August 13 , 2004

Helping hand: Treadwell Library reaches out to community

The MGH Treadwell Library hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 29 for its Community Languages Project. With the help of a grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners — in conjunction with MGH Interpreter Services and the MGH English for Speakers of Other Languages Program — the Treadwell Library purchased a collection of resources that meets the needs of both programs. MGH interpreters will benefit by having access to multilingual dictionaries and anatomy resources to help with translating information for patients. Employees who are new to the United States will have access to books, video and audio tapes that will help them learn English and provide information on becoming U.S. citizens. The project also enables the MGH Community Health Associates (CHA) to purchase and display easy-to-read English and Spanish pamphlets in several community health centers and high schools served by the CHA.

"The Community Languages Program supports the MGH's efforts to meet the wide-ranging multicultural needs of its patients and employees," says Elizabeth Schneider, director of the Treadwell Library. "We invite all MGH employees to use and borrow these resources. The Treadwell Library is here for everyone at the MGH to use."