Brooklyn Cultural Center Opens First Georgian Library in US

NEW YORK – A small Brooklyn-based cultural center has opened the US’ first all-Georgian language library with the help of publishing house Miniatura and the Presidential Administration of Georgia.

The Dancing Crane Cultural Center, located in New York’s iconic borough of Brooklyn, currently houses exhibits highlighting Georgia’s rich artistic and literary heritage and conducts educational programs focusing on national traditions, including dance and language studies.

“When I see what is happening with Georgian emigrants in America, especially with children, I notice that most of them can only speak English. None of them are literate in Georgian. Opening a Georgian library will help Georgian emigres who live here,” said the center’s director, Victor Sirelson.

The opening of the Dancing Crane’s library comes less than year after a Georgian book corner was unveiled at a library in nearby Queens. Many of Georgia’s best-known publishers and private citizens were contributors to the new library’s collection.

By Ana Akhalaia

Edited by Nicholas Waller