Asian American Librarians and Library Services

Activism, Collaborations, and Strategies

Edited by Janet Hyunju Clarke; Raymond Pun and Monnee Tong - Foreword by Clara M. Chu

What are the library services and resources that Asian Pacific Americans need? What does it mean to be an Asian Pacific American librarian in the 21st century? In Asian American Librarians and Library Services: Activism, Collaborations, and Strategies, library professionals and scholars share reflections, best practices, and strategies, and convey the critical need for diversity in the LIS field, library programming, and resources to better reflect the rich and varied experiences and information needs of Asian Americans in the US and beyond. The contributors show that they care deeply about diversity, that they acknowledge that it is painfully lacking in so many aspects of libraries and librarianship, and that libraries and the LIS profession must systematically integrate diversity and inclusion into their strategic priorities and practices, indeed, in their very mission, such that the rich diversity of experiences and histories of Asian Americans in library and archival collections, services, and programming are not only validated and recognized, but also valued and celebrated as vital components of the shared American experience. The volume recognizes and honors the creative and intentional work librarians do for their constituent Asian American communities in promoting resources, services, and outreach.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 414 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼

978-1-4422-7491-4 • Hardback • December 2017 • $184.00 • (£142.00)

978-1-4422-7492-1 • Paperback • December 2017 • $82.00 • (£63.00)

978-1-4422-7493-8 • eBook • December 2017 • $77.50 • (£60.00)

Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Library & Information Science / Administration & Management

Asian American Librarians and Library Services

Activism, Collaborations, and Strategies

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

What are the library services and resources that Asian Pacific Americans need? What does it mean to be an Asian Pacific American librarian in the 21st century? In Asian American Librarians and Library Services: Activism, Collaborations, and Strategies, library professionals and scholars share reflections, best practices, and strategies, and convey the critical need for diversity in the LIS field, library programming, and resources to better reflect the rich and varied experiences and information needs of Asian Americans in the US and beyond. The contributors show that they care deeply about diversity, that they acknowledge that it is painfully lacking in so many aspects of libraries and librarianship, and that libraries and the LIS profession must systematically integrate diversity and inclusion into their strategic priorities and practices, indeed, in their very mission, such that the rich diversity of experiences and histories of Asian Americans in library and archival collections, services, and programming are not only validated and recognized, but also valued and celebrated as vital components of the shared American experience. The volume recognizes and honors the creative and intentional work librarians do for their constituent Asian American communities in promoting resources, services, and outreach.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 414 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼

978-1-4422-7491-4 • Hardback • December 2017 • $184.00 • (£142.00)

978-1-4422-7492-1 • Paperback • December 2017 • $82.00 • (£63.00)

978-1-4422-7493-8 • eBook • December 2017 • $77.50 • (£60.00)

Subjects: Language Arts & Disciplines / Library & Information Science / Administration & Management

Author

Janet Hyunju Clarke is Associate Dean for Research & User Engagement at Stony Brook University Libraries. She is a past-president of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (2015-2016).

Raymond Pun is the first year student success librarian at Fresno State. He is an ALA Emerging Leader (2014), the Library Journal’s Mover and Shaker (2012), SLA’s Rising Star (2016), and a recipient of SLA’s Achievement in Academic Business Librarianship (2015).

Monnee Tong is the Manager of the Pauline Foster Teen Center and IDEA Lab at the San Diego Central Library. Her work with the IDEA Lab Tech Team Internship was recognized by YALSA as an example of how libraries are re-envisioning teen services, and she was named an ALA Emerging Leader in 2014.

