Libraries across the state participating in the 2023 Library Innovation Lab: Exploring New Ways of Engaging Immigrant Communities through Public Humanities Programming (LIL) are hosting public programs this month that celebrate the cultural traditions and heritage of immigrant communities and provide opportunities for learning, sharing, and community-building. Read about some of these programs below, and check our online calendar for more for information about events near you.
San Juan Capistrano Library (a branch of Orange County Public Libraries) offers a series of bilingual cultural programs this month in honor of Latinx Heritage Month and the upcoming Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead holiday. To underscore the value of preserving family history and traditions, OCPL’s mobile Memory Lab will visit the library on October 5 so that community members can digitize and preserve family photos and other memorabilia. On October 10, the library will host a talk by Marytza K. Rubio, a local Latinx writer whose debut story collection, Maria, Maria & Other Stories, was long listed for the 2022 National Book Award. A free, bilingual story-time and crafting session for families will be offered on October 19, in which participants will learn about the Mexican folk art tradition of alebrijes. Read more about these and other related programs here or contact Saidy Valdez at 949-493-1752, saidy.valdez@occr.ocgov.com.
Winters Public Library in Yolo County will celebrate the culture and heritage of the Latinx community with Cultura y Comunidad, a series of bilingual programs promoting community health and well-being. Organized with support from community partners, the series kicks off on October 5 with a health resource fair, and continues with free Zumba classes and self-care workshops on October 7 and 21, and a healthy cooking demonstration on October 26. Cultural programs include Ballet Folklorico and Aztec dance performances on October 7 and 14, and a Dia de los Muertos-themed printmaking workshop on October 19. The project will culminate with a community walk along a restored creek and a tour of a local community garden. Find more details here or contact Ruby Buentello, Ruby.buentello@yolocounty.org
This month, the Daly City Library launches Taste of the Top of the Hill, a series of programs exploring the food and cultures of the city’s diverse immigrant communities. A free, in-library food “tour” on October 11 at the John Daly Branch will showcase local restaurants and markets: browse pop-up “stalls” hosted by immigrant entrepreneurs, talk with chefs and merchants, enjoy tastings of (and stories about) traditional foods from various cultures, and take home an annotated map to guide your own future explorations. Find more information and this and other events here or contact Michael Whitley at 650-991-8073.
Hayward Public Library’s beloved bookmobile, “Curbie,” will visit two senior living facilities on Friday, October 27 to provide the residents, mostly Chinese and Korean immigrants, with opportunities to socialize and learn about a variety of health and wellness topics. In addition to facilitating the sharing and recording of stories and recipes by the seniors, library and social services staff will provide cooking demonstrations, distribute books and produce bags, and help the seniors make connections with other resources and opportunities. For more information about Curbie Cares, contact Project Director Reina Escovedo at Reina.Escovedo@Hayward-ca.gov.
