Asian Pacific American Librarians Association

The Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), also known as the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association,[3][4] is an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA). It was created to "address the needs of Asian/Pacific American librarians and those who serve Asian/Pacific American communities."[5]

Asian Pacific American Librarians Association
Formation1980
TypeNon-profit organization
Region served
United States
Membership
600[1]
President
Jaena Rae Cabrera[2]
Websiteapalaweb.org

History

APALA was the successor to the Asian American Librarians Caucus (AALC), a discussion group within the ALA Office for Library Outreach Services.[6][5] That discussion group was founded at the 1975 ALA Annual Conference, by Janet M. Suzuki, Henry Chang, and Yen-Tsai Feng.[7][8][9] It was the first Asian-American library organization that served the pan Asian American librarian community.[4]

APALA itself was established in 1980, was incorporated in 1981, and became part of the ALA in 1982.[6][5][10][11]

The founders of APALA included Lourdes Collantes, Suzine Har Nicolescu, Sharad Karkhanis, Conchita Pineda, Henry Chang, Betty Tsai, and Tamiye Trejo Meehan.[12]

Asian Pacific Americans comprise one of the four ethnic/racial groups that is underrepresented in the library profession as compared to the U.S. population as a whole.[12] As of 1997, APALA had approximately 300 members, of whom 40% were Chinese, 16% were Korean, 14% were East Indian, 10% were Filipino, and the remaining 20% belonged to 13 additional ethnic groups.[1]

In 2006, APALA took part in the first Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, along with the American Indian Library Association, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, the Chinese American Librarians Association, and REFORMA.[13][14] This conference was the first national conference sponsored and held by those organizations, which are known as the Associations of Ethnic Librarians.[14][15]

The Joint Council of Librarians of Color (JCLC, Inc.) was founded in June 2015 as an organization “that advocates for and addresses the common needs of the American Library Association ethnic affiliates“;[16] these ethnic affiliates include the APALA, as well as the American Indian Library Association, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, the Chinese American Librarians Association, and REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking.[17][16][18][19]

In 2020, Patty Wong, former APALA President, was elected as the first Asian American president of ALA for 2021-2022.[20] In 2021, Lessa Kananiʻopua Pelayo-Lozada, former APALA President, was elected as ALA's first Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander American president for 2022-2023.[21]

Publications and programs

APALA publishes a quarterly newsletter and meets annually at ALA conferences.[22][23] It also provides scholarships to library school students and awards the annual Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature, which honor books by or about Asian Pacific Americans.[24][23]

Executive Directors and Presidents

Executive Directors of APALA serves three-year terms and as ex officio of the Executive Board.[25] Past and current executive directors of APALA are:

  • Alanna Aiko Moore (2022 - Present)
  • Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada (2019-2022)
  • Buenaventura (Ven) B. Basco (2012-2019)
  • Gerardo “Gary” Colmenar (2006-2012)
  • Ling Hwey Jeng (2000-2006)

Presidents of APALA serve three-year terms, including one as Vice-President/President Elect and one as Past President.[26] Past and current presidents of APALA are:

  • Cynthia Mari Orozco, APALA Vice President (2024-2025)
  • Jaena Rae Cabrera, APALA President (2023-2024)
  • Annie Pho, APALA Immediate Past President (2022-2023)
  • Raymond Pun (2021-2022)
  • Candice Wing-yee Mack (2020-2021)
  • Alanna Aiko Moore (2019-2020)
  • Paolo P. Gujilde (2018-2019)
  • Dora T. Ho (2017-2018)
  • Lessa Kanani’opua Pelayo-Lozada (2016-2017)
  • Janet H. Clarke (2015-2016)
  • Eileen K. Bosch (2014-2015)
  • Eugenia Beh (2013-2014)
  • Jade Alburo (2012-2013)
  • Sandy Wee (2011-2012)
  • Florante Ibanez (2010-2011)
  • Sherise Kimura (2009-2010)
  • Michelle Baildon (2008-2009)
  • Buenaventura (Ven) B. Basco (2007-2008)
  • Benjamin Wakashige (2006-2007)
  • Ganga Dakshinamurti (2005-2006)
  • Heawon Paick (2004-2005)
  • Yvonne Chen (2003-2004)
  • Gerardo (Gary) Colmenar (2002-2003)
  • Tamiye Meehan (2001-2002)   
  • Sushila Shah (2000-2001)
  • Patricia Mei-Yung Wong (1999-2000)
  • Soon J. Jung (1998-1999)
  • Abulfazal M. F. Kabir (1997-1998)
  • Kenneth A. Yamashita (1996-1997)
  • Amy D. Seetoo (1995-1996)
  • Erlinda Regner (1994-1995)
  • Ravindra N. Sharma (1993-1994)
  • Marjorie Li (1992-1993)
  • Charlotte Chung-Sook Kim (1991-1992)
  • Abdul J. Miah (1990-1991)
  • Ichiko Morita (1989-1990)
  • Conchita Pineda (1988-1989)
  • Betty Tsai (1987-1988)
  • Asha Capoor (1986-1987)
  • Suzine Har Nicolescu (1985-1986)
  • Victor Okim (1984-1985)
  • Lourdes Collantes (1983-1984)
  • Sally Tseng (1982-1983)
  • Sharad Karkhanis (1980-1982)