Table of Contents

Foreword: Asset Mapping: Asian Pacific American Librarianship by Dr. Clara M. Chu
Introduction by Janet Hyunju Clarke, Raymond Pun, and Monnee Tong

Part I: Collections, Exhibits and Resources
Chapter 1: An Overview of Asian American Literary History by Janet Hyunju Clarke
Chapter 2: Diversity in Children’s Books: Interview with Dr. Sarah Park Dahlen
Chapter 3: We Need Diverse Librarians and Libraries: The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association’s Past, Present, and Future by Michelle J. Lee
Chapter 4: From Birth to Maturity: The Chinese American Librarians Association by Sai Deng
Chapter 5: Asian American Law Librarians Caucus: A Jewel in the Crown by Alex Xiaomeng Zhang
Chapter 6: Finding the Asian American in American Dance by Arlene Yu
Chapter 7: South Asian American Digital Archive (SAADA): Interview with Samip Mallick
Chapter 8: Digitizing Asian American Collections: Interview with Giao Luong Baker
Chapter 9: Inknography: A Digital Oral History Collection of Tattooed Asian Americans Challenging the Model Minority Stereotype by Jessea Kanoelani-Ramos Young
Chapter 10: On 9066 Japanese American Internment Exhibit at Fresno State: Interview with Tammy Lau and Julie Renee Moore
Chapter 11: “Unsettled ~ Resettled: Seattle’s Hunt Hotel” Travel Exhibit: Interview with Azusa Tanaka
Chapter 12: Engagement and Outreach: South Asian Oral History Project at the University of Washington Libraries by Deepa Banerjee
Chapter 13: Building the Vietnamese Language Collection at CSU Fullerton: Interview with Moon Kim

Part II: Services, Outreach and Programming
Chapter 14: Information as Praxis: Collaborative Strategies between Campus and Community by Todd Honma
Chapter 15: Asian American Studies and The Association of Chinese Teachers Meets the Public Library: A Multi-Partner Approach to Planning APIA Programs by Jerry Dear
Chapter 16: Talk Story: Sharing Stories, Sharing Culture to Create a Family Literacy Program by Lessa Pelayo-Lozada
Chapter 17: Dai Dai Xiang Chuan: Bridging Generations, a Bag at a Time, a Program That Celebrates APA Heritage by Dora Ho
Chapter 18: Serving Our Communities: Interview with Lynn Nguyen
Chapter 19: How Differing Perceptions of Librarianship in Asia & Other Factors Impact Asian Students’ Expectations of Law Librarians in America by Avery Le
Chapter 20: Supporting Southeast Asian Student Success Program at California State University, Fresno: A Librarian’s Involvement and Collaboration by Hiromi Kubo
Chapter 21: Expectations, Skepticism and Language Barrier: A Brief Journey by Anna Yang
Chapter 22: Supporting Asian American Studies: Interview with Sine Hwang Jensen
Chapter 23: Expatriate Japanese Families as Library Users: A Csae Study in a College Town Community in the United States by Ryuta Komaki, Fukuji Imai and Yukinori Okabe
Chapter 24: An Asian American Librarian’s Experience on Promoting the Institutional Repository by Tiewei Liu
Chapter 25: Rethinking Academic Library Support for Students from South Korea – Experiences from a Public College by Kathryn Johns-Masten and Tina Chan
Chapter 26: International Outreach Librarianship: Interview with John Hickok

Part III: Leadership Experiences and Perspectives
Chapter 27: Against the Odds: Reflections on Asian American Identity and Multicultural, Shared Leadership in Academic Libraries by Adriene Lim
Chapter 28: Recruiting a Diverse LIS Workforce: Interview with Cynthia del Rosario
Chapter 29: Minnesota Institute for Early Career Librarians: Cultivating APA Library Leaders Through Reflection and Peer Mentorship by Simon Lee, Cynthia Mari Orozco and Michael Qiu
Chapter 30: Library Administrative and Leadership Preparation: An Asian American Perspective by Binh P. Le
Chapter 31: Going Beyond the Bamboo Ceiling: Issues and Challenges for Asian Pacific American Patrons and Librarians by Lisa Chow and Sandra Sajonas
Chapter 32: On Being a Hmong American Librarian: Interview with Vang Vang
Chapter 33: A Career in Leadership: Interview with Haipeng Li
Chapter 34: Doing the Work You Want Your Library Work To Do: Reflections of an Academic Librarian by gerardo “gary” colmenar
Chapter 35: The Imperative to Nurture Diversity: Interview with Miriam Tuliao
Chapter 36: Creating an Infrastructure for Diversity Throughout the Organization: Interview with Sandy Wee
Chapter 37: It's All in the Family: Interview with Regina Gong and Dao Rong Gong
Chapter 38: Chinese-American Librarian Leadership: Interview with Dr. Lian Ruan
Chapter 39: Minority among Minorities: A Japanese Librarian at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) by Chieko Sato Hutchison and Elizabeth Jean Brumfield
Chapter 40: Impactful Leadership: Interview with Xuemao Wang
Chapter 41: Leadership Perspectives from Mexico: Interview with Dr. Jesus Lau
Chapter 42: Mentoring APA Library Leaders: Interview with Patricia “Patty” Wong
Chapter 43: The Life and Legacy of Dr. Lois Mai Chan in the LIS Field: Interview with Raymond Pun and Monnee Tong

