MLA 2014: Outreach to Hmong Populations

The Twin Cities metro area is home to a larger Hmong population than any other metro area in the U.S. (although California claims more Hmong residents than Minnesota as a whole). Mark Pfeifer of the Hmong Cultural Center and Chaleng Lee of Hennepin County Libraries presented “Outreach to Hmong Populations and Hmong-Related Resources for Libraries” to help MLA attendees learn more about that diverse population. The session presented a review of Minnesota’s many different Hmong populations, covering demographics, dialects, housing trends, religious beliefs, represented clans, and evolving economic indicators. The session materials provide statistics, background, and sources. You’ll also find guidance for interacting respectfully with traditional (read: older) Hmong people. The session also introduced the Hmong Cultural Center’s Resource Library: http://www.hmonglibrary.org/. The Library is the most comprehensive Hmong studies research library in the U.S., but it is still relatively small. Pfeifer is the solo librarian and collects all manner of material related to Hmong studies, including what is most likely the largest collection of Hmong studies theses and dissertations, a collection of academic journal articles (some dating back to the 19^th Century), and archives of a number of Hmong newspapers. The Library is located in St. Paul and is open to the public. A virtual library featuring a smaller collection of online materials is available.