References
  1. Echevarria, Tami; Andrew B. Wertheimer (Fall 1997). "Surveying the Role of Ethnic-American Library Associations" (PDF). Library Trends. 42 (2): 373–391.
  2. "Executive Board – APALA".
  3. "About – APALA".
  4. Yamashita, Kenneth A.(2000), Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association— A History of APALA and Its Founders, Library Trends 49 (1) 2000: Ethnic Diversity in Library and Information Science, pg. 91
  5. APALA History, accessed 2 January 2011.
  6. Plummer Alston Jones (2004). Still Struggling for Equality: American Public Library Services with Minorities. Libraries Unlimited. p. 134. ISBN 978-1-59158-243-4.
  7. Janet Hyunju Clarke; Raymond Pun; Monnee Tong (8 December 2017). Asian American Librarians and Library Services: Activism, Collaborations, and Strategies. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 25–. ISBN 978-1-4422-7493-8.
  8. Yamashita, Kenneth A (2000). "Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association - A History of Apala and Its Founders" (PDF). Library Trends. 49 (1): 88–109. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  9. Hall, Tracie D (June 27, 2020). "A Memorial Resolution Honoring Dr. Yen-Tsai Feng" (PDF). American Library Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 19, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  10. Franklin Ng (1995). The Asian American Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. Marshall Cavendish. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-85435-678-9.
  11. Cora P. Dunkley and Kathleen de la Pena McCook. "In Union There is Strength: Library and Information Science Educators and Librarians' Associations of Color". In Maurice B. Wheeler (2005). Unfinished Business: Race, Equity, and Diversity in Library and Information Science Education. Scarecrow Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-8108-5045-3.
  12. Yamashita, Kenneth A. (Summer 2000). "Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association: A History of APALA and Its Founders" (PDF). Library Trends. 49 (1): 98–99. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  13. "Blazing Trails". American Libraries Magazine. 2018-01-02. Retrieved 2019-01-14.
  14. "Remembering JCLC 2006".
  15. "About JCLC 2006". About ALA. August 3, 2006.
  16. "About – Joint Council of Librarians of Color".
  17. Young, Christal. "Research Guides: Library & Information Science *: Professional Associations". libguides.usc.edu.
  18. "About | CALA - Chinese American Librarians Association". cala-web.org.
  19. "REFORMA". www.reforma.org.
  20. SZALUSKY (2020-04-08). "Wong wins 2021-2022 ALA presidency". News and Press Center. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  21. MMORALES (2021-04-14). "Pelayo-Lozada wins 2022-2023 ALA presidency". News and Press Center. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
  22. Guy A. Marco (2011). The American Public Library Handbook. ABC-CLIO. pp. 24–25. ISBN 978-1-59158-911-2.
  23. Joan M. Reitz (2004). Dictionary for Library and Information Science. Libraries Unlimited. p. 44. ISBN 978-1-59158-075-1.
  24. Denise Johnson (2013). Teaching Literacy in Fourth Grade. Guilford Publications. p. 164. ISBN 978-1-4625-1482-3.
  25. "Constitution and Bylaws – APALA". Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  26. "Executive Board – APALA". Retrieved 2021-06-26.

Further reading
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