Celebrate the 25th anniversary of UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day in person or online. This event will highlight poetry from across the globe, featuring library faculty, staff, and friends performing poems in their mother or learned languages.

Following the readings, visitors will have the opportunity to explore a small exhibit of collection materials showcasing books of poetry in some of the many languages the library collects, enjoy international treats, and travel through a world of scripts. You may even learn how to write your name using a different alphabet!

Observed since the year 2000, International Mother Language Day is one representation of UNESCO’s efforts to preserve linguistic diversity and encourage the use of and education in mother languages. Here at the U-M Library, our collections and research support in languages other than English further the same mission. Join the International Studies and Asia Library teams for the celebration!