Korean Working Group Teleconference
17 April 1997
Present
Janice Rickards, Ho Chooi-hon, John Rodwell, Dr D.S. Park, Marie Sexton, Cliff LawApologies : A. Buzo, A. Gosling, L. Smith, Dr. K. Wells
Australia-Korea Research and Information Profile
Funding
Cliff Law briefly outlined the funding available : Australia Korea Foundation $1 000; Korea Foundation US$4 000 and possibly $500 from the Korean Studies Association of Australia. Marie Sexton said that funds were very tight.
Consultant
Consultant to prepare the questionnaire, collate results and prepare the report : Marie Sexton said that the contract procedures were close to completion and it was hoped to have the consultant made known in the next week or so.
Project Outline
A copy had been faxed out to all members prior to the teleconference.
There was discussion on the approach of preparing a single questionnaire to all types of users. M. Sexton said that the limited funds meant that it had to be done economically.
Visit to Melbourne by Andrew Gosling as part of the survey : Ho Chooi-hon offered the services of her Korean staff member to help co-ordinate the visit.
Topics to be Covered in Questionnaire
There was agreement that some of the questions listed in section 2 could be successfully elicited through a mail survey and others face to face.
Chooi-hon urged the use of the A Guide to Korean Studies in Australia, prepared by the National Korean Studies Centre, Melbourne, as a source of a lot of factual information.
Questions asked in the mail survey might be best handled through the ticking of alternatives or multiple choices in boxes. Levels of satisfaction from 1 to 5 could also collated. The use of too many open-ended questions might lengthen the questionnaire and discourage response.
Topics to be covered by the questionnaire :
2.1 library usage
2.2 online systems used
2.5 use of overseas libraries
2.6 subject use of collections (This would be aided by a list of subjects to avoid unwanted diversity in responses.)
2.8 business needs (It was thought that the present level of use by business was low but that the questionnaire should go to the business sections of the state libraries as well as the readers services section.)
2.9 possible options (This was thought to be a difficult question and an email contact for more extensive discussion might be useful if in the questionnaire.)
Through interview :
2.3 knowledge of information available
2.4 impact of present pattern of library services on Korean studies and research
2.7 future research needs.
Dr Park thought that the perceptions of the various groups e.g researchers, librarians, of the effectiveness of services, etc. should be considered in the final report.
Drafting of the Questionnaire
It was agreed that the draft would be faxed to the members of the Korean Working Group for their comments when ready. If their comments could be accommodated and there seemed to be no serious divergence, the questionnaire should be finalised without a further teleconference. This would be held only if there seemed a need to settle problems.
Covering Letter
This would be very straightforward in seeking the co-operation of recipients.
It was agreed that it would be signed by the Director-General, NLA and Dr D. S. Park, President, Korean Studies Association of Australasia.
Marie said that the help of the members of the Korean Working Group would be essential in getting a good response rate prior to the visits by Andrew Gosling. The consultant had already advised that, after an initial early response, replies taper off and waiting for a long time did not mean a greater rate of return. After the initial response, therefore, the help of members of the KWG will be sought to chase up non-replies.
The help of the Group was important to the survey and Marie and Cliff thanked the other members for their assistance.
Last updated 7 May 1997
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