Bollywood Classics and More in Library's New Collection

Looking for a good summer read or movie to watch?  At Livingston's library, there are plenty of choices, especially now that the  shelves are stocked with even more options.  Recently, the library expanded its World Languages Collection to include a mix of Hindi and Gujarti materials. 

Librarian Archana Chiplunkar is behind the addition of Hindi and Gujarti language materials, which include music, books, magazines, CDs and DVDs. The library's former World Language collection was comprised mainly of Chinese language materials.  

"The big thing is that we added media," said Chiplunkar, a native of Bombay, who immigrated to Livingston in 1993.

"It was a pleasure to work on, even just ordering the materials, to work with something familiar," she added, noting that she is pleased to serve the "sizable Indian population."

Chiplunkar selected the materials based on popularity and patron requests. She was sure to include books and DVDs from all genres. For the CDs and DVDs, she relied on her childhood memories.

"Many of the DVDs are nostalgic for me. The TV series are from the time I was growing up, and the music is what I always listened to," she said.

The DVDs range from classic Hindi movies and Gujarati plays to Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Many patrons – Indian and non-Indian alike, she said – have been renting the Bollywood movies (all of the selections have subtitles).

The movies hare stocked in the regular DVD collection, while the rest of the Hindi and Gujarti materials are on a single bookshelf behind the Adult Non-Fiction collection on the first floor, to the right of the main entrance.

The CD collection includes the work of A.R. Rehman, who composed for the film Slumdog Millionaire, and Ravi Shankar.

Aside from the added media, Chiplunkar vastly expanded the book offerings, from 50 to about 250. She started with an initial budget of $5000, which she said she surpassed "awhile ago."

She will continue to expand the collection on a monthly basis.

"I am glad to do it," she said, "people have been emailing me and thanking me for it."

The Chinese language materials are located near the teen area, and managed by librarian Lillian Hsu. The expansion is part of an overall project that will next incorporate Russian and Korean language materials.