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William J. and Gloria Goodman Language Learning Lab
Practice learning English or another language in a language-learning pod. Each single-user study pod serves as a quiet, dedicated space to practice. Pods are equipped with iPads, headphones, microphones, and access to the Mango Languages and Transparent Language databases.
Language learning pods are available at all five Seminole County Library Branches. Access them for free with a library card for up to two hours during regular Library opening hours.
The William J. and Gloria Goodman Language Learning Lab was made possible by a gift from Seminole County resident Harry Jacobs. Mr. Jacobs made the gift in honor of his wife’s parents, William and Gloria Goodman, who learned to speak English after immigrating to the United States.
Mr. Goodman was 11 years old when he arrived in the U.S. from Poland in 1933. He served in the U.S. Army and had a successful career developing property, with his company building more than 15,000 homes in Central Florida. He also helped found the Jewish Community Center and Hebrew Day School in Maitland. He and Gloria were married for 52 years.
With such a generous donation marked for language-learning, the Seminole County Library wanted to create a new way for users to study independently. So, the idea for single-user study Pods was uniquely dreamt up by the Seminole County Library team.
The primary purpose of the Language Learning POD is to provide a way for patrons without internet access to be able to use Transparent Language and Mango Databases. The goal is to promote educational opportunities for people studying English as a second language.
- The PODS are available on a first come-first serve basis, for a maximum of 2 hours per day for language learning. No advance registrations are permitted.
- Other uses of the POD will be considered secondary and will be limited to 1 hour per day.
- The POD will be checked out at the Reference Desk and the patron will need to have a Seminole County Library card. The Reference staff will unlock the POD after checking out the POD to the patron.
- The POD may be used by adults 18 years and older only, unless special permission is granted for youth using the language databases.
- Only one person per POD.
- Equipment is not to be used for other purposes, removed or tampered with.
- The person using the POD must be the one checking the POD out. The allotted time is not transferrable.
- At the end of the session, the Reference staff will check for damages or missing equipment and relock the POD.
- NO food and NO drinks are permitted inside the POD.
- Any patron damaging the POD or the POD equipment will be denied future access.