President’s Message
Chúc mừng năm mới! Happy Lunar New Year!
Growing up, Tết, the lunar new year, was a very special time for me and my family. It was when special food was made, family and friends gathered, altars were set, and of course my favorite, the li xi red envelopes were exchanged. Now that I am older, I enjoy carrying aspects of Lunar New Year rituals into my life. It’s a great time to reflect, reset, connect, and invite in what you want to bring into the year ahead. But this year was very different. The horrifying and somber news of mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay was a stark reminder of the extreme violence facing our communities. Grieving acts of extreme violence within our communities can be a very isolating experience and I was very glad that APALA and CALA hosted a joint call to be in community with one another. Community is crucial for librarians of color. It is a place where we can celebrate, hold each other accountable, and support each other through tough times.
Announcements & News
The 2023 APALA Literature Awards winners have been announced! Congratulations to the winners and honorees! Read the full announcement here.
Several APALA members will be presenting at ACRL 2023 in Pittsburgh from March 15-18. Please join them if you are planning to be there. READ MORE
In January 2023, APALA members Sarah Park Dahlen and Philip Espe participated in the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center’s planning convening for the 2023 Asian American Literature Festival. The convening was held at the University of Georgia. The AA Lit Fest will be held in Washington, D.C. on August 4-6, 2023. Details forthcoming: https://smithsonianapa.org/lit/
Applications are now being accepted for the Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture Grant. Read more here. Learn more about the grant here. Applications due: March 15, 2023.
Asian Canadian Voices: Facets of Diversity