by Kayla Cook, Media Relations & Communications Specialist, feat. Anita Patel, Youth Services Librarian; Lindin Scott and Theresa Bird, Information Services Assistants; and Terese Winters, Information Services Librarian
Q&A with Anita, Lindin, Terese, and Theresa
Learn how Lawrence Public Library's (Lawrence, KS) first-ever Multicultural Fair on SAT, Jul 13 at 3–5 PM came to life in this Q&A with library staff. Then attend the event and get to know your neighbors in this celebration of cultures through food, games, art, and more!
The library is hosting our first-ever Multicultural Fair! How did this event come about?
Anita, Youth Services Assistant: Terese was the one who approached me about it! It was a great idea, but when we had initially chatted there wasn’t enough room and bandwidth to plan this event. We revisited about a year later, and over boba from YOLO Tea, opens a new window it just unfolded! We got a team together and we hit the ground running ever since. The Multicultural Fair is like a big hug for all cultures! Our library wants everyone of all cultures to feel welcome.
Terese, Information Services Librarian: We have a wonderful World Languages Collection for Adults with fiction and non-fiction books in Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic. These languages were chosen based on Census data, but checkouts are somewhat low. The idea for the Multicultural Fair spawned from a desire to form deeper connections with our international and multilingual communities.
Lawrence is a growing, vibrant community and we want everyone who lives here to feel at home at the library and enjoy our spaces and resources. Libraries are for everyone! We know this starts with building relationships, which is something Anita has done through her Multicultural Storytimes for kids. I was inspired by her program, as well as by the New York Public Library’s World Literature Festival.
I know Lawrence isn’t New York, but we want to celebrate our diverse multilingual and multicultural communities through the Multicultural Fair. We also want the library to be the go-to place for all members of our community to access information and resources to make life easier and, hopefully, more fun
"The Multicultural Fair is like a big hug for all cultures! Our library wants everyone of all cultures to feel welcome." – Anita, Youth Services Assistant
What can attendees expect to see and do (and eat!) at this event?
Theresa, Information Services Librarian: Guests can expect an exciting atmosphere with food from different cultures, music, cozy reading nooks, book displays, games, and multilingual resources.
We’re providing food from local restaurants that are culturally diverse. Be on the lookout for tasty snacks from Delicias del Sur , opens a new windowand Lucky Seb's, opens a new window at our event–plus even more treats! We’ll also be kicking things off with dance performances from Grupo Folklorico MiSol, opens a new window, a Mexican Folklore Dance Group, and KU Karisma, opens a new window, a K-pop dance group. Between watching the performances and grabbing a dumpling, attendees can walk around and get to know their neighbors who are there sharing about their cultures, find a good book to check out, play some dominoes, or get signed up for a library card.
If you don’t speak English but want to participate, we’d love to have you. Or if you’ve never visited us before, now is the perfect time to come to the library!
"Guests can expect an exciting atmosphere with food from different cultures, music, cozy reading nooks, book displays, games, and multilingual resources. If you’ve never visited us before, now is the perfect time to come to the library!" – Theresa, Information Services Assistant
What cultures will be represented?
Terese: The cultures represented will be as diverse as our community allows. In addition to Grupo MiSol Folklorico and KU Karisma, we’ll have people sharing from Japan, China, Ecuador, Panama and more, as well as some Multicultural University of Kansas organizations, opens a new window.
Can folks participate in Multicultural Library resources and events digitally if being in-person creates a barrier?
Theresa: Definitely. There are plenty of digital multicultural and multilingual resources you can access with your library card! As far as entertainment, Kanopy has tons of great movies, TV shows, and documentaries you can stream for free, including a robust World Cinema collection, opens a new window. You can also learn about other cultures or connect with your own through digital magazines with Flipster. If you’re looking to learn another language, Mango Languages is a fabulous resource that is easy to use and fun too! We have Community Resource Guides in both English and Spanish, with a section specifically for Latine and Spanish-Speaking Services.
