SALISBURY, N.C. — The Rowan Public Library’s Salisbury Branch hosts a weekly story time dedicated to bridging cultures.

From English to Spanish, Aida Garwood introduces both languages to children through music, dance, reading and arts and crafts. She says it’s the only dual-language program currently being offered at the Rowan Public Library. She helped launch the program in 2018. 

“We have a large Hispanic community in Rowan County so it’s just something special that we can do,” Garwood said. 

They held sessions every Friday morning at 10 a.m. Garwood said they paused it during the pandemic, but it returned this past fall when she began noticing the lack of area bilingual learning programs.

Garwood’s first and primary language is Spanish. She said she understands the challenges that come with learning a new language. 

“It didn’t come naturally to me. When I wanted to say something really fast and I had to pause, and I had to think about it. And then I was like, ‘it doesn’t have the same effect if I could say it fast,’ or how to participate in a conversation… ‘how do I say this, or how do I say that,’” Garwood said. 

The story time is for children of all ages, regardless of what language they speak. Garwood added that families who bring their children to bilingual story time, but don’t have a Hispanic background or Spanish ties, is an indicator that cultural interest lives in Rowan County.

“Its good because it feels like everyone is invited,” Garwood said. 

Garwood hopes to expand their bilingual story time program by bringing it to the other three branches in Rowan County. She added that she’s not aware of any other bilingual program in the county that introduces various languages to children under the age of five.