Humanising Language Teaching
Year 6; Issue 2; March 04

London, UK, boasts a specialised ELT Library

The Central London ELT Library
154 Southampton Row
London
WC1B 5AX

020 7833 2773
www.centrallondoneltlibrary.org
email: eltlibrary@stgiles.co.uk

The Central London ELT Library provides a full range of books, resources and reference materials to students, teachers and other professionals involved in ELT. There is no membership fee and visitors have FREE ACCESS to course books, linguistics and methodology reference materials, teacher development materials, cassettes and listening facilities, CALL, video materials and facilities, journals, skills related materials, exam preparation materials, young learners' materials, internet access and web materials, information about further studies and jobs, and information about training courses.

The library also hosts The Teachers' Tuesday Club, a popular fortnightly forum for continuing professional development, and a programme of monthly talks given by distinguished guest speakers. These have included Professor David Crystal, Jeremy Harmer and Mario Rinvolucri.

This new reference library provides the only specialist service of its kind in London (perhaps in the UK). It offers an invaluable resource to those studying and / or working in institutions that may have more limited facilities and who want to make use of the full range of ELT resources available. This is the first time that such a service has been made freely available to English language learners, teachers and anyone involved in ELT.

Since its launch in 2001 the library has had over 1500 visitors including English language students, practising teachers based in the UK and abroad, training teachers on Cambridge CELTA and Trinity TESOL courses, and people working towards Diplomas in ELT and MAs in Linguistics. A number of these use the library on a regular basis for study and / or lesson planning ideas and materials. Feedback on the library has been consistently positive - there is a visitors' book in which users can comment on the facilities and materials available, and much of what is written there is testimony to the effectiveness of the service offered, e.g.

"Very helpful material." – S. Abbondmea, University of Rio.

"Excellent service." – H. Suoj, Poland.

"Really helpful – wide variety across all areas." – F. Blair, UK.

Centrally located in Southampton Row, just off Russell Square and three minutes' walk from the Underground, access to the library is convenient for anyone studying or teaching in or around London. The library is open in the afternoons, 14.00 – 18.00 Monday to Thursday and 13.00 to 17.00 on Friday, and at other times by special arrangement. In addition to all the facilities and resources available there are quiet study areas where people can work undisturbed, and there is a skilled librarian on hand to help with any questions or requests that visitors may have. The library also has its own website www.centrallondoneltlibrary.org where users can access the online catalogue and find information on new materials and forthcoming events.