The Cupertino Library, a member of the Santa Clara County Library District, the Cupertino Library Foundation (CLF), and the Cupertino Historical Society are kicking off their third Santa Clara Valley History Collaborative exhibit and program series. The Collaborative is excited to be working with two new community partners – the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) and the California History Center at De Anza College (CHC) to present Moving Days: The Japanese American Experience in the Santa Clara Valley. The exhibit will run through December 31, 2012 at the Cupertino Library. The purpose of the joint collaboration is to enhance and promote the historical richness of the Santa Clara Valley.
“We are very grateful to the Japanese American Museum of San Jose for their generosity. They have provided the Collaborative with access to a wealth of historical photographs, artifacts and artwork that poignantly portray several aspects of the lives of Japanese Americans in the Santa Clara Valley over the last 70 years,” notes Cupertino Community Librarian, Mark Fink. “We are fortunate to have the opportunity to bring this powerful and thought provoking exhibit and series of programs to the community. The Cupertino Library Foundation continues to be a catalyst in bringing us all together to share our resources.”The kickoff event of “Moving Days” is scheduled for Sunday, September 30, 2012 from 1:30pm – 3:00pm with a public reception beginning at 12:45 in the Cupertino Community Hall located at 10350 Torre Ave. Cupertino, CA. The public is invited to this free panel discussion entitled “Local Japanese Americans Remember Life Before and During World War II.”The moderator for this panel discussion will be Darcy Paul, a Cupertino Historical Society Board Member. Panelists will discuss life before WWII in the Valley, life in an internment camp, life as a drafted or enlisted soldier, and how these experiences have shaped modern day lives and experiences.A second event, Civil Liberties and the Japanese American Experience is scheduled for Sunday, November 18, 2012, at Cupertino’s Community Hall from 12:45pm-3:00pm with a program and panel discussion, moderated by Tom Izu, Director of the California History Center at De Anza College. Panelists will discuss and debate the merits of the Japanese Internment experience, and the lessons learned that are applicable to modern life in America.“I am especially pleased to join forces with the Santa Clara Valley History Collaborative to present these poignant stories, and to reflect on the lessons we can learn from these experiences,” said Izu. “Collectively, we find healing in the process, and valuable lessons for our youth. I hope many families will attend.”The staff of the Cupertino Library have put together some book lists that interested patrons and program visitors can consult for more information on the theme of Moving Days: The Japanese American Experience in the Santa Clara Valley. A Cupertino Library book club discussion on Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston has been selected in conjunction with the program theme, and the art display walls located in the Cupertino Library will be dedicated to displaying images related to the theme as further described on the Cupertino Library Foundation web site.For further information go to: www.cupertinolibraryfoundation.org and visit www.jamsj.org