LibraryCall is excited to announce the addition of Mariam Jalalifard to its content development team. Jalalifard will be responsible for developing Farsi content for LibraryCall's growing catalog of story recordings.

An experienced storyteller, librarian, editor, instructor, and certified Farsi translator, Jalalifard brings to LibraryCall a high level of cultural competence when it comes to reaching communities that speak the Persian language– both Farsi (the Iranian dialect) and Dari (the Afghan dialect). Jalalifard holds an MLIS degree, as well as master's degree in Language, Literature, and Linguistics. She is based in Northern California where she also works as a library supervisor at Sacramento Public Library.

"LibraryCall serves everyone in the community, and I'm excited to be the voice of Farsi speakers in our community," says Jalalifard. "I believe every child deserves a story of their very own. I want my own stories to break down the barriers between our children and the world. This is what motivates me as an interpreter, editor, and writer. I feel stories belong to all of us, and every child should be able to see themselves in the books they read. I want children who look like me to know they deserve to be the main character of any story."

Lori Ayre, LibraryCall Principal says:

We're thrilled to add a third language to LibraryCall's growing catalog of multilingual stories. The population of Farsi/Dari speakers in the United States is growing, especially with the large influx of refugee families from Afghanistan to states like California, Virginia, Texas, and New York. Many library systems find themselves without a Farsi/Dari speaker on staff to provide specialized programs. Our new Farsi stories will give libraries an option to include more families in their early literacy and family engagement efforts.

About LibraryCall

LibraryCall provides affordable phone and web app technologies to help libraries connect with patrons outside the library. Services include Storytime Direct, Dial-A-Story Studio, and LibraryCall Soundtrack. For more information, visit www.librarycall.com.