How do you dream up an International Festival? Earlier this year, at the John P. Holt Brentwood Library, Brentwood High School student Yoojin Park noticed something missing. The library, which prides itself on its wide-ranging collection, didn’t offer many books in different languages.
Park — a member of the library’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB) — decided to create the library’s new International Bookshelf. She and fellow TAB member, Sarah Cai, solicited and received donations of books in other languages. To celebrate the new section’s addition to the library, TAB is hosting an International Festival on Saturday, April 29 in the library meeting rooms from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The free event — open to all — will feature snacks from different cultures in addition to activities.
“We will have different international crafts, from Guatemalan worry dolls to Chinese dragon puppets and more,” Claire Stanton, library reference services manager, said. “We will also have music, Just Dance K-pop, a photo booth, and a large map where people can add stickers marking the place of their family’s heritage.”
Park and Cai will speak at the International Festival. The purpose of the event is to both bring attention to the new International Bookshelf and to celebrate the diverse cultures that call Brentwood home. TAB is a volunteer group of 6-12 graders who work to make the library a better place for teens.
For information on the board, visit brentwoodtn.gov/departments/library/teens/tab.
