Library Receives Korean Language Materials

The La Crescenta Public Library has anywhere from 300 to 500 new Korean books, and there are still a large number of Korean movies to be unloaded.

Victoria Guagliardo, the Community Library Manager for the La Crescenta branch, with the assistance of Korean translator, Hyugwon Kim, presented the new materials to many of the Korean La Crescenta residents last Saturday. The State Library of California's Korean Global Language Grant made it possible for the La Crescenta library to receive the shipment of books and movies.

Guagliardo honored three volunteers who, she said, "Have over the past 12 years given many hours of their time and input to help develop the Korean Language collection here at La Crescenta library." Crescenta Valley Town Council Vice President Jaleen Lunt gave Elizabeth Pak, Hyo S. Kwon and Amie Hwang awards sent in by County Supervisor Michael Antonovich.

Guagliardo also thanked Mark Choi, chief executive officer of the Korean Book Center, and Sae Jung Kim, the Korean cultural representative, for providing a table of materials and posters for the event.

A retired librarian from the Pio Pico Library, Joe Min Noh, then delivered a speech on the importance of these books. He started off the speech by saying, "We are all friends and lovers. That is, library friends and book lovers." He continued by explaining the important role books have played in his life and the role they play in a community. He then stated that Korean books play an even larger role in a community like La Crescenta which has a large Korean population.

The event included food and drinks as well as crafts for children. Guagliardo and many guests went outside to plant the rose of Shannon flowers given to the library by Mugunghwa Association. And everyone who did not participate in one of these events spent the time enjoying the new books.