Korean Working Group Teleconferenc
5 December 1996
Dr Ken Walls, Janice Rickards, Dr Adrian Buzo, Chooi-Hon Ho, Lesley
Smith, Cliff Law, Marie Sexton, Andrew Gosling (minutes), John Rodwell.
Apologies: Dr Duk-Soo Park.
Australia-Korea Research and Information Profile
The teleconference concentrated on the preparation of the survey of Korean research and information needs, as follows :
Dr Wells will check with the Korean Embassy on the application for funding from the Korea Foundation, as the results of applications are expected in the first part of this month. In addition to the $1,000 granted by the Australia-Korea Foundation, Dr Wells reported that Dr Park had indicated that, subject to some further consultation, the KSAA was sympathetic to providing up to $500 towards the cost of the survey. This would be needed to pay the surveyor for the task.
Dr Park and Dr Wells had identified Ms Lee Mi-Kyung as a suitable person to carry out the survey. Ms Lee, a Korean Australian, has a master's degree in Korean linguistics, and is experienced in survey work. She is interested in undertaking this task, and would like further information on what is involved.
The extent of the survey, including whether business needs will be included, will depend on funding. At a minimum the survey will be based on a mailed out questionnaire. Within present funding, there would not be visits away from Canberra.
It was agreed that Dr Wells and Cliff Law, with assistance from the members of the Korean Working Group, would prepare a briefing for Ms Lee. A further teleconference involving the Korean Working Group and Ms Lee would be held in early March with the aim of sending out the questionnaire later in March.
From the experience of members of the group it was agreed that in order to be successful the questionnaire would need to have a strong appeal to the interests of those being surveyed. A cover letter was needed showing that the questionnaire was a cooperative effort and was intended to bring benefit for all parties. It was also stressed that there are often delays in obtaining responses to surveys and further follow-up is necessary. In the present difficult university climate, respondents may need considerable encouragement to complete the survey.
It was felt that the survey should be carried out in two stages, with the surveyor involved in preparation and sending out the questionnaire, then allowing time for circularisation of some weeks followed by receipt and analysis of the responses. Members of the Korean Working Group would assist with ensuring responses to questions.
Further Discussion of Briefing
Following the teleconference, Dr Wells and Cliff Law together with Marie Sexton and Andrew Gosling further discussed the survey with the following recommendations which would be referred back to the Korean Working Group :
The survey could be sent out in March 1997 and reminders would later be sent out with the NKSC and KSAA Newsletters as follow-up. It was proposed that the letter to be sent out with the survey be signed jointly by the Director-General of the National Library and the President of KSAA. The National Library is recipient of the AKF grant of $1,000 and subject to its Executive's endorsement, the KSAA plans to make $500 available.
There would need to be an agreement between the National Library as recipient of grant funding and the KSAA if their Executive agreed to make $500 available. There would also need to be a contract with the surveyor setting out that the surveyor was being engaged by the National Library as well as conditions of employment and payment on a staged basis as each phase is completed.
The need to be aware of state and other sensitivities was emphasised. This included the importance of involving scholars and institutions from outside the eastern states, such as Curtin University and University of Adelaide. The survey should stress positive outcomes and clearly show it is not intended to boost any one institution or group to the detriment of any others in terms of Korean studies and collections. Dr Wells will prepare a statement setting out the key aims of the survey and who it is aimed at.
A special purpose account would be set up. The National Library would set out what support it would provide. Cliff Law undertook to prepare a draft contract for discussion.
Andrew Gosling
Revised 5 February 1997
Last updated 25 February 1997
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