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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


4. Analysis of responses

All quantitative questionnaire results are expressed as percentages. In this report, all percentages are rounded to whole numbers. Tables in Appendix 1 provide percentages expressed to one decimal point.

4.1 Response rate

A total of 110 questionnaires were mailed or faxed. While the questionnaires were addressed to individuals at specific institutions or businesses, some were completed by the incumbent in each position, rather than the specific individual. This was particularly the case with LOTE coordinators and teachers in secondary and primary schools. No statistics of individual substitutions were kept, as it was considered that the position (rather than the individual) would display similar information needs.

Of the 110 questionnaires mailed, a total of 55 people responded, giving a response rate of exactly 50%. A period of three to four weeks was allowed for return of completed questionnaires, after which a telephone follow up was carried out by the KWG and Suilven Consulting.

4.2 Demographics

The majority (98%) of questionnaire respondents supplied the personal details requested. Responses were received from Victoria (42%), NSW and ACT (27%), Queensland (13%), South Australia (11%) and Western Australia (6%).

Sixty seven percent of questionnaire respondents were employed within the tertiary education sector, 9% in the primary and secondary education system and 22% employed by business organisations. The results of the questionnaire are somewhat skewed towards the academic research use of libraries. However, results from interviews indicate that academics are also engaged to provide consulting services to government and business and therefore are not solely engaged in academic work. Moreover, of the interviews carried out, 41% were carried out with business or business related organisations.

Despite this, 59% of questionnaire respondents held Masters or PhD qualifications and were all employed by tertiary institutions in non-business related areas (1). The disciplines in which Masters and PhD qualifications were attained were not necessarily in Korean studies. Those employed in the business sector had attained Bachelor, Diploma or Graduate Diploma qualifications. One interviewee in the business sector held the title of doctor.

4.3 Subject areas covered

The questionnaire requested respondents to select the number of times per month they would, on average, seek information about given subjects. They were also asked if there were other subjects not listed which they needed to access.

The highest percentage of usage was Language and Literature. Forty percent of respondents accessed this subject more than 3 times a month. However, almost the same number (38.2%) never accessed this subject.

The least researched subjects were Building & Architecture and Medicine (72.7% and 70.9% respectively never sought out these subjects). Only 3.6% and 1.8% respectively accessed these subjects more than 3 times a month.

The spread of research into Politics & Government was very even: never - 24.1%; less than once a month - 24.1%, 2-3 times per month - 27.6% and more than 3 times a month - 24.1%. Interviewees, however, gave the strongest indication that there was a high level of interest in these areas, both for academic research and in business related matters, especially where trade, social and cultural links were explored.

The subject areas not listed in the questionnaire where respondents most often sought material were: economics, statistics especially trade and business related statistics, and science subjects (chemistry, computer sciences, electronics, science and technology, geography).

The responses to this section of the questionnaire are set out fully in Appendix 1. They should be read in conjunction with Appendix 2 : Comments from interview respondents.

4.4 Sources of materials and availability

A significant number of questionnaire respondents (67%) purchased their own material and contacted friends, colleagues and family in Korea directly (25%) to obtain material for them. It is not possible to say whether purchasing might have been a first or last resort, however, it is possible to say that libraries in general did not appear to have the specialised material which a significant number of respondents sought.

The reasons for this were not directly explored in the questionnaire, however, comments from several respondents, particularly non-business interviewees, provide some indications. Access to collections, ie in other cities, time constraints and costs associated with inter-library loan and lack of awareness of where materials were held were some of the main reasons cited for not making more use of library resources.

One questionnaire respondent stated that the cost of inter-library loan and the delay in obtaining material meant that, taking into consideration cost and time factors, it was most cost effective to buy the material needed. Another pointed out that collection strategies which minimised collections in individual libraries, but rationalised them overall, worked to the detriment of library users where high use materials were concerned. Business users and government officials, in particular, were often unaware of Korean library resources in Australia, but had used other sources such as in-house reference collections, the Australian Embassy in Seoul and would also hire consultants to collect the specific information they needed.

It is also interesting to note the amount of travel undertaken by questionnaire respondents and the opportunities this presented both to visit libraries in other Australian cities or overseas. Almost 33% travelled overseas, but 18% also travelled within Australia (these percentages are not mutually exclusive.) Of course, travel also presented opportunities to both peruse and purchase materials not always available or easily accessible in their home cities.

4.5 Responses relating to subject areas and “gaps” in collections

Many questionnaire respondents purchased their own materials because of perceived gaps in collections, and because they considered it was more cost effective in terms of time. Interviewees provided confirmation of these points, and also provided some indication of future trends in information needs. They also indicated where they believed there were significant gaps in Australian collections at the time of the survey.

Academics who undertook consultancies for government agencies or other business organisations where they required up-to-date data indicated that there were gaps in the following: trade and economic data, science and technology, environment, political, business and law subjects. Libraries were not perceived as serving their requirements in this regard.

