Location & Hours
Rosemead Library
8800 Valley Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770
626.573.5220
Asian Pacific Resource Center Librarian:
Katrina Lacerna
What is the Asian Pacific Resource Center (APRC)?
Established in 1979, the Asian Pacific Resource Center (APRC) is a special collection located on the second floor of Rosemead Library. The collection emphasizes the Asian American/Pacific Islander American experience, with core holdings on the history, art, and culture of China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hawaii, and American Samoa.
In addition to academic materials, the collection features films, music, novels, magazines, and newspapers. It’s microfilm collection includes over 100 titles of historical Asian immigrant newspapers published in the United States, as well as newspapers and documents from the Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Know Your Rights
Knowledge is safety, so we’re sharing a Step-By-Step Family Preparedness Plan from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC). You’ll also find a downloadable “Know Your Rights” pocket card which you can keep on you for immediate reference if ever needed.
All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. Visit ILRC here to download their “Red Cards.” The cards are available in multiple languages and help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home.
Upcoming Programs
What is in the APRC Collection?
- Books, dissertations, magazines, newspapers, CDs, DVDs on the Asian American/Pacific Islander American experience.
- Materials pertaining to the history, art, and culture of China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Hawaii and American Samoa.
- The Center has a small collection of books for children and teens.
- Over 100 titles on microfilm of historical Asian immigrant newspapers published in the United States including documents and newspapers from the Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Asian Pacific Resource Center eBook & Audiobooks: A curated collection of eBooks and audiobooks by and about Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans for all ages.
- Chinese Books for Adults
- Chinese Magazines for Adults
- Chinese CDs for Adults
- Chinese DVDs for Adults
- Japanese Books for Adults
- Japanese Magazines for Adults
- Japanese CDs for Adults
- Japanese DVDs for Adults
- Korean Books for Adults
- Korean Magazines for Adults
- Korean CDs for Adults
- Korean DVDs for Adults
- Vietnamese Books for Adults
- Vietnamese Magazines for Adults
- Vietnamese CDs for Adults
- Vietnamese DVDs for Adults
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated every year during the month of May. For more information please visit our AANHPI Heritage Month page.
APRC Resources
- National Asian Pacific American History Month website
The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success. - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – PBS
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May and every day with a special PBS collection of stories that explores the history, traditions and culture of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. - U.S. Census Facts and Features
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2021. - Asian American Pacific Islander Collection at the Library of Congress
Comprises a number of individual collections pertaining to notable AAPI authors, scholars, activists, and artists including unique material, such as correspondence, manuscript drafts, diaries, photographs, organizational records, interviews, and speeches. - Asian Collections at the Library of Congress
With over 2.8 million books, it is one of the most comprehensive collections of Asian language materials outside of Asia.
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles: The largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Provides legal services and has hotlines to assist low-income persons in legal matters of immigration, family law, civil rights, housing, employment, public benefits and consumer law.
- Chinese American Museum: An educational and cultural resource on the 150-year Chinese American experience in California.
- Chinese Historical Society of Southern California: Established in 1975 to preserve and communicate the vital historical and cultural role of the Chinese and Chinese American experience. Offers monthly programs on a wide range topics related to Chinese American History.
- Densho – The Japanese American Legacy Project: Documents the oral histories of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II. The Densho Digital Archive offers over 12,000 images documenting Japanese American history, 1,400 hours of interviews and a free online encyclopedia of the incarceration experience.
- Filipino American National Historical Society – FANHS: Documents and promotes Filipino American history through archives, conferences, books, programs, films, art and more. FAHNS has 28 Chapters throughout the USA. The website has a digital photo gallery.
- Japanese American National Museum: The Museum provides a forum for people to learn and explore the stories and experiences of Americans of Japanese Ancestry. Online collection includes photographs from the Toyo Miyatake Studio / Rafu Shimpo Collection as well as those of many famous Japanese American Artists.
- Korean Cultural Center: Sponsors programs, events, and learning resources to experience the traditions and history of Korea. The center has an art gallery, regular film screenings of Korean cinema, offers lectures and seminars.
- USC Pacific Asia Museum: The museum collection is dedicated to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands. It holds regular programs, events, and classes to further intercultural understanding through the arts.
- Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center: Supports the Asian American and Pacific Islander American programs for the Smithsonian Institution to better reflect the Asian Pacific Islander contributions to the American Experience.
- Vietnamese Community of Orange County, Inc.: Provides health, human, and economic development support services to the Vietnamese community. It offers 15 social service programs through its headquarters in Santa Ana, and branch offices in Garden Grove and Westminster.
- University of Hawaii at Manoa Digital Collections: Unique and distinctive Hawaiian, Pacific, and Asian collections. Included in this vast digital archive are: the Hawaiian Music collection, photos from the 1929 Great Kanto Earthquake in Japan, Hawaiian Newspaper collection, and the Shackford Collection of Photographs of China.
Stop Asian Hate
LA County Library remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing equity, inclusivity, and justice for all members of our society. As a gateway to knowledge and access, we have a civic and ethical responsibility to support the advancement, well-being, and resilience of all people. To help propel our mission, we offer a variety of resources and programs to help individuals cultivate and enhance skills and broaden their understanding of other cultures and social issues. Visit our Stop AAPI Hate blog post to see a list of resources.
Visit Other Cultural Resource Centers
YouTube Videos
Beginner’s Guide to Sushi
Beyond Kimchi: An Introduction to Korean Cooking
Batik Art
How to Make a Popup Lotus Flower
The Essence of Tea
Kirigami Paper Display
Koinobori
Stories on Skin: Samoan Tatau and Japanese Irezumi
Tracing the Path of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Virtual Film Festival: Boy
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Virtual Film Festival: Pather Panchali
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Virtual Film Festival: The Host
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Virtual Film Festival: The Farewell
Activity Ideas
FOR KIDS & PARENTS
Cup Weaving (Ages 6 – 10)
Ddakji (Ages 7 – 12)
Egg Carton Congkak (Ages 7 – 12)
Glue Batik (Ages 4 – 12)
Koinobori Paper Craft (Ages 4 – 8)
Kōwhaiwhai Pattern Bookmarks (Ages 8 – 12)
Tropical Flower Leis (Ages 4 – 8)
FOR TWEENS & TEENS
Designing Mehndi (Ages 12 – 18)
Historic Filipinotown Mural (Ages 12 – 18)
Paint with Tyrus Wong (Ages 12 – 18)
Potato Seal Stamps (Ages 12 – 18)
FOR ADULTS
Aboriginal Painting
Fashion Design with Anna Sui
Feng Shui
Make Music with Yo-Yo Ma
