City Of Long Beach Public Library Celebrates Asian American And Pacific Islander Heritage Month With Events Throughout May

Long Beach CA

05 May, 2022

1:47 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Long Beach: May 2, 2022 The vibrancy of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) cultures will take center stage as Long Beach Public Library (LBPL) celebrates AAPI Heritage Month this May. Various in-person events highlighting different aspects of AAPI culture, including history, food and craft traditions, will take place at different Library locations throughout the month. The Library will also host the inaugural Festival of AAPI Books Long Beach (FAB LB) on Saturday, May 21, featuring renowned AAPI authors, children's activities and cultural performances. "The experiences and contributions of our AAPI communities are part of what make Long Beach such an amazing, culturally diverse place to live," said Mayor Robert Garcia. "These communities are integral to who we are as a city and it's wonderful that the Library is working to uplift these stories through their programs." Events celebrating AAPI Heritage Month will take place all month long, including event highlights. A complete list of events is available at longbeach.gov/library/events. Angkor Civilization Archaeology Lecture – May 5 at 5:30 p.m., Mark Twain Library – Learn more about the Angkorian world and how people lived in this ancient kingdom. For teens and adults. History of Cambodians in Long Beach Presentation – May 7 at 3 p.m., Billie Jean King Main Library (BJK) – Explore the history of Cambodians in Long Beach in this presentation by Dr. Susan Needham and Dr. Karen Quintiliani.   ArtLab with Disney Animator Benson Shum – May 13 at 4:30 p.m., Michelle Obama Library – Interactive art workshop with Benson Shum who has worked as an animator on Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Encanto. For kids 7+. BTS Army Unite! The Ultimate K-Pop Fan Day for Teens – May 25 at 4 p.m., Mark Twain Library – BTS enthusiasts are invited to join us for some K-Pop-focused activities and crafts. For teens only! The Art of Furoshiki (Japanese cloth wrapping) at various locations – At this hands-on workshop, participants will print their own fabric and learn wrapping techniques. Space is limited and registration is required. "One of our primary goals at the Library is to make people of all different backgrounds feel welcomed," said Acting Library Director Christine Hertzel. "Celebrating and honoring Long Beach's diversity through library programs is just one way to achieve that goal." In addition, the first ever FAB LB event will take place on May 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. at BJK. This inaugural event brings together renowned local AAPI adult, teen and children's authors to celebrate their work through interactive discussions and author readings. The day also includes children's activities and cultural performances, as well as onsite pop-up shops by local Long Beach small businesses Bel Canto Books, Romeo Chocolates and Gemmae Bakeshop. More information about the event is available on the Library webpage. Attendees are encouraged to register ahead of time on Eventbrite. All events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit the library's website, lbpl.org, or on Instagram at @lbcitylibrary. About the City of Long Beach Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services and more. The City also has a highly-respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths, and a Bike Share program. For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. About Long Beach Public Library Long Beach Public Library, founded in 1896, serves a diverse urban city of close to half a million people. The Long Beach Public Library system includes the Billie Jean King Main Library and eleven neighborhood libraries and a vibrant online presence. In summer of 2017, the Long Beach Public Library was awarded the National Medal for Library and Museum Services in recognition of successful community-collaborations, innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and literacy-focused programs to the residents of Long Beach. With an emphasis on providing free and equal access to information and support for learning for a lifetime, the Library offers books, media, databases, Internet access, Family Learning Centers, makerspaces, and a variety of events ranging from story times to educational and cultural programs. For more information, visit http://www.longbeach.gov/library, "Like" the Long Beach Public Library on Facebook, and follow along on Twitter and Instagram. This press release was produced by the City of Long Beach. The views expressed here are the author's own.