Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

AAPI_LBPL_2022_Card
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! We are excited to celebrate AAPI culture through special programs for kids, teens, adults, and the entire family across all our library locations. Printable calendar of events here.

Thursday, May 5

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Join us for a very special event and learn about Children’s Day (or Japanese Boy’s Day) with a short storytime, crafts, activities, and traditional Japanese sweets. 

Learn about the Angkorian world! We will discuss some findings from the University of Hawaii’s part of The Greater Angkor Project that shed light on how people lived and worked in this ancient kingdom. For teens and adults. 

 

Saturday, May 7 

Cambodians in Long Beach | 3 PM – 4:30 PM @ the Miller Room, Billie Jean King Main Library  

As part of the Miller Room Local History Lecture Series, explore the history of the Cambodian community in Long Beach and the Cambodian Community History and Archive Project (CamCHAP).  This program will be presented by Dr. Susan Needham, alinguistic anthropologist at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and Dr. Karen Quintiliani, an applied anthropologist at California State University, Long Beach.   

 

Tuesday, May 10 

Calling all board game lovers -- join us as we kick off monthly game nights at the Miller Room! This month we'll be playing variations of the Indian board game Pachisi -- including Parcheesi and Sorry!, two American adaptations of Pachisi. For all ages. 

 

Thursday, May 12 

Join us for a special ArtLAB with a special guest Benson Shum: artist, writer, illustrator, and animator extraordinaire. Benson has worked at Disney as an animator for Frozen II, Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Encanto. Benson is also a published author and illustrator with notable works such as Anzu the Great Kaiju, and Holly's Day at the Pool. For children ages 7 and up. Registraion required.

 

Friday, May 13 

Asian Film Series: Eat Drink Man Woman | 2:30 PM – 4:45 PM @ the Miller Room, Billie Jean King Main Library 

As part of our monthly Asian Film Series @ The Miller Room, we'll be watching and discussing the delicious 1994 Taiwanese foodie flick Eat Drink Man Woman, directed by Ang Lee. Rated PG, limited seating.  

 

Saturday, May 14 

Teens will have a chance to taste test items (chips/gummies) from different countries in Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Experience and taste flavors of a different culture! 

Did you know that the popular Latin American sauce “chamoy” traces its origins to Asia? Join us on a cross-cultural food journey as we learn more about chamoy and other Latin American cuisine with Asian roots. Samples provided, for all ages. 

 

Furoshiki with Stacy Wong 

Furoshiki are Japanese cloth squares used for wrapping items. Join artist Stacy Wong for this furoshiki cloth printing and wrapping tutorial program! Create your own unique furoshiki print and practice various wrapping techniques. Registration is required, space is limited. For teens and adults. 

 

Saturday, May 21 

 

Celebrate AAPI stories and culture at the first ever FAB LB! Meet local AAPI adult, teen, and children’s authors as they share their work through a series of readings and panel discussions. Join us for children’s activities, cultural performances, and a creative writing workshop for teens and older! Featured books and sweet treats available for purchase. Register here.

Animanga Club Kick-off | 1 PM – 2 PM @ the Teen Lounge, Billie Jean King Main Library 

Teens (ages 13-17) are invited to enjoy new and classic anime and manga alike! Explore themes, discuss topics, analyze characters, or nerd-out on the random storylines.  

Wednesday May 25 

Calling all teen ARMY (both new & old) or K-pop enthusiasts! Join us in celebrating BTS, the global super group from South Korea. Drop by for some snacks, enjoy some music, declare your bias, and make a button and/or bracelet to show your allegiance! Teens ages 13-18 only! 


 AAPI-THEMED STORYTIMES 

 

Thursdays, May 12 & May 19 | 10 AM @ Billie Jean King Main Library - Cuentos y Cantos: the AAPI Edition! 

Saturday, May 14 | 10:30 AM @ Bret Harte Neighborhood Library - Family 

Tuesday, May 17 | 4:00 PM @ Mark Twain Neighborhood Library – Afterschool, Theme: Pandas! 

Saturday, May 21 | 10:30 AM @ Los Altos Neighborhood Library – Family 

Saturday, May 21 | 11:30 AM @ Mark Twain Neighborhood Library – Toddler, Bilingual Spanish 


GET CRAFTY! 

We’ve collaborated with Los Angeles artist, Markedbym, to bring you 3 unique Asian Pacific American Heritage Month coloring sheets! All 3 designs are available for pickup at any LBPL branch, or you can print the designs from our website. 

 

Make & Take Crafts @ Bret Harte Neighborhood Library | May 17 – May 31 

Stop by the Bret Harte Library between May 17 to May 31 to make a paper version of the Vietnamese nón lá (conical) hat that you can wear! Or decorate and craft your very own Asian paper fan! Supplies may be limited. 


VIRTUAL EVENTS 

 

Food Talk: Cambodian & Filipino Desserts! | Wednesday, May 11 @ 2 PM 

Learn more about some of our favorite, yummy Filipino & Cambodian desserts! 

 

Food Demo: Spam Musubi | Wednesday, May 18 @ 2 PM 

Learn to make a Hawaiian favorite, spam musubi, a delicious sushi-like combination of rice, seaweed, and Spam! 

 

AAPI Book and Film List 

Check out LBPL's AAPI Book and Film lists
Adults
Teens
Kids
Films