The Bret Harte Neighborhood Library, in West Long Beach, is now home to the newly established Filipino American Cultural Heritage Collection.
The new collection features a rich selection of bilingual books and multimedia resources for all ages, offering opportunities for readers to connect with and celebrate Filipino American heritage, according to a recent press release.
Long Beach’s Filipino American Cultural Heritage Collection boasts more than 760 items. This makes it one of the largest collections of its kind in Southern California, officials said, highlighting the library’s and the city’s dedication to inclusivity and cultural representation.
“Our newly established Filipino American Cultural Heritage Collection, now one of the largest in Southern California, reflects our deep commitment to education, cultural preservation and community empowerment,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement. “We are honoring the deep contributions of our vibrant Filipino American community and encouraging meaningful conversations and shared experiences.”
The library, 1595 W. Willow St., is in West Long Beach, which is where the city’s largest concentration of Filipino Americans lives. It is one of the city’s most vibrant and longstanding communities, and has played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural and social fabric of the area, according to a press release.
“Many generations of Filipinos have called Long Beach home, and it’s wonderful to be able to recognize their stories contributions, and history,” Director of Library, Arts and Culture Cathy De Leon said in a statement. “We’re honored to celebrate the vibrant legacy of Filipino Americans in Long Beach and proud to offer a collection that reflects and uplifts their voices.”
Funding for the Filipino American Cultural Heritage Collection came from the Friends of the Long Beach Public Library, and a portion was also funded through an “Inspiration Grant” from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The library unveiled its new collection with a community celebration on Saturday, May 31, according to a press release, which included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, cultural performances, a book reading by Filipino authors, and a Filipino family story time.
