چکیده (انگلیسی):

Language scholars agree that including a wide rangeof literature to teach a foreign language is important.
However, limited research exist regarding the availability of literature written in Less Commonly Taught
Languages (LCTL) to enhance learning and to help Americans learn about other cultures, as well as making
such languages more visible in the American public.While highlighting the presence of literature in other
LCTL, this research examines the availability of books written in African languages in seven public libraries
in addition to three high school, four middle school, and twelve elementary school libraries in North Eastern
America. Preliminary findings indicate all public libraries examined do not have books written in any African
languages. A discussion on the implications of these findings for teaching and research is presented.
Strategies and ideas on ways universities offering LCTL and scholars who speak African languages could
begin to address this need are shared.