Survey of Users of Korean Materials:
The Australia-Korea Research
and Information Profile
Report of the Korean Working Group
May 1998
8. Appendix 2 Comments from interview respondents
(questions posed are in italics)
Are you able to obtain the information you need about Korean library collections and services which exist in Australia?
Generally positive
South Australian academic: Not a big problem.
South Australian academic: No real problems tapping into information including international information. The Centre for Applied Linguistics (CALUSA) at the University of South Australia has direct links to international organisations including universities in Korea. Their library provides good service.
Queensland librarian: This is not a problem for her.
ACT academic: He was positive about access to this information in Australia.
ACT academic: He is able to find what is held through online catalogues.
Australian government official: He said he was well served through the Departments library, access to networks and information from the Australian Embassy in Korea.
Victorian academic: She is able to obtain information through the Korean Librarian at Monash.
NSW academic: He said he is able to find the information he needs and is aware of the CJK system.
Tasmanian academic: Does not know Korean, and probably has more information than he can deal with. Obtains most, especially contemporary, information by Internet; will use NLA resources more when in Canberra in future.
NSW Korean business: Most business information is obtained from the companys Information Services Dept, from media searches, DFAT publications, or from the companys office in Korea. Local library services are used by him personally for background and cultural reading, and he usually finds what he wants.
Victorian business librarian: They have very few dealings with Korea, but are usually able to source what they need through ABN or external databases.
WA academic: Yes, mostly through the university library, and the librarians there. Is that sort of thing available on the Internet?
Generally negative
Queensland academic: He said it was not easy to find what he needed, in particular English language sources on Korea.
South Australian academic: Access to collections is a problem. The CJK system is good but knowing the item exists is insufficient, as he needs to physically examine the material. Of 50 titles he looks at only two may be useful. He makes considerable use of the Korean and also Japanese collections at the National Library.
Queensland academic: He said he was unsure how students can obtain the information they need. In his own case he said he is still relatively new here and is not very aware of Korean collections and services across Australia.
Australian government officials: The first interviewee said he was not aware of Korean library resources in Australia. He also mentioned he did not know the National Korean Studies Centre had produced a Korean studies directory, but was interested to learn of it. The second interviewee, who is fluent in Korean, having studied at Griffith University and lived in Korea said he was not aware of the National Librarys extensive Korean collection. They also believed Australian businesses were unaware of Korean collections and services. The second interviewee said businesses with information needs about Korea would commission a detailed report from Austrade or private organisations on aspects such as markets, pricing, distribution, competition etc.
ACT academic: She makes use of the National Library collection herself and sends her two research assistants to check materials in the collection. However she mainly relies on her own collection of Korean sources, as she needs reference sources on hand, and it is time-consuming to go to the National Library and borrowing on interlibrary loan through the ANU Library is charged to her department.
Victorian academic: She is not really able to obtain the information needed. She said she is not aware of the National Librarys Korean collections and services.
Victorian academic: She said the information available is not sufficient.
Victorian academics: Two interviewees said they had not really tried. The third said graduate students have difficulties knowing where to look.
Victorian academics: The first interviewee said the information is not particularly easy to find. The second agreed. The third said she had used the Swinburne collection but did not know about the Korean collection at Monash.
NSW academic: She makes use of the collection at the University of Sydney but is not aware of what is held in other libraries such as the National Library and the State Library of New South Wales.
NSW academic: He is able to access the National Librarys collection through the Internet. However he believed few people were aware of the Korean collection at the National Library. The University of Sydney now has 200 students of Korean, half of whom are native speakers. Access to library collections is a problem for these undergraduates.
NSW academic: He did not believe he could obtain all the information he needed. He mainly relied on his own collection rather than libraries. He had made some use of the National Librarys Korean Current Awareness Bulletins which are no longer produced.
Tasmanian business: We know that there is nothing there, so we do not try to obtain information from libraries. Our focus is on business and marketing information, and sources are Austrade and KOTRA, and issue profiles from DFAT. Some use is made of the Internet.
NSW academic: Usually uses my contacts with the Korean consulate in order to find information. Never uses local or university libraries because they have so few resources. Her students for the Master of Teaching are always complaining about the lack of resources in their area.
Non-users/minimal users of libraries
ACT academic: Most material obtained through personal contacts in Korea or through the Internet.
NSW business: Would I be allowed to say the grapevine is the main source of information? Trips are made to Korea about seven times a year; a Korean agent monitors the press and reports on meetings; joint ventures provide direct information from partners; offices of major Korean companies in Sydney such as Kepco provide information; the Korean Economic Review provides a weekly roundup; the Far Eastern Economic Review gives overall coverage. The State Library of NSW would be used occasionally for specific matters, and the Internet from time to time.
Business organisation member: Business people have very limited time for reading. Few are Asia-literate. If they require Korea-related information they would not go to a library but would hire a consultant. Those who are more motivated to seek information are a few individuals interested in exploring an issue out of their own interest, consultants such as Austrade or Foreign Affairs and potential business people such as MBA students.
Business organisation member: He said he was not aware of the Korean library collections and services in Australia. As far as businesses are concerned he said that they can find the information they need if there is sufficient incentive. However what is really needed is not just business information but cultural understanding and exchange which can then lead to successful business relationships.
