Your name, pronouns, current or most recent work place and position (for students, please tell us what school you’re attending and if you have chosen a specialization):
Warren Chin, he/him/his, Children Services Librarian at The Seattle Public Library, working at two locations, The NewHolly Branch & The International District/Chinatown Branch
How long have you been an APALA member? What drew you to join? (If you are currently volunteering on an APALA committee or are an EB officer, please include that here!)
I have been an APALA member since I started at the Information School at The University of Washington, for almost fifteen years. I find it very useful to connect with my peers working in the library field to connect and network. I am currently the Chair for the Pacific Northwest Chapter, in which I connect with local APALA members regularly through social gatherings and related library events.
We’re very interested in the diversity of ethnic/cultural heritage within APALA. Please share your ethnic/cultural heritage with us and any other background information, as desired.
I am Chinese-American. My parents are from Taishan region, in the Guangdong province of China. I have been recently trying to re-discover more about my roots and family history.
What aspects of library work do you find most compelling? Please share some of your professional goals and interests.
I am very fond of working in the library to help define its purpose and goals in relationship to the community. Even with small and basic interactions we have in the community, we can build and start an everlasting journey for others to find themselves. In this profession, I learn something new everyday, and it’s a great way to learn and grow along the way. I find it very rewarding that I work collaboratively with my colleagues and peers to bring joy to the community in different shapes and forms. I started my work as a Children Services Librarian at the start of the pandemic, and it has been a challenge to adapt to how we provide services and resources to the communities we serve. I always look forward to learn how to strengthen and build relations with the families and communities we serve at the library.
If you’ve got a big move, publication, webinar, conference presentation, or social media presence that you’d like APALA members to know about, let us know here!
The upcoming Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) will be in Spokane, Washington from October 7th to 11th, 2026. I hope to see everyone from APALA there! It’s a great conference to connect and learn from others! I also have an active Instagram account where I share anything library or books that I encounter, feel free to follow: @chin.libraryworld (Instagram)
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I spent lots of my childhood playing video games. However, I am very into Roles Playing Games & The Final Fantasy Series. That’s where I had done all of my reading! I am also in the process of tidying and updating my personal library collection, so can gladly take on any tips.