Washoe County Library now offers free access to Rosetta Stone, an award-winning online language learning platform, giving patrons another tool to build language skills. Library officials said the addition is in response to frequent requests from library users for technology-based language services.
Rosetta Stone provides resources to help users improve their reading, writing, speaking and literacy skills in 24 languages, including Spanish, Japanese and Arabic. The platform focuses on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, offering an interactive learning experience.
John Andrews, internet services librarian for Washoe County Library, said Rosetta Stone complements the library’s existing digital learning tools, such as Mango Languages, which has been available for some time.
“Rosetta Stone’s visual approach offers an alternative to other text-based resources offered by the library, providing an additional resource to help meet the language-learning needs of all our users,” Andrews said.
Rosetta Stone’s core features include live classes with a language coach, on-demand videos that explore languages and their cultures, travel-focused phrasebooks for quick learning and an audio companion for users who want to practice pronunciation and vocabulary on the go. These features aim to provide a comprehensive language learning experience.
The library’s decision to offer Rosetta Stone aligns with its mission to “connect people with information, ideas and experiences to support an enriched and engaged community.” By adding Rosetta Stone to its range of services, Washoe County Library continues to expand its digital offerings, which already include a variety of learning resources across subjects.
Rosetta Stone is free for Washoe County Library cardholders. To access the service, patrons can visit washoelibrary.org/rosettastone. Those who don’t have a library card can sign up online at washoelibrary.org/librarycard.
SOURCE: Washoe County Library
