Featured Collections
The Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022-2023. The "CALA 50th Anniversary Collection" exhibit is created to showcase important documents, collections and projects on the 50th celebration.
Featured Collections
The CALA 50th Anniversary/ CALASYS Collection Grant is created to collect and archive collections of documents, photographs and other materials that reflect the history of CALA, the Chinese American Librarians, their cultural heritage, and the Chinese American community.
CALA 50th Anniversary/ CALASYS Collection Grant Recipients:
CALA PR & Fundraising Committee (Principal Investigator: Jingjing Wu, Member: Weiling Liu)
The Personal Relations and Fundraising Committee (PR&F Committee) of the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) is commemorating CALA's 50th anniversary by curating a collection under the theme of "CALA: A Path to Future Library Leaders" in CALA's institutional repository. This collection includes transcriptions of interviews with nine CALA presidents who served between 2015 and 2023. The interviews were conducted between November 2022 and March 2023, with a focus on the leadership experiences of these past, present, and future CALA presidents, as well as their advice to new Chinese American librarians and CALA members.
All interviewees expressed that their leadership roles were inspired and encouraged by previous leaders or members of CALA, and that they had taken service opportunities to grow professionally with CALA. Many interviewees remain active in CALA and encouraged new librarians to get involved, as it broadens their network, allows for the development of friendships, and facilitates collaboration.
Overall, this collection provides an invaluable resource for those interested in leadership within CALA and beyond. It highlights the importance of mentorship and service opportunities in shaping successful leaders, as well as the value of networking and collaboration within the profession.
CALA/YALSA Booklist Taskforce (Principal Investigator: Crystal Chen, Member: Melody Leung)
Created to commemorate the Chinese American Librarians Association’s 50th Anniversary, Stories Beyond Borders features children’s, middle grade, and young adult books centering Chinese American and diasporic voices. Rooted in different parts of the world, these empowering stories transcend borders and reflect the multifaceted experiences of our communities, leading us toward a brighter future full of hope, harmony, and unchecked possibilities.
This celebratory reading list is formed through a collaboration between the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) in consultation with the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). The CALA/YALSA Taskforce members are Crystal Chen, Melody Leung, Jen Woo, Cathy Andronik, Christy Lau, Susen Shi, and Amy Chow.
Books are selected based on their authenticity, accuracy, appeal, and creativity. Recent publications between 2020–2022 are prioritized due to their relevance. Some older books are included due to their historical influence and continued significance to Chinese American youth literature and are marked with an asterisk (*). The Taskforce recognizes the deep complexity of a Chinese American and diasporic experience across geopolitical boundaries and thus took an inclusive approach to selection whenever possible.
The exhibit of "Stories Beyond Borders: A Chinese American and Diasporic Reading List" features each book in the list with detailed bibliographic information and a cover image. The full reading list can be accessed via a PDF file at: https://ir.cala-web.org/items/show/1108
CALASYS Collection Grant Special Recognition:
Wikidata Chinese Cultural Heritage Group (Principal Investigator: Greta Heng, Members: Jing Jiang, Xiaoli Li, Sai Deng, Lihong Zhu, Amanda Xu, Cindy Tian)