Published: May 3, 2022 by Guadalupe Martinez

In 1990, the United States designated the month of May as Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to commemorate their rich history and cultural legacy. Asian identity includes people with heritage from East Asian, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The umbrella term Pacific Islander includes peoples of Oceania and Native Hawaiians. AAPI identity is globally and culturally diverse. LIS professionals continue to play a significant role in addressing a range of information needs and advocacy work.

Join the SJSU School of Information on Tuesday May 10, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pacific Time, for our EDI Symposium, “An Authentic Lens: Understanding and Supporting the Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Community,” with a keynote address by current American Library Association President Patty Wong.

Register for this free event and learn from library leaders passionate about AAPI services.

Did You Know?

Patty Wong has been an active ALA member for over 37 years and is the first elected Asian American ALA president in the history of the organization. Since 2004, she has served as an adjunct faculty member with SJSU iSchool. In 2012, Wong was the recipient of the ALA Equality Award for her expansive work on diversity issues and LIS mentorship. Source: ala.org

Making ALA History

Lessa Kananiʻopua Pelayo-Lozada is the 2022-23 ALA president-elect, and the first self-identified multiracial Native Hawaiian to rise to the position. Her term will commence after the 2022 ALA Annual Conference in June. Pelayo-Lozada began working in public libraries in 2006 and currently serves as the executive director of the Asian / Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA). Source: lessaforlibraries.com/.