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Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
05.01.25
For nearly 50 years, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month occurs every May, and celebrates the contributions, growth, and story of the AAPI community in our shared history and culture.
What began as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week for the first ten days of May grew to officially being all 31 days of May in 1992, two years after the bill was passed by Congress to extend it.
Having undergone a few changes over time, the month is still about celebration and uplifting the AAPI community and their voices.
In addition to the books, movies, and other materials available at the library, DPPL also has many other resources that showcase and celebrate AAPI cultures and their importance.
Here are some of my personal favorites!
Manga, Comic Books, and Graphic Novels
Manga and anime, originating from Japan, have only grown in popularity over the years and it’s projected to significantly continue to gain momentum in the coming years.
Manga is one of my favorite sources of entertainment and it’s easy to go through many books within a week!
COMICS PLUS allows unlimited access to thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and - of course - manga!
There’s no wait lists, no need to place holds, and best of all? There are no limits to how many you can read!
While Comics Plus has a lot of popular, as well as less well-known, manga, whatever you can’t find there, it’s possible you might find it on Hoopla or Libby!
And If manga just isn’t your thing and you’re looking for other comic books or graphic novels, COMICS PLUS, LIBBY, and HOOPLA still have all of those options for you.
Other Books and Materials
We’ve mentioned some of these great resources above, but they have much more than manga, comics, and graphic novels!
You can find more books and materials through Hoopla (which has no wait or holds, you get what you want to experience instantly) or through Libby (which acts similarly to the process of our physical items where you may need to wait and put a hold on items if they are already being used by another patron).
If you’re looking for amazing independent and foreign films, Kanopy might be the place to find your next favorite film.
It also has some fantastic documentaries!
Learning a New Language or Brushing Up on One
If you want to learn a new language, there are multiple options for you!
Check out our language learning page for all the possibilities available, try them, and pick your favorite one!
Need Recommendations?
Not sure where to begin?
Or perhaps you’d love some recommendations for AAPI Heritage Month that are specifically tailored just for you?
We got you covered! Our fantastic team will get back to you with their suggestions.
For more information regarding this service, you can look at our BookVine and FlickPick page.
If you’re looking for some book suggestions, feel free to fill out our BookVine form!
If you’re looking for some film suggestions, check out our FlickPick form!
And here are even more suggestions to explore AAPI:
adult non-fiction
Strangers in the land : exclusion, belonging, and the epic story of the Chinese in America
Michael Luo
