Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a rich heritage thousands of years old and have both shaped the history of the United States and had their lives dramatically influenced by moments in its history.
In 1978, a joint congressional resolution established Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. The first 10 days of May were chosen to coincide with two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: the arrival, in the United States, of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and contributions of Chinese workers to the building of the transcontinental railroad, completed May 10, 1869.
In 1992, Congress expanded the observance to a month long celebration that is now known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Today the United States has a population of 22.9 million Asian Americans and 1.6 million Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders!
The Library and the City of Palo Alto are looking forward to celebrating our Asian American and Pacific Islander community and sharing their rich heritage through activities, events, and education.
Library Events:
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Family Storytime, opens a new window: Join our librarians for Asian-themed stories, rhymes, and songs on Facebook Live, opens a new window!
- Tuesday, May 4 @ 11 AM
- Friday, May 7 @ 11 AM
- Wednesday, May 19 @ 11 AM
- Monday, May 24 @ 11 AM
- Virtual Author Event with Samantha Mui, opens a new window (Thursday, May 13 @ 7 PM): Samantha Mui will introduce her cookbook, Melting Pot: Stories and Recipes from a Chinese American Daydreamer, and talk about the process of crafting recipes into a book. Registration is required.
- Virtual Author Event with Jeanette Arakawa, opens a new window (Thursday, May 27 @ 7-8:30 PM): Jeanette Arakawa will discuss her autobiographical novel, The Little Exile, opens a new window, based on her own experience as an internee in the 1940s at the Rohwer War Relocation Center in Arkansas. Registration is required. This event is sponsored and co-hosted by The Bill Lane Center for the American West, opens a new window and will be moderated by City Manager, Ed Shikada. Jeanette has donated free copies of the book to give away, and they will be available in May at the Mitchell Park and Rinconada Libraries, while supplies last.
- We're collecting AAPI recipes from the community! Share your recipe, opens a new window to be featured on our website.
- Check our YouTube, opens a new window page for recipes, including how to make lumpia, opens a new window!
City Events:
- Palo Alto Art Center–Koi Sculpture: In Asian cultures, koi are often associated with strength of character, perseverance, accomplishment and courage. The fish also symbolize good fortune, success, prosperity and ambition. The Art Center, opens a new window will be offering a koi sculpture take-home ceramics kit. Participants can order a kit for $25.
- #StopAsianHate Rally, opens a new window (Sunday, May 2 @ 2 PM): Show your support at the march and rally on King Plaza.
- Movie in the Park (Friday, May 21): Catch a screening of the animated film Mulan, opens a new window at the Mitchell Park South Field.
- Check the City's Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month webpage and calendar, opens a new window for more events to come!
Book Recommendations:
- AAPI Heritage Month: Picture Books, opens a new window
- AAPI Heritage Month: Middle Grade Books, opens a new window
- #StopAsianHate - Celebrating AAPI Heritage for Teens, opens a new window
- #StopAsianHate - Celebrating AAPI Heritage books for Adults, opens a new window
- Asian American Experiences, opens a new window
- #OwnVoices Mysteries, opens a new window
- AAPI Graphic Novels, opens a new window
- AAPI Cookbooks, opens a new window
eLibrary Resources (available with your library card):
- Check out eBook collections on Overdrive/Libby, opens a new window or Hoopla, opens a new window featuring Asian and Asian-American authors and stories.
- Explore Asian American documentaries & films on Kanopy., opens a new window
- Kono for Libraries, opens a new window: Browse popular magazines from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea presented in the original language.
Additional Resources:
- Asian Art Museum, opens a new window: Visit the museum in-person, browse online collections, opens a new window, or enjoy digital content, opens a new window from home.
- Asian Americans, opens a new window: Stream PBS's 5- part documentary tracing the history and experiences of Asian Americans over a period of 150 years.
- CAAMFest 2021, opens a new window: The nation's largest showcase of emerging Asian and Asian American films returns May 13–23. Catch screenings virtually or at San Francisco’s drive-in theater at Fort Mason FLIX.
Supporting AAPI:
- Report hate at Stand Against Hatred, opens a new window.
- Attend bystander training, opens a new window offered by Hollaback! to stop anti-Asian harassment and xenophobia.
- IMPACT Bay Area offers classes, opens a new window on self-defense, safety, and specific strategies, opens a new window for AAPI individuals facing harassment.
- Support AAPI-owned businesses, such as local eateries, opens a new window.
- Consider donating to these causes:
-Liz Stewart, Senior Youth Services Librarian, Mitchell Park Library | Follow @LiztheLibrarian, opens a new window on Bibliocommons
-Doris Chen, Adult Services Librarian, Mitchell Park Library | Follow @dochn, opens a new window on Bibliocommons
