Skip to main content

Service Alert

The West End Library will be closed from Friday, Sept. 22 - Friday, Sept. 29 to allow for necessary electrical work to replace lighting throughout the library.

Learn More About the Closure

The Chevy Chase Library is closed today, Thursday, Sept. 28 due to a facilities issue.

Image
An image of lotus flowers and cranes with the text Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month: May 1 - 31, 2023

About Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM) was first started in 1992 by the United States Congress as Public Law 102-450. May was chosen to mark the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, as well as the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. You can learn more about the history of how AAPIHM came to be through the Library of Congress. The broad umbrella of the Asian American Pacific Islander term captures all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
 

This May, come to the library to celebrate with us! Enjoy author talks, film screenings and craft workshops as well as great books, films and digital library resources that will help you learn more about the diverse accomplishments of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Events

Location

Date & Time

Description

Shepherd Park/Juanita E. Thornton Library

Japanese Arts and I: Origami Story Time

Thursday, May 4, 4 p.m.

Shepherd Park/Juanita E. Thornton Library

Special Event Courtesy of the Japanese Information and Cultural Center, a division of the Japanese Embassy. This origami story time introduces the Japanese phrase of mottainai (used to describe a sense of regret over waste) through the book "Mottainai Grandma," by Mariko Shinju. The story will be followed by an origami activity where kids will learn how to make a samurai hat out of recycled newspaper. 

MLK Library

Making History: Celebrating AAPI Women in the Labs

Tuesday, May 9, 7 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

In conversation with Ashleigh Coren of the American Women's History Museum, US Mint director Ventris Gibson will discuss the new quarters featuring Anna May Wong and Edith Kanaka'ole. Coren and Gibson will lead an informal conversation in our MLK Labs space, and participants will have the chance to see the Library Labs in action and get some free giveaways for collectors of the American Women Quarters. 

Tenley-Friendship Library

What a Waste! Story and Origami

Thursday, May 10 or Friday, May 11, 4 p.m.

Tenley-Friendship Library

The Japan Information & Culture Center staff will read Mottainai Grandma by Mariko Shinju, then lead participants in creating an origami samurai hat out of recycled newspaper. Have fun and learn ways to help the environment by participating in this great program!

Georgetown Library

Rangoli Making for Kids

Wednesday, May 17, 4 p.m.

Georgetown Library

Kids ages 6-14 are invited to explore the ephemeral India artforms of kolam and rangoli! We will be learning how to draw kolam using a grid of dots, then we will be creating our own larger rangoli designs filled in with bright colors.  If the weather is fine, the rangoli portion of the program will be outside. If it is rainy, it will be inside.

Southwest Library

Aoki Screening

Friday, May 19, 1 p.m.

Southwest Library

AOKI chronicles the life of Richard Aoki (1938-2009), a third-generation Japanese American who became one of the founding members of the Black Panther Party.

Image
Cleveland Park Library

Silver Screening: Shanghai Express

Sunday, May 21, 1:15 p.m.

Cleveland Park Library

Drop in for a free, Sunday afternoon showing of the 1932 film Shanghai Express. In Shanghai Express, a traveler encounters an old flame on a train shortly before the transport is captured by a warlord. The movie stars Marlene Dietrich, Anna May Wong, Clive Brook and Warner Orland.

Image
MLK Library

2023 Foodelicious Night

Monday, May 22, 6:30 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

MOAPIA and DC Public Library are hosting MOAPIA's annual “Foodelicious Night” as part of the 2023 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebrations! Join us and enjoy exciting live cooking demonstrations by two of DC's AAPI chefs and get a chance to sample authentic Asian cuisine.

 

See all Upcoming AAPI Events

Fiction Books for Adults

Nonfiction Books for Adults

Image
Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now

Rise

Jeff Yang, Phil Yu, Philip Wang and Julia Kuo

Nonfiction Books for Teens

Image
They Called Us enemy

They Called Us Enemy

George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott and Harmony Becker

Image
Lion: A Long way Home Book Cover

Lion

Saroo Brierley, Larry Buttrose and Nan McNab

Fiction Books for Children

Image
Brown is Beautiful

Brown is Beautiful

Supriya Kelkar and Noor Sofi

Image
Hundred Years of Happiness

Hundred Years of Happiness

Thanhhà Lại, Nguyên Quang and Kim Liên

Image
Troublemaker Book Cover

Troublemaker

John Cho and Sarah Suk

Nonfiction Books for Children

Image
A Life of Service Book Cover

A Life of Service

Christina Soontomvat and Dow Phumiruk

Image
Paper Son Book Cover

Paper Son

Julie Leung and Chris Sasaki

Image
Asian Americans Who Inspire Us

Asian Americans Who Inspire Us

Analiza Quiroz Wolf, Michael Franco and Tuire Siiriainen

Stream DC Public Library Events

Stream author talks, panel conversations and maker talks with incredible writers, artists and activists, including local artist Rania Hassan, author Kat Chow, chef Eric Kim and more.

DC Public Library hosts live events all year long! Don't miss an upcoming live stream, subscribe to the DC Public Library Youtube channel.