Malayalam gets a cozy space in the Australian public library
The Malayalam section at the Max Webber Library in Blacktown City, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Members of the small, close-knit Malay expatriate community in Blacktown City – a council in the suburbs of Sydney in New South Wales – now walk into the sprawling 5,500 square meter Max Webber Public Library with a sense of pride.
On 22 May, the library – one of five main libraries in the Blacktown City Council network – introduced an exclusive Malayalam section containing 450 titles across genres. A smaller collection has also been made available at the Dennis Johnson Library, which is also part of the network.
“As a second-generation immigrant, this collection acts as a bridge between my two cultures, combining storytelling and language; two things I love. As someone who strives to improve my Malayalam on a daily basis, I plan to use this collection to improve my reading skills,” says Anvika, 16, originally from Kannur.
The first wave of Malay immigrants began arriving in the city in the 1960s, and today they are largely employed in the IT and healthcare sectors. According to the last census, Blacktown City has about 2,500 Malay residents, although it is believed to have grown significantly since then. However, it remains much smaller compared to other Indian communities.
30. language
“That is why the opening of a Malayalam section in the city’s largest library is such a recognition. Blacktown is home to people from nearly 180 countries. Malayalam has now become the 30th language represented in the library, alongside six Indian languages — Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu. The collection is now part of almost one sound repository of embryonic varnish.” Roy, a project manager hailing from Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district. Along with Prakash Palakkil, Johnson Philip and Satheesh Kumar, she formed a four-member task force formed by the council to organize the launch.
The inauguration was a vibrant showcase of Kerala culture, complete with a Mohiniyattom performance, children’s folk songs, Murukan Kattakkada poetry recitation and traditional ‘chendamelam’. Popular Kerala snacks were also served to the participants. About 130 members of the Malay community attended.
“The library will preserve our language, reconnect generations and strengthen the sense of belonging among the Malayalis who have settled here. I also hope that it will become a space where children born in Australia can discover Malayalam literature, while adults revisit the books that shaped their childhood,” says Sandhya Ginni, 45, an IT manager from Thrissur.
The constant demand from the community for Malayalam books prompted the council to fund a dedicated section. The titles have been acquired through the library’s regular supplier of Indian books and are displayed together without genre division. With strong community response, the council can continue funding with future selections tailored to community interests.
“The library will be invaluable to Malayalis who may have heard of acclaimed authors but never had the time to read them,” notes George Vilson, 77, a retiree from Guruvayur.
The section is also expected to help Malay children make connections with their mother tongue and culture. With more children’s books, the collection could support the activities of three Malayalam community language schools in suburban Sydney, run by volunteers from the diaspora.
Published – 10 Jul 2026 20:52 IST