April 2008 topic - Asian Pacific American Heritage

Introduction
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated in May to commemorate the contributions and heritage of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States. Beginning as a week-long celebration when Congress passed a Joint Congressional Resolution in 1978, the week was expanded to the entire month of May in 1990.

Resources - HPL electronic databases and other online resources:
Biography Resource Center
http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/research/category/BIO_page.html

Search for biographical information and articles on notable Asian Americans by name or keyword, or use the Category Browse feature.

Handbook of Texas Online
http://www.tshaonline.org/

Source includes articles on Asian ethnic groups in Texas, including the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Vietnamese communities.

Press Display
http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/research/category/NEWS_page.html

Keep up with the latest news from around the world and in several languages online from major newspapers. English-language newspapers with an Asian outlook are also included.

Smithsonian Global Sound
http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/research/category/ALL_page.html#S

These online music collections are searchable by cultural group (e.g., Punjabi, Hawaiian, Japanese-American) or language (Cantonese, Indonesian, Hindi).

Language Resources
http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/research/category/WLC_page.html

Dragonsource (Chinese language only) Dragonsource Group is a Chinese content provider and a digital media corporation based in China and North America. Its core products are digital content resources from China including e-magazines, e-books, digital video and a variety of database and publication.

Rosetta Stone - Online lessons for learning Chinese and Vietnamese, as well as for those learning English.

Web sites:

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Association (APAHA) Web Site
http://www.apaha.org/

Web site of the Houston-based organization that promotes awareness and appreciation of Asian cultural and ethnic groups. Includes news bulletins and archives as well as announcements of local events.

Asia Society
http://www.asiasociety.org/

Comprehensive Web site of the international pan-Asian organization that works to promote understanding and among the people of the United States and Asia. Includes news, interviews, podcasts, recipes, and a calendar of events.

Ask Asia
http://www.askasia.org/

An educational Web site produced by the Asia Society and aimed at students, children, and teachers interested in learning more about Asian cultures, history, and civilizations.

Department of Labor - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: May
http://www.dol.gov/oasam/library/bib/asia.htm

A selected electronic bibliography Compiled by the Wirtz Labor Library Staff; U.S. Department of Labor

Asian and Pacific Islander Population Information from the U.S. Census
http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/race/api.html

Provides links to figures, tables, and reports on Asian and Pacific Islander populations in the United States, including the American Community Survey Reports on these groups.

Related Source: American Factfinder - http://factfinder.census.gov

Asian Pacific American Heritage Web Resources – Montgomery County PL, Maryland
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/libtmpl.asp?url=/content/libraries/weblinks/asian.asp

Find links to - Overviews | Timelines | Statistics | Biographies | Cambodian Americans | Chinese Americans | East Indian Americans | Filipino Americans | Japanese Americans | Korean Americans | Vietnamese Americans

QUESTIONS
Question 1:
Where can I find a membership application to the Asia Society Texas Center? Where in Texas is the center located, and what does the center do?

Question 2:
Where and when the exhibition is: GOLDEN FANTASIES: JAPANESE SCREENS FROM NEW YORK COLLECTIONS being held?

Question 3:
I want to hear tracks from the album, Music of the Shakuhachi (FW04218). Who is the performer? What HPL database offers this and musical excerpts from cultures all around the world?

Question 4:
In Biography Resource Center, use the “Biographical Facts Search” option:

• Search Occupation combined with Ethnicity: Asian American (Do not select a Nationality).

• Do the search for three different occupations of your choice; (i.e.: Chemist and Asian American - If no results, try another one).
• List 5 names (if fewer than five, then list what you have) from each of your three occupation searches.
• Select one name from each list and provide a one sentence description of this person, including ethnic origin, occupation and one other significant piece of information of your choice (You should have three names total for this part of the exercise)

Question 5:
How are rice, Japan and Texas connected and when did it all start? What is the significance of Saibara and Kishi? (Suggested source: Handbook of Texas Online)

Question 6:
Using an HPL Database (Your choice and does not have to be one in this month’s list) find a description of Falun Gong and provide the citation. Then find a news story in the Houston Chronicle database that involves the Falun Gong and the Montrose area in Houston.

Question 7:
How many people of Asian and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander live in your Zip Code area?

To post your answers, please click on your group blog below (assignments are also posted on your group pages):

Amber & Carol's Group

Erin & Jackie's Group

Katie & Paty's Group

Marianne & Saima's Group

Marty & Robyn's Group

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