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Survey of Users of Korean Materials:
The Australia-Korea Research and Information Profile

Report of the Korean Working Group
May 1998


2. Introduction

This report covers the results obtained from a mail questionnaire and from interviews of users of Korean materials. It was conducted nationally and was coordinated by the National Library of Australia, with assistance from the Korean Working Group.

Questions covered by the mail questionnaire and interviews sought both responses to quantitative and qualitative questions. The survey also attempted to include all potential users of libraries, that is both academic and business users.

Furthermore, the information available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics about Australia’s links with Korea indicates that there is a considerable need to serve a wide range of interests in the community. The Republic of Korea remains an important export market and a very significant trading partner. Not only is up-to-date information required for trade related purposes, but there is also a strong requirement to serve the educational, cultural and linguistic needs of the community.

The results of the survey were intended to help improve Korean library collections and services in Australia on a national basis. Its stated purpose was to identify research and business needs of users of Korean materials and materials about Korea in order to plan a service strategy for Australian libraries for the next 12 months to 5 years.

This report will assist in developing appropriate national strategies, assessing priority needs and allocating funds accordingly.

2.1 The Korean Working Group

An initial survey of Korean Library Materials was carried out early in 1996. This was done by the Distributed National Collections Office (DNC), now part of the National Initiatives and Coordination Branch in the National Library of Australia, as a briefing for a meeting of those Australian libraries which provide Korean services. Staff from Monash University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, Griffith University, the Australian National University and the National Library were present. The Korean Studies Association of Australasia was also represented by a senior academic. The Korean Working Group (KWG) was set up at the meeting and has the following members :

Adrian Buzo, Monash University
Chooi-hon Ho, Monash University Library
Cliff Law, National Library of Australia
Andrew Gosling, National Library of Australia
Lesley Smith, National Korean Studies Centre
Dr Duk-Soo Park, University of Sydney
Janice Rickards, University Librarian, Griffith University
John Rodwell, Fisher Library, University of Sydney
Marie Sexton, National Library of Australia
Dr Ken Wells, Australian National University

It undertook to look into the recommendations of the 1996 meeting (see Appendix 4), the primary recommendation being that a survey of users be undertaken.

Following this survey, the KWG determined the need for further data collection. The aim of the initial survey was to present accurate and up-to-date DNC information covering the areas of collection development, bibliographic access, and other issues for improving the distributed national collection of Korean library materials. It was designed to collect information in the areas of collection development, bibliographic access and important distributed national collection issues from libraries who were identified as holding significant collections of Korean library materials at undergraduate, post graduate and research level.

While this 1996 survey provided important information about library collections and their acquisition strategies, the survey focussed entirely on the providers, rather than users of library collections and services.

Members of the KWG therefore determined that further information was necessary in order to assist in planning for the longer term, and that data should be collected on the (perceived) adequacy of existing collections and arrangements, patterns of use, areas of growth and on types and numbers of potential users and information seekers. The KWG determined that the most cost effective approach to gather information would be a combination of questionnaires and personal interviews.

2.2 Role of the National Library of Australia and the KWG

As with the 1996 survey, the 1997 survey was coordinated by the National Library of Australia. Assistance was also provided by other members of the KWG in distributing questionnaires, collecting completed questionnaires and following up with respondents.

2.3 Funding

Funding was provided by:

  • the Korea Foundation - US$4000
  • the Australia-Korea Foundation - A$1000
  • the Korean Studies Association of Australasia - A$500; and
  • the National Initiatives and Coordination Branch, National Library of Australia - A$1,000

The funds were used to engage a consultant and for travel costs to conduct interviews.

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Last updated 9 December 1998
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