Members of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) Northeast Chapter and Friends visited the Beinecke Library on July 7, 2023. Ten library professionals from four states gathered to visit exhibits, libraries, AAPI collections, and meet with colleagues on a day-long field trip. The visit was co-organized by APALA Northeast member, Jeanie Pai, Program Specialist in Digital Imaging Services at the New York Public Library, and Sandrine Guérin, Archivist at the Beinecke Library who coordinated meetings with Yale colleagues and the viewing of AAPI collections.
The group had lunch with Haruko Nakamura, Librarian for Japanese Studies, then headed to the Beinecke Library. Moira Fitzgerald, Program Director Reference and Research Services, gave a tour of the building as well as explained recent curatorial decisions that emphasize the diverse perspectives represented in the collections through exhibition display. We headed to the classroom where Alison Clemens, Access Strategist, and member of the Reparative Archival Description Working Group (RAD), gave us an illuminating presentation on reparative descriptive work related to the Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Following the presentation, we looked at AAPI collections. Among the highlights were the Aiko Takita and Miyeko Takita Papers capturing their experiences during and after the Japanese American incarceration during World War II, the Yonekazu Satoda papers, and one of the Cockrill albums of identification photographs of Chinese men who came through Angel Island for work in the 1870s, which was a very poignant experience to see in person. The viewing prompted us to talk about the importance of community input and cultural knowledge in creating inclusive and accurate archival descriptions to improve discovery and accessibility, as well as the benefits of collaborations across institutions.
Pai reflects, “It was quite sentimental getting together with APALA members and friends. For a few of us, this was our first time seeing each other since the pandemic lockdown; a period synonymous to the spike in anti-Asian violence and when community support was crucial. After attending RAD’s “Why Language Matters” presentation on Japanese American incarceration records last summer, it felt right visiting Beinecke Library together as a group to learn more about their DEIA efforts. Even the collaborative planning process was rewarding, from workshopping our agenda with Yale staff members to selecting AAPI special collections. In the reading room, I was personally drawn to the photographs of Chinese men, as its documentation was a form of social control of an alienated class. I appreciate that the album is fully digitized and accessible online, and I look forward to investigating these records further to learn more about the individuals.”
Overall, this was a very meaningful, thought-provoking field trip and we’re grateful for the opportunity to exchange our experiences and perspectives, meet colleagues, and learn about their work.
The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), founded in 1980, is committed to addressing the needs of Asian/Pacific American librarians and those who serve Asian/Pacific American communities. If anyone is interested to hear more about our AAPI library community please reach out to Janet Clarke (janet.clarke@stonybrook.edu).
Learn more about how to get involved in APALA Chapters here!