Profile
Filipino American Library Los Angeles CA US
The Filipino American Library, originally established in 1985 as the Pilipino American Reading Room and Library (PARRAL) in a church basement near Echo Park, was founded by Helen Agcaoili Summers Brown, affectionately known as “Auntie Helen.” In 2000, it relocated to Temple Street and was renamed the Filipino American Library (FAL), becoming a cultural and educational hub for the Filipino American community. The library housed the largest collection of Filipino and Filipino American reading materials, with over 6,000 titles, and offered programs and exhibits that promoted literacy, heritage preservation, and community engagement.
After closing its doors, the FAL’s collection was dispersed among the University of Southern California (USC) Libraries and the Echo Park Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. In 2017, the Filipino American Library Collection was formally transferred to USC Special Collections, ensuring its preservation and accessibility. While the physical library at 135 N Park View St, Los Angeles, CA, is no longer operational, its legacy endures through its contributions to Filipino American cultural heritage and academic resources. The library’s historical significance and community impact remain central to its story.
Location Reviews
No reviews are available for the Filipino American Library. The provided text consists of interviews with two librarians, Jaena Rae Cabrera and Mel Reyes, discussing their backgrounds, motivations for entering librarianship, and their roles at the San Francisco Public Library’s Filipino American Center. These interviews highlight their personal and professional experiences, including their community organizing backgrounds, cultural advocacy, and goals for promoting Filipino American heritage through library programs and outreach. However, the content does not include evaluations or critiques from library patrons or users, which would be necessary to summarize reviews.