Many also pointed out that rapid changes in Korea meant that material quickly became out of date. Although many questionnaire respondents and interviewees mentioned the increasing importance of the World Wide Web and Internet, several also stated that much of the material there was of “doubtful” value.

The majority of those interviewed identified the lack of journals held in libraries as a major gap. Subjects in which there were perceived gaps included linguistics, economics and newspapers and periodicals. Suggestions for filling these gaps included acquisitions and obtaining Korean university journals on exchange. Many expressed their concern that cuts in library funding meant that journal subscriptions had been cancelled in many libraries.

This may be an effect of rationalising acquisition of journals in Australian collections, but also suggests that there is a lack of information about which libraries have maintained their journal acquisitions. An opposing view was expressed that there is duplication of Korean materials in Australia, since many collections were based largely on Korea Foundation donations where academic libraries received much the same materials. Others expressed concern at the potential bias of material supplied through one main channel.

On the other hand, a majority of interviewees expressed their wish for the NLA to resume publication and distribution of the Korean Current Awareness Bulletin. This might be made available electronically on the NLA’s Web page, rather than in hard copy. Respondents also suggested on-line access to catalogues and databases.

Responses to interview questions are at Appendix 2.

4.6 Electronic and personal visits to and use of libraries

The majority of questionnaire respondents (55%) visited 1-2 libraries in the previous 12 months. More than 25% visited 3 or more libraries in the last 12 months. However, 18% did not make any personal visits at all. Respondents were only asked about their visits to four named libraries, but were asked to list other libraries they had visited. More than 20 individual libraries were listed in Australia as well as ten overseas libraries, the majority of which were Korean libraries.

Approximately the same number of personal visits were made to libraries as home page visits. This suggested a correlation, but whether a home page visit prompted a personal visit or vice versa was not possible to say. These figures would be consistent with the relative newness of the technology as well as familiarity with using such technology and utilising it to its full potential for individual research or business needs.

Of considerable interest was the level of use of the National Chinese Japanese and Korean Service to questionnaire respondents. This is an online catalogue of holdings of Chinese, Japanese and Korean library materials in Australia. It is available from NLA to Australian libraries.

However, responses to the questionnaire indicated that there was a very low awareness of the service, especially availability, technology requirements to use it or the way in which it could be accessed. By contrast, there was greater use of the World Wide Web. However, the value of material obtained from the Internet/WWW was also perceived to be of limited value.

4.7 Use of library services

Reference assistance services were never used by 38% of questionnaire respondents and regularly used by 24%. While reference assistance was used, no definitive conclusions could be drawn from questionnaire about services required, periods of high demand or other factors which might assist in future planning.

Responses from interviewees on their use of library services showed the largest number were either non-users of libraries or minimal users with a mixed positive and negative response from the remainder on their level of satisfaction.

4.8 Business use of libraries and library services

Generally speaking, businesses and business related organisations (such as AusTrade and Business Victoria) did not use library resources for their information needs. Their information needs were met by their offices in Korea and by consultants.

One interviewee pointed out that time constraints meant that many business people did not have either the background knowledge or the resources to read widely, and that they relied on consultants to provide them with “packaged” information. One questionnaire respondent, as a suggestion for libraries to improve their services, expressed willingness to pay for such a service.

4.9 Trends affecting information needs over the next 5-10 years

Responses to this question came primarily from interviewees. Changes in Korean culture, developments in education, politics and law were likely to be very rapid, which would impact Australian political and business relationships. The changes would largely determine trends for information needs in Australia. At present, there was little knowledge about where to find information about Korea.

Recognition in Australia of the importance of Korea to Australia would increase expectations among Australian society for access to business, cultural and linguistic information about Korea. On the other hand, it was also stated that Australians were generally better informed about Korea than Koreans about Australia, largely because Korea was preoccupied with its own rapid internal changes.

A number of interviewees commented that, while the predicted boom in Korean studies in Australia had not occurred, a gradual increase would continue.

A further predicted trend was the increasing need for comprehensive information about North Korea.

Recognition was also expressed of the growing numbers of students from Korea who studied both at universities and TAFEs who required Korean language materials, both for study and for general reading. Some of these institutions were also planning to expand their Korean studies programs.

Both interviewees and questionnaire respondents made comments about their use of the Internet, its value and its increased use for business and education, in particular distance education. The Internet might affect the role of libraries and their acquisition of newspapers and journals, particularly as access to these was already quite well developed. There was recognition of the general growth of electronic media in meeting information requirements, together with a suggestion that there was a growing need for providing value added services, such as developing links with Korean libraries (or others holding significant collections of Korean materials, eg in the USA), providing “packaged” information to business users etc.

In spite of these comments about the provision of information electronically, there was no suggestion that paper-based information was decreasing in importance. Electronic information was seen as supplementing paper-based resources, although this would have some effect on individual library collections and the services they provided.


Footnotes:

(1) Universities as employers were classified as “academic”, except in circumstances where there was clearly a business development element in a respondent’s office or job title. For example, a “business links officer” employed by a university would be classified as “business”, rather than “academic”. Only these two broad categories were used in this survey.

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Last updated 9 December 1998
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