Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

 

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. As of 2019, there were about 22.9 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the United States." - The History Channel

All Library materials and eResources are available free with your Library card. If you don't have a Library card with us yet, find out how to sign up for a Library Card or eCard

Library Programs 

• Saturday Crafternoon: Japanese Ogi Fan - Expand your knowledge of Japanese culture by learning the history of fan-making while creating your own, in celebration of Asian American-Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Supplies provided.
• Saturday Cratfernoon: History of Hawaiian Lei Making - Learn the origins of how the Lei came to Hawaii while making your own lei in celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Supplies Provided.

Youth Library Programs 

• Baby & Me - Hug your little one while sharing this special first-time experience. This storytime introduces books with play time and repetitive music. Age: Birth-18 months. 
  • ​Hart Memorial Library - 10am, Monday, May 2
  • West Osceola Library - 11am, Tuesday, May 10
  • Buenaventura Lakes Library - 9:30am, Wednesday May 25
• Rhythm, Rhyme, & Storytime - Sing, swing, and sway through this program dedicated to music and movement! Finger plays, rhythm movement, and dancing create the perfect opportunity for fun-filled learning as you watch your child develop their vocabulary, counting skills, creative thinking, and listening skills. Ages 2 - 5 years old. This themed storytime will be in celebration of Asian American-Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
  • ​​West Osceola Library - 10am, Tuesday, May 10
  • Poinciana Library - 10:30am, Tuesday, May 24
  • Buenaventura Lakes Library - 2pm, Wednesday, May 25
• ​I am Golden Author Event - Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by exploring a beautiful story, I am Golden by Eva Chen, through crafts and activities and even a VIRTUAL visit by the author herself!

Library Resources

On Our Shelves

• Asian American & Pacific Islander Fiction

eLibrary

• kanopy
  • Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month film collection
• hoopla
  • ebooks
  • audiobooks
  • movies

Online Resources

Government Resources

• A Proclamation on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, And Pacific Islander Heritage Month - The White House
• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month - The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success.
• US Census - Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Fun Facts
• Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

Additional Online Resources

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month - PBS
• Federal Asian Pacific American Council
• Asia Society