Reviews

This substantial collection offers the first comprehensive survey of the current state of Asian Pacific American (APA) librarianship and library services. By including everything from interviews with APA librarians of note to explorations of specialized archives, librarians Clarke (Stony Brook Univ.), Pun (Fresno State), and Tong (San Diego's Central Library) take readers on a deep dive into this multifaceted area of librarianship. They divide the 43 brief essays into three parts: “Collections, Exhibits, and Resources,” “Services, Outreach, and Programming,” and “Leadership Experiences and Perspectives.” Though both public and academic libraries are discussed, the latter receive more attention. Select highlights include Michelle Lee’s profile of the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, Gerardo Colmenar’s exploration of his role as an APA academic librarian dedicated to critical librarianship and activism for social justice, and Clarke’s interview with Cynthia del Rosario about recruiting APA library science students for the University of Washington Information School. In a profession that remains overwhelmingly white (87 percent white, according to a 2017 ALA demographic study), even as US demographics continue to shift, this book is a welcome and invaluable celebration of diversity in librarianship and library services.

Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty, professionals.
— Choice Reviews

Essential reading for library and information professionals, educators, administrators, and students.
— Library Journal; Library Journal, April 1, 2018

In a time of growing recognition of the need to honor cultural differences, traditions, and values, Asian American Librarians and Library Services offers a well-selected collection of essays and interviews covering resources, outreach, programming, and leadership.... The articles and interviews are authoritative, interesting, and scholarly, enhanced by occasional black-and-white photographs. Suitable—indeed necessary—for MLS programs, this is also a sound purchase for libraries with significant outreach to Asian American populations.

— Booklist

Each chapter and interview in this volume is interesting and engaging and brings to light the important contributions of Asian American librarianship. This volume is likely to prove it-self an important contribution to the systemic integration of diversity and inclusion in the field, just as the editors intended.
— The Library Quarterly

The experiences of information professionals of Asian descent is essential in the continuing dialogue of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our profession. This edited volume brings together the voices of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander librarians, archivists, and LIS educators. In addition to chapters written by well respected and emerging professionals in the field, the interviews woven throughout the book are a unique and valuable contribution. I appreciate its ambitious coverage of topics reflective of current library trends and professional practice including leadership in the profession, development and access to collections in all formats and languages, and the challenges and opportunities associated with outreach and services to Asian and Asian American populations.
— Courtney L. Young, head librarian, Penn State Greater Allegheny and ALA Past President

This volume is the outcome of an extraordinary effort to provide discussions of topics, issues, and activities directly relevant to contemporary Asian American librarianship, through the voices of leaders among Asian American librarians.
— Ling Hwey Jeng, president, Texas Library Association and professor and director, School of Library and Information Studies, Texas Woman’s University

This is a book by and about Asian American librarians that come from the depth and breadth of heritage and experience. By way of library services, they tell stories of exclusion, inclusion, expression, and preservation. The identity of our profession, work, and activism is now more complete. This must be in the hands of both Asian American Studies and Librarian/Information Services faculty! It must be in the hands of librarians and community activists! Thank you writers!
— Sandra Ríos Balderrama, former director, Office for Diversity, American Library Association and National President, REFORMA