they speak at home supporting diversity, multiculturalism and tolerance.

2. We ask Hertfordshire Libraries to consider:

• Allowing a pilot programme in St Albans library to accept good quality donated Ukrainian and Russian children’s books
• Cataloguing these books so they can be borrowed and returned like other library books
• Working with local volunteers to help coordinate donations, catalogue and maintain the collection if needed

3. Why should I sign?

By signing this petition, you will support the long-term vitality of Hertfordshire Libraries while giving local children and families the opportunity to discover, share, and enjoy books in the languages they speak at home — strengthening our libraries as vibrant community spaces for everyone.

We believe there is an opportunity to pilot a limited exception to the Hertfordshire Library Policy not to accept book donations in foreign languages. Allowing a small pilot programme for donated Ukrainian and Russian children’s books would be a practical, low-cost way to make library in St Albans more accessible, inclusive and welcoming for all. It will also be a better use of public funds allowing the St Albans library a competitive advantage over other public libraries.

4. Benefits for St Albans Library:

Allowing community-donated language collections could also bring clear benefits to the libraries themselves. A unique multilingual children’s collection could make St Albans Library a destination for families, encouraging people to travel specifically to borrow these books and increasing overall library use:

• Increased footfall and library membership from multilingual families
• Higher borrowing activity and engagement with library services
• Stronger community partnerships with local parent groups and volunteers
• A more inclusive and representative library collection reflecting the diversity of St Albans
• Opportunities for cultural events, story times, and literacy activities linked to the collection
   

5. Why is this petition needed? (problem statement):

Hertfordshire is home to a number of taxpaying families who speak Ukrainian and Russian (600+ families). Many parents are raising bilingual children and want them to maintain their language while also fully integrating into life in the UK. However, there are currently very few opportunities to borrow children’s books in these languages.

Recently we learned about a successful initiative at Paddington Children’s Library where the library accepts donations of Russian-language children’s books, catalogues them, and makes them available for borrowing. The result has been a vibrant shared resource for families and a popular destination for multilingual readers.

Inspired by this, members of our local community approached libraries in St Albans to ask whether we could donate Ukrainian and Russian children’s books to create a similar small section. Unfortunately, we were informed that current policy across Hertfordshire Libraries does not allow donations from individuals or publishers.

We believe there is an opportunity to reconsider or pilot a limited exception for community language collections.

6. Why this matters to the families?

Many families do not have the space or financial means to maintain large home libraries, especially those who are newer to the UK, facing financial pressures or are in housing and rented accommodation.

Access to books through a public library allows children to read widely and regularly, which is essential for literacy, learning, and emotional wellbeing.

Specifically allowing donations of Ukrainian and Russian books would:

1. Support literacy and education

• Support school integration by helping children who are not yet fluent in English maintain reading habits while building confidence in English
• Let families borrow Ukrainian or Russian books to help them get comfortable with the library and discover English books
• Encourage a lifelong love of reading by providing culturally familiar stories
• Enable bilingual children to develop reading skills in both their home language and English

2. Help families integrate and stay connected

• Libraries are often the first public space where newcomers feel welcome
• Multilingual collections help families engage more confidently with community life

3. Strengthen community cohesion

• Shared resources bring together families from different backgrounds
• Parents and children meet through reading groups, library visits, and cultural events

4. Improve access for disadvantaged families

• Children from refugee or newly arrived families benefit particularly from free library resources
• Families who cannot afford to buy books can still access high-quality literature
   

7. Call to action

By signing this petition, you will support the long-term vitality of Hertfordshire Libraries while giving local children and families the opportunity to discover, share, and enjoy books in the languages they speak at home — strengthening our libraries as vibrant community spaces for everyone.