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Western Illinois University Libraries now has more than 60 books intended to help educate students about social issues and the immigrant experience through fiction. Thanks to funds donated in 2010 by retired WIU Libraries Associate Dean Felix Chu and his wife, Nancy, the Chu Multicultural Collection was purchased this spring and can be checked out of the Leslie F. Malpass Library.
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WIU Libraries' New Chu Multicultural Collection Focuses on Social Issues and the Immigrant Experience

May 20, 2015

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MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois University Libraries now has more than 60 books intended to help educate students about social issues and the immigrant experience through fiction. Thanks to funds donated in 2010 by retired WIU Libraries Associate Dean Felix Chu and his wife, Nancy, the Chu Multicultural Collection was purchased this spring and can be checked out of the Leslie F. Malpass Library. Information about the titles in the Chu Collection is available at http://bit.ly/WIUChuCollection.

Chu, an immigrant who came to the U.S. at the age of 15, retired from WIU in 2014. His wife, Nancy Chu, a retired professor from the WIU Department of Curriculum and Instruction, taught children's literature and storytelling classes. According to the Chus, this collection allowed them to combine their interests, expertise and passion for social issues.

"People tend to remember stories more than facts. Fiction is one of the easiest ways to learn about and understand complex social issues," Felix Chu explained.

According to WIU Libraries Development Director Suzanne Woodward, the collection focuses on works of fiction that include themes of cultural, ethnic and racial issues, especially those focused on the immigrant experience.

"The winner of the Bellwether Prize for Fiction, which recognizes serious literary fiction that addresses issues of social justice and the impact of culture and politics on human relationships, will be added to the collection each year as it is awarded," Woodward noted. "The fund will also be used to purchase children's fiction focusing on these issues."

Felix Chu spent his first 12 years in Taiwan and three more in Argentina before immigrating to the U.S. Based on those experiences, Chu said he is uniquely aware of how individuals from varying cultures view things differently.

"My hope is those who read the books included in this collection will see things from a different vantage point," Felix said.

"Fiction gets to the human side that sometimes scholarly books miss," Nancy Chu added.

WIU Libraries Outreach Librarian Christina Norton said University Libraries faculty and staff are grateful for the donation to purchase the collection.

"We thank the Chus for helping the WIU community support being committed to equity, social justice and diversity, as well as the internationalization of the curriculum and the campus," Norton added.

For more information, contact Norton at (309) 298-3298 or via email at CA-Norton@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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