Need Summer Reading cultural memoir recs? Check out the list below.
Nonfiction reading picks for the library's Multicultural Fair
How many languages are available in the World Languages adult collection?
Terese: Currently, our World Languages collection includes Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish materials. If you cannot find a specific item, you have the option to request an interlibrary loan for titles not in our collection. To contribute to our World Languages collection or any other collection at the library, patrons can submit purchase suggestions online up to three times a month.
How many various cultures have Multicultural Storytimes represented?
Anita: This program was running even before my time here, so I’m not sure the true number! However, I know that we’ve had 25 different Multicultural Storytimes since I’ve coordinated them. We’ve had cultures represented from South Korea, Ukraine, Tibet, Guatemala, Japan, Russia, Kazakhstan, India, Brazil, Senegal, Tajikistan, Paraguay, Peru, Mongolia, Brazil, Kenya, and various Indigenous cultural backgrounds. I may be missing some–we’ve had many!
Do you have a favorite story about how Multicultural Storytime and similar Library events lead to cultural exchange?
Anita: In our South Korean Multicultural Storytime, I had a young girl who was Korean who was so excited to answer questions about Korean food and the New Year because that’s what she ate at home and celebrated. This happened in my Diwali Storytime as well with another kiddo. It’s infectious to see the joy of kids who see their lives reflected–a mirror for them and a window for other kiddos–in the work that’s shared at the library! I can tell they feel a lot of pride in their experiences and their culture, in ways that many of my BIPOC friends who are older now didn’t get the chance to experience when they were younger.
“Imagine more” is our library slogan. What other Multicultural events would you imagine for our library?
Terese: We want the library to meet the needs of all our community members. As Lawrence grows and changes, so must we! Our goal is for our library events and programs to reflect the multicultural, multilingual community we live in. We’re envisioning future international film screenings, book clubs in multiple languages, and a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, just to name a few. That being said, we welcome feedback from our community members and community partners on what types of multicultural events and multilingual resources you would like to see at Lawrence Public Library. Please suggest an event or program idea, opens a new window!
"We want the library to meet the needs of all our community members. As Lawrence grows and changes, so must we!" – Terese, Information Services Librarian
What are you most excited to share with the Lawrence community at the Multicultural Fair?
Lindin, Information Services Assistant: The goal of the Multicultural Fair is embracing and celebrating diversity in our community and at the library–so hopefully that!
Theresa: We’re excited for community members from different cultural backgrounds to share and celebrate diversity in a relaxed environment here at the library. Making new connections is the best
"The goal of the Multicultural Fair is embracing and celebrating diversity in our community and at the library!" – Lindin, Information Services Assistant
One last question–What are you reading?
Anita: Wild Dreamers by Margarita Engle. It’s a YA novel-in-verse about two Cuban-American teenagers who care deeply about the environment and trying to make their patch of the world better, all the while falling in love. Every time they touch, visible light emanates from them!
Lindin: Remember, opens a new window is a delightful children's book authored by Joy Harjo, the first Native American Poet Laureate, featuring stunningly vibrant illustrations. The book poetically highlights the importance of remembering our history.
About Lawrence Public Library
Lawrence Public Library (LPL for short) is a community hub that believes in the power of connecting with each other through shared knowledge and resources. Located in the heart of Downtown Lawrence, Kansas, we are committed to providing a space where our community can learn, connect, create, and grow through access to our vast collections, resources, services, programs, and knowledgeable staff. The library is supported by tax dollars, record-breaking book sales and philanthropic efforts by the LPL Friends & Foundation, and the dedicated efforts of more than 300 volunteers. All are welcome.
Contact
Resources
Community Resource Guides (English and Spanish)
Kanopy (World Cinema), opens a new window
Mango Languages, opens a new window
Multicultural Fair Interview with KLWN 101.7 FM and 1320 AM , opens a new window
Summer Reading Challenge 2024 Commercial, opens a new window
