Assignment #1
LIBR 275 – Professor Liu
“Visiting a Library Providing Services for Special Groups”
Patricia Ayame Thomson
Stern (1991) mentioned in his article “Ethnic Libraries and Librarianship in the United States: Models and Prospects” that there are “Four ethnic resource centers in the Los Angeles City Public Library system for Afro-Americans, American Indians, Asians, and Hispanic Americans in the areas of Compton, Huntington Park, Montebello, and East Los Angeles respectively” (Advances in librarianship, 15, p. 90). I decided to visit one of the four ethnic resource centers mentioned in the article and went to the Asian Pacific Resource Center located inside of the Montebello Library. The city of Montebello and its surrounding towns are closest to the more renowned city of Pasadena, and this clustered area is known to have a large Asian American population.
The Asian Pacific Resource Center is a separate section from other areas such as; the adult section, children’s section, young adult’s area, and a meeting room with a capacity of 135 (available on a rental basis). The looming and stately Montebello Library has an area of 41,000 square feet and is located between two major parallel streets. More than sufficient parking provides easy access to the Montebello Library, including two parking lots located outside both entrances of the building facing major streets.
The Asian Pacific Resource Center which is located inside the Montebello Library was established in 1914, and is one of the original libraries in the Los Angeles County Library system. As you enter the Montebello Library, there is a mixture of a quiet open space divided into smaller sections with a flourish of activity. The Montebello Library, that houses the Asian Pacific Resource Center, has library services comparable to other L.A. County public libraries including a massive collection of books, magazines, newspapers, computers, audio-recordings, etc.
On the way to the Asian Pacific Resource Center, I passed by peaceful patrons of all ages and ethnicities populating various sections of the library. As you enter the Asian Pacific Resource Center, it is clear that the center is a separate and autonomous facility apart from the library. From my point-of-view, the resource center displayed a well-used, informal, and comfortable setting.
As far as their collection is concerned, the Resource Center provides resources in English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese. The English text is primarily for the Asian Pacific Islander Americans. The Center also has a core collection on the culture, art, and history of China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, and smaller holdings on Hawaii and American Samoa. The collections are separated by the Asian countries containing fiction and non-fiction books.
In conjunction with the Asian Pacific American Museum also located in a nearby area, they schedule Book Club Discussions, events, and performances throughout the year. Last year for example, the Asian Pacific Resource Center put on events such as: Book Club Discussion on the book “Typical American” by Gish Jen, and a dance troupe called “Dances from China” performed a selection of dances from their repertoire including the butterfly, fan, and peacock dances to celebrate the annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
The librarian at the counter was extremely kind, knowledgeable, and helpful. She told me that the Asian Pacific Resource Center (APRC) was established in 1979, and was created to meet the information needs of the sudden influx of new immigrants from East and Southeast Asia.
I noticed that the Asian Pacific Resource Center was established during the Model 1 period of the ethnic library history and development. Stern’s (1991) following statement in his article “Ethnic Libraries and Librarianship in the United States: Models and Prospects” further illustrates the point that “Library service to minorities has its roots in the period of mass immigration in the first quarter of the twentieth century when more than 20 million immigrants arrived in the United States” (Advances in librarianship, 15, p. 79).
At that point, I had an epiphany! I suddenly realized I moved to the United States from Tokyo, Japan in 1978. I had just graduated from an American Department of Defense (D.O.D.) High School on a U.S. Air Force Base when I moved to Los Angeles to attend college. It’s peculiar to know that I am suddenly categorized in a trend of U.S. history, when I wasn’t even aware of it. In my instance, I am among the influx of Asians who immigrated to America during the late 1970’s.
On the other hand, I cannot discount the significant difference between myself and other non-English-speaking Asian immigrants, because I had the advantage of receiving my education in English among other American students from military families who were stationed in Tokyo, Japan. Also, I am an American citizen since birth and I own an American passport. I believe the above differences made the transition easier for me, although it took me a good five years to fully assimilate.
Supposing I was an immigrant from Asia without the ability to speak English, I speculate that I would be extremely grateful and happy to receive the valuable services and information provided by the Asian Pacific Resource Center. Not only can I keep informed, updated, and in touch with my culture and country of origin, but in addition, I can learn about more immediate survival skills as a newcomer to the country.
Moving to another country without possessing the ability to speak the language must be a daunting and frightening experience, and I believe these Resource Centers will facilitate immigrants to assimilate into society sooner and more efficiently. Beyond providing a superb collection of cultural works and information regarding East and Southeastern Asian ethnicities, I especially find the referral services and information to assist in locating pertinent agencies that address the needs of the Asian community. The agencies are designed to aid the disadvantaged and financially-challenged ethnic immigrants in legal, financial, medical, and educational matters among others.
It is my personal observation that people in America are not as afraid to ask for help as they are in Japan. Also I noticed there are many agencies, clinics, and shelters in each city that provide free services for not only disadvantaged individuals and undeserved families in need, but to improve the life of disenfranchised people as well. I believe that each community should have ethnic resource centers to provide services to all immigrants; either one resource center for all immigrants or ethnically-divided centers like this one. There are some libraries that provide services to one Asian country or ethnicity respectively, but this one is diverse and includes all Asian countries. Each Asian culture and country should be honored, appreciated, and shared with others to show the rich diversity in Los Angeles.
The United States has been and always will be a melting pot of racial diversity; currently more diversity in metropolitan cities and will continue to grow in rural areas. It is my belief that we must apply more resources and facilities that provide information and helpful advice for immigrants to be able to effectively transition from the old country and assimilate into the new society.
Reference:
Stern, S. (1991). Ethnic libraries and librarianship in the United States: Models and prospects, Advances in librarianship, 15, 77-102.