May is Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, and the Santa Clara County Library District is proud to celebrate the rich history and diverse contributions of the AANHPI community. We are offering a variety of events, curated reading lists, and digital resources to honor these vibrant cultures.
Events
Throughout May, our community libraries host a dynamic lineup of performances and workshops:
- AAPI Teen Art Exhibit 2026: Visit the Saratoga Library Group Study Room everyday through May to see vibrant artworks created by local teens celebrating their heritage.
- Asian Art Museum - Reimagining Traditions: AANHPI Heritage Month: Many contemporary Asian and Asian American artists reach into the past, creating works that reimagine traditional subjects or techniques in new and unexpected contexts or combinations. Whether these traditions merge or collide, the process often yields unusual and thought-provoking works of extraordinary beauty and skill. This is an online program, held on May 5 from 7-8pm.
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Chinese Medicine for Chronic Pain: According to the CDC, in 2023, 24.3% of adults had chronic pain. In this engaging talk, Dr. Julia Lee will discuss natural reasons why the body manifests pain, what the healing process for pain may look like, strategies to cope with pain during the healing process, and beneficial attitudes that support pain relief.
- Cupertino Library: May 7, 2026 @ 7pm
- Los Altos Library: May 19, 2026 @ 7pm
- Gilroy Library: May 30, 2026 @ 11am
- The Geary Act Project: On May 3, 2026, join a special SCCLD presentation at the Saratoga Library Community Room to learn about this significant piece of AAPI history.
- Live Stream Author Talk: George Takei: To close out the celebration of One Book, One Coast, we will be live streaming an author talk at all our library locations with George Takei, the author of this year’s highlighted book, “They Called Us Enemy.” George Takei will be sitting down for an interview at East Los Angeles Library with LA County Library Director Dr. Skye Patrick and Cathy De Leon, Director of Long Beach Public Library. This event will be live streamed on May 31 from 2pm-4pm at Campbell, Saratoga, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Cupertino, Los Altos, and Milpitas Libraries.
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Rahiti Polynesian Dance Performances: Immerse yourself in the vibrant cultural tapestry of Polynesia with a live dance performance by RAHITI. It will showcase the beautiful songs, fast-paced and rhythmic drumbeats of Tahiti, alongside the graceful hula dances of Hawai'i, the strength and elegance of Samoa, and the skillful precision of the Maori people from Aotearoa (New Zealand). Performances will be held at:
- Cupertino Library: May 2, 2026 @11am
- Gilroy Library: May 9, 2026 @ 11am
- Morgan Hill Library: May 16, 2026 @ 2pm
- Milpitas Library: May 17, 2026 @ 2pm
Visit our online events calendar for a full schedule and to register for virtual sessions.
Library Resources and Collection
Explore our collection of stories and online resources that reflect the diverse experiences and history within the AANHPI community.
- Staff Picked Booklists:
- Digital Exploration: Use your library card to access Kanopy for AANHPI-focused documentaries, Mango Languages to begin learning a new Asian or Pacific Island language, or My China Roots to research Chinese ancestry genealogy.
