Mehrez loves to read the Wall Street Journal and the Sunday edition of the New York Times. Not only to stay informed, but to connect with the language, culture, and trends in the United States.
“It keeps us moving and improving,” he says. “The library makes sure everyone has the right access to free education and culture.”
Mehrez regularly visits the library with his family, but these days he does most of his newspaper and magazine reading from the convenience of home.
With some help from Houda, a manager trainee at the Doylestown branch of Bucks County Free Library, Mehrez learned how to access his favorite newspapers and magazines online. The library offers free standalone access to the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, as well as NewsBank and Flipster, which offer thousands of different newspapers and magazines.
“Houda showed me that I can read them online,” Mehrez explains. “I didn’t know that the library had the newspapers online! Whatever I ask, staff have showed me.”
To Mehrez, having access to these materials points to the power of a local library. “For us, the library was a very good source to learn not only English, but to improve as a member of society, to improve our skills, to be able to compete. That’s why we come to the library in Doylestown – it’s an amazing place.”
