The Chinese American Librarians Association or CALA (), promotes the Chinese culture through the outlet of libraries and communicates with others in the profession of librarianship.
History
The Mid-West Chinese American Librarians Association began on March 31, 1973, founded by Dr. Tze-Chung Li and Dorothy Li, as a regional organization in Illinois. Then in 1974 the Chinese Librarians Association was founded in California, at
Stanford University
Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is conside ...
. In 1976, the Mid-West Chinese American Librarians Association expanded to a national organization as the Chinese American Librarians Association. In 1983 the Chinese American Librarians Association and the Chinese Librarians Association (CLA) were merged into one organization, under the name Chinese American Librarians Association (in English) and the Chinese Librarians Association's Chinese name (華人圖書館員協會). This one organization has members not only in America but in China, Hong Kong, Canada, and more. It promotes the Chinese culture through the outlet of libraries and communicates with others in the profession of librarianship.
It is the largest Asian-American body of its kind.
In 2006, the Chinese American Librarians Association took part in the first Joint Conference of Librarians of Color, along with the
American Indian Library Association, the
Asian Pacific American Librarians Association
The Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), also known as the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association,Yamashita, Kenneth A.(2000), Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association— A History of APALA and Its Founders, Library Tr ...
, the
Black Caucus of the American Library Association
The Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) is an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA) that focuses on the needs of African American library professionals by promoting careers in librarianship, funding literacy in ...
, and
REFORMA
REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, more commonly known as REFORMA, is an affiliate of the American Library Association formed in 1971 to promote library services to Lat ...
.
This conference was the first national conference sponsored and held by those organizations, which are known as the Associations of Ethnic Librarians.
The Joint Council of Librarians of Color (JCLC, Inc.) was founded in June of 2015 as an organization "that advocates for and addresses the common needs of the American Library Association ethnic affiliates";
these ethnic affiliates include the Chinese American Librarians Association, as well as the American Indian Library Association, the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, and REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking.
Presidents
Presidents of CALA serve four-year terms, including one as vice president elect, vice-president/president elect and one as past president. Past and current presidents of CALA are:
After CALA and CLA merged on January 1, 1983:
* Guoying (Grace) Liu, Vice President Elect (2024-2025)
* Vincci Kwong, CALA Vice President (2023-2024)
* Raymond Pun, CALA President (2022-2023)
* Wenli Gao, CALA Immediate Past President (2021-2022)
* Hong Yao (2020-2021)
* Fu Zhuo (2019-2020)
* Ying Zhang (2018-2019)
* Le Yang (2017-2018)
* Qi Chen (2016-2017)
* Lian Ruan (2015-2016)
* Carol Gee (2014-2015)
* Lisa Zhao (2013-2014)
* Esther Lee (2012-2013)
* Min Chou (2011-2012)
* Zhijia Shen (2010-2011)
* Xudong Jin (2009-2010)
* Sha Li Zhang (2008-2009)
* Dora Ho (2007-2008)
* Haipeng Li (2006-2007)
* Diana Wu (2005-2006)
* Shixing Wen (2004-2005)
* Amy Tsiang (2003-2004)
* Angela Yang (2002-2003)
* Liana Zhou (2001-2022)
* Yu-Lan Chou (2000-2001)
* Ling Hwey Jeng (1999-2000)
* Linna Yu (1998-1999)
* Harriet Ying (1997-1998)
* Menxiong Liu (1996-1997)
* Wilfred Fong (1995-1996)
* Linda Tse (1994-1995)
* Betty Tsai (1993-1994)
* Carl Chan (1992-1993)
* Roy Chang (1991-1992)
* Amy D. Seetoo (1990-1991)
* Peter R. Young (1989-1990)
* Chang-chien Lee (1988-1989)
* Irene Yeh (1987-1988)
* Marjorie H. Li (1986-1987)
* William Wan (1985-1986)
* Sally C. Tseng (1984-1985)
* Norma Yueh (1983-1984)
* Bessie K. Hahn (1982-1983)
CLA (Chinese Librarians Association)
* Susana Juh-mei Liu (1981-1982)
* Lillian L. Chan (1980-1981)
* George W. Huang (1979-1980)
* Raymond Tang (1978-1979)
* Mark Tam (1977-1978)
* George Cheng (1976-1977)
* T. C. Wong (1975-1976)
* Irene Yeh (1974-1975)
CALA
* David Ta-ching Liu (1981-1982)
* Lee-hsia Ting (1980-1981)
* John Yung-hsiang La (1979-1980)
* Hwa-wei Lee (1978-1979)
* Robert Pin-chuan Chen (1980-1981)
* Tze-Chung Li (1973-1977)
Resources
*CALA Website
CALA - Chinese American Librarians Association*CALASYS - CALA Academic Resource & Repository System
Browse Exhibits · CALASYS - CALA Academic Resources & Repository System*CALA YouTube
CALAChannel - YouTube
References
External links
CALA Official site{{Authority control
Chinese-American organizations
Library associations
Organizations based in Illinois