La bibliothèque n’a pas détruit le français (mais elle va le faire revivre): Roles for Louisiana’s academic libraries in French revitalization

Abstract

Amidst the State government's multi-pronged effort to preserve and develop the French language in Louisiana, libraries and library services are notable by their absence. The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) operates no programs based in or on libraries, lists no libraries among its consortial partners, and doesn't even provide a clear option for nominating libraries as “French Friendly†locations. This paper offers proposals for expanding the role of Louisiana’s academic libraries in French revitalization efforts, highlighting ways in which they can fill longstanding gaps in CODOFIL's school-centered programs and thereby facilitate a broader spectrum of language use across the lifespan of French learners, a greater engagement with minority communities in the opportunities afforded by French, and a deeper appreciation for the French language “as found in Louisianaâ€.