NPR

Brooklyn Librarian Becomes Unlikely Star With Her Bilingual Story Time

The pandemic has yielded a silver lining for the Brooklyn Public Library. Tenzin Kalsang's Tibetan story time has been drawing audiences in the tens of thousands.
Tenzin Kalsang's in-person story times in Tibetan and English on were held at the Williamsburgh branch of the Brooklyn Public Library system.

When Brooklyn librarian Tenzin Kalsang's story time for kids — in which she reads in both Tibetan and English — moved online last year, she was so nervous she couldn't sleep the night before.

"I was like, oh, my goodness, how am I going to do this?" she said. "When I get shy, my

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min readInternational Relations
Newly Elected Prime Minister In Solomon Islands Is Likely To Keep Close China Ties
Solomon Islands lawmakers elected former Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele as prime minister Thursday in a development that suggests the South Pacific island nation will maintain close ties with China.
NPR5 min readWorld
Violence Erupts At UCLA As Protests Over Israel's War In Gaza Escalate Across The U.S.
Members of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups in Los Angeles clashed, with reports of fireworks and pepper spray use. Elsewhere, universities are tearing down encampments and arresting students.
NPR4 min read
The Announcement Of A New Prime Minister Divides Haiti's Transitional Council
A surprise announcement that revealed Haiti's new prime minister is threatening to fracture a recently installed transitional council tasked with choosing new leaders for the gang-riddled country.

Related Books & Audiobooks