May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the culture, traditions and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States. AAPI Heritage Month also provides an opportunity to recognize the important role that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played in shaping American history and the challenges they have overcome. Throughout the month of May, Anne Arundel County Public Library will host events and offer a wide range of resources, including books, movies and online materials that highlight the diverse experiences, cultures and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Join us as we celebrate the rich and vibrant heritage of AAPI communities.
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at your local library by attending fun, educational events!
- Discover Gyotaku, the art of Japanese fish printing, and celebrate the Festival of Lanterns by making your own flameless lotus lantern.
- Journey to the South Pacific to experience the traditional songs and dances of Tahiti, Hawaii and New Zealand with Meki’s Tamure Polynesian Arts Group, Inc.
- Learn about hula and the traditions of the Hawaiian Islands with Hula Maryland of Crofton.
- Explore traditional Japanese folk festivals and travel through the different regions of Japan with Taikoza as they give a live performance accompanied by thunderous taiko drums and Japanese flutes.
- Enjoy screenings of Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), Turning Red (2022) and Bao (2018), and join us for our Family Movie Singalong to Moana (2016).
- Travel back in time to Ancient China to learn about Chinese emperors, palaces, the Great Wall and more!
Visit our Asian/Pacific American Interest events calendar for a complete list of programs.
Enrich your knowledge of Asian Pacific American history and cultures using the library’s digital resources!
- Stream movies featuring Asian American and Pacific Islander actors and films highlighting AAPI history and achievements in the arts and media using Kanopy.
- Delve into the lives of historical and contemporary Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders like Duke Kahanamoku, Hazel Ying Lee, Jhumpa Lahiri and Yo-Yo Ma using our Biography database.
- Explore information on Asian American and Pacific Islander identity, culture, civil rights, perspectives and more using our Diversity Studies and Opposing Viewpoints databases.
- Learn about Asian American and Pacific Islander cinema, theatre, art and more using our Fine Arts database.
- Discover the history of Asian American and Pacific Islander traditions, cultural migration, societies, immigration and more using our U.S. History and World History databases.
Choose your next read from our lists of books written by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors!
- Check out our booklists for kids, teens, and adults.
- Download books by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors in eBook and eAudiobook formats to enjoy instantly using Overdrive/Libby and Cloud Library.
- Looking for more books written by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders? Use NoveList’s “Advanced Search” feature to generate a list of books by authors with specific ethnicities and cultural identities.
Published May 1, 2023