Did you know BAPL has an Anime Club? Kelly Fitzpatrick, of the Main Library’s Youth Services department, first launched the group last year, and youth services patrons are coming together around a shared love of Japanese film and television animation.
“It’s something I’m very passionate about, and I knew there was an interest in it with the younger patrons,” Kelly says. There was enough interest to found two clubs– one for grades two to six and one for older students, grades seven to twelve. “All of them are very passionate about anime and they have a lot of interest in Japanese culture,” says Kelly.
In addition to watching their favorite shows together and doing their own anime-inspired drawings, patrons at the meetings enjoy lots of great Japanese food. They have had the chance to try mochi, pocky, Japanese Christmas cake, and lots of flavors of Japanese Kit-Kat (there are hundreds!). Participants also learned about Japanese culture, tradition, and more, and Professor Kyoko Taniguchi of Lehigh University gave a presentation on Japanese mythology.
2019 was a successful year for the new club so they’re back with more activities for 2020. Kelly plans to host a ramen bar, a sushi-making class, a language lesson, and a special event at Bethlehem’s Cherry Blossom Festival. More information on the BAPL Anime Club’s meeting schedule is below–or contact Kelly at the Main Library for more information.
