The Long Beach Public Library will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month this spring with free cultural programs, storytimes and literary events running through July.
“Asian American and Pacific Islander communities are an essential part of Long Beach’s identity, shaping our city through culture, innovation and resilience,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a public statement. “This celebration is an opportunity for residents of all ages to come together, learn from one another and experience the traditions that make our community so vibrant.”
The annual celebration, organized by the Department of Library, Arts and Culture, will include activities for children, teens and adults at library locations across the city. Staff will also feature curated book displays focused on AAPI history, food, traditions and cultural practices.
Upcoming programs and events include:
- AAPI Heritage Month storytimes and cultural programs: Held throughout May and beyond at all Long Beach Public Library locations. Programs are designed to highlight Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures through educational and family-friendly activities. Visit the City’s online event calendar for dates and times.
- Curated book collections: Available at library branches citywide for children, teens and adults. Featured topics will include recipes, cultural traditions, festivals and stories from communities across the Asian and Pacific Islander diaspora.
- Level Up Your Space: Vintage Décor from the Philippines: May 9 at noon at Bret Harte Neighborhood Library (1595 W. Willow St.). Interior stylist and curator Karena Apollonya Ebora Higgins will discuss Filipino decorative arts using pieces from her personal Karilagan Library Collection, including books, carved statues and busts. Attendees will also learn how to identify and begin collecting Philippine artifacts.
- One Book, One Coast: This year’s regional book club selection is “They Called Us Enemy” by George Takei. Discussions will be held at Bach Neighborhood Library, (4055 N. Bellflower Blvd.), Dana Neighborhood Library (3680 Atlantic Ave.), and El Dorado Neighborhood Library (2900 Studebaker Road). Meeting dates and times are available on the City’s online events calendar. Unlimited digital copies of the e-book will also be available through June 6 on the Libby app.
- Festival of AAPI Books: July 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.). The fourth annual event, co-hosted by Bel Canto books, will feature authors, artists, vendors, arts and crafts and family activities celebrating Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian communities.
To learn more about the Long Beach Public Library’s AAPI Heritage Month festivities, visit the Library’s online webpage.
