Friends of the Asian Library
by Bea Wong
The Friends of the Asian Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1981 to foster awareness of the diversity of the Asian community through education, discovery and enrichment of the Asian heritage collections.
The Asian branch has materials in 8 Asian languages. Resources include books, newspapers, magazines, CD's, VCD's, DVD's, VHS tapes, computers, etc. You can find Newsweek in Japanese, Scientific American in Chinese, National Geographic magazine in Chinese. There is a Chinese edition of Vogue. You can find out what's going on in the Philippines by reading the Philippine News. Catch up on the news in the Korea Times or the Korea Daily. Hook up with the Hokubei Meinichi. Seniors and new immigrants can learn to use computers there. Youngsters and their parents can attend bi-lingual storytelling hours. Teens can find help with their homework.
The Friends have sponsored receptions for the late author Iris Chang (The Rape of Nanking) as well as a former editor of the Rolling Stones Magazine Ben Fong-Torres.
If you agree that these are worthwhile activities, then join and support the Friends of the Asian Library. The continuing growth of the Asian branch will necessitate a future expansion and they want to be able to count on your support.
FAL Directors (from left): Chris Nishida, Milton Chow, Doreen Lew, Bea Wong, George Wong, Ernest Chann, Audrey Huie