ACT academic: He rarely uses libraries as he relies on the Internet or his own collection, which includes journals obtained free from Korea.
Korean business organisation: Never uses library materials.
Korean government organisation: All publications are received directly from Korea. No use is made of libraries.
Korean government organisation: Staff use statistics provided in electronic form by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Little use is made of libraries.
Business organisation member: Does not use libraries or Internet, organisation does not have a library with material about Asia.
Victorian business: The Hong Kong office handles all dealings with Asia, so very little expertise on Korea is needed locally.
Queensland business: Information is obtained either from Australian representatives of Korean companies, or from agents in Korea. No use is made of libraries nor of the Internet.
NSW bank: Most information comes from sources internal to the bank such as the departmental library, but also from the Treasury, and from the Seoul office; no use made of public libraries; his son has just used the Internet for a school project on Korea, but he personally does not use it.
Victorian legal firm: Usually relies on personal contacts in Korea for information, though occasionally will visit Melbourne University Library, and very occasionally will use the Internet.
Queensland business organisation: Most information is obtained from the Korea Secretariat of the Queensland Government. Little use is made of libraries or the Internet. The Australia-Korea Business Council also provides useful information.
Queensland business organisation: The office in Korea is the first port of call for all information. To her knowledge, no use is made of library services.
NSW language centre: A tiny collection of material is held in Korean for teaching purposes, but most material is textbooks. The Internet is used to a small extent.
West Australian business: Main sources of information are direct contact with customers in Korea, a consultant in Korea, and the companys own massive information system. Neither libraries nor the Internet are much used because the company is a single-product company and its needs are very specific.
West Australian business: All information needs relating to Korea are dealt with through the office in Korea. No periodicals are subscribed to, nor are libraries nor the Internet used.
NSW legal firm: The firms offices in various Southeast Asian countries provide information when needed, and other sources are Korean client companies operating in Australia, and commercial/cultural attachés at the embassy in Canberra. Little use is made of libraries and the Internet by the interviewee, though he knows colleagues use the Internet more frequently.
NSW business: Information is obtained directly from the office in Korea, and also from a few subscriptions, from the Internet, and from industry-specific sources. No use is made of libraries.
NSW business: Primary source of information is the Far Eastern Economic Review and coal-industry journals, more specific information is obtained from an agent in Korea or at first hand. No use is made of libraries, a little use is made of the Internet.
NSW business: Primary sources of information are Korean magazines and publications by banks, government departments and the like, as well as DFAT publications, papers received from a Korean manager here who reads the Korean newspapers, economic research publications by the chaebols, and knowledge gained at first hand. No use is made of libraries.
NSW business: Very rarely uses library material, since the information in books is not up-to-date enough for his purposes; relies on newspapers, personal contacts, and publications received from Korean banks and other institutions; never uses the Internet at the moment, but will do so in the future.
NSW business: The boss is Korean, so most information comes from him! Depending on the need, personal contacts are the most important source of information. We dont often use the library, and our own library has simply been built up over time. Most of the specific information we need, in-depth information about products and companies, is available from embassies and their like.
Queensland business librarian: We dont get much information on Korea, so the question is not applicable.
NSW business: The manager was not available for interview, but his secretary stated that they do have an agent in Korea for most of their needs; however, recently they were seeking cultural information relating to Korea, through DFAT, and were unsuccessful. Where should they go in such cases?
NSW legal firm: Relies on the media for general background information, and on a law firm in Seoul for specific and up-to-date legal information.
NSW business: Principal sources of information about Korea are:
- a Korean manager who reads the newspapers and stays close to events there;
- subscription to the DFAT update on Korea, about twice per year;
- the Australians regular lift-out on Asia;
- a monthly survey of events in Asia, which include about a page on each country;
- a smaller broadsheet;
- the Australia-Korea Business Council;
- contacts with the Korean business community.
Library services are not used much, nor is the Internet, since he is in contact with Korean businesses daily, both through the office in Seoul and a wide range of contacts, including the ambassadors of both countries. Libraries are probably more useful to students, whereas business requires more focussed and specific information.
Victorian business: Major information sources are through human networks: the embassies, Austrade offices, own representative in Korea, and access to heads of Korean corporations in Australia; also a range of publications: the Korea Times daily through the Internet, Korea Trade and others; does not really use libraries. His focus is at the level of one project and one company, rather than on background cultural information.
Queensland business: Information comes mostly from a long-lasting relationship with a Korean company, as well as our agent in Korea. Doesnt often use library resources, but receives trade publications, business newspapers, and information from joint venture partners.
Queensland academic: His main focus is on Southeast Asia but Korean political and economic issues are also interests. He mainly relies on his own collection rather than libraries.
Mixed or uncertain
Queensland academic: The University of Queensland has a small collection on Korea but no specialist librarian. She is aware of other collections including at the National Library, Griffith and Monash.
ACT academic: He said his main research interest was in a highly specialised area of Korean linguistics, which he did not expect to be covered by the National Library or ANU, though the National Library does hold more general items of interest to him.
ACT academic: His email response was: Yes I think so. No problems so far. However, I doubt the ANU holdings are on-line, at least much of it cannot be.
ACT academic: He believed there had been some improvement in access to information.
Queensland academics: Both said they had only really used the Griffith University collection, though they were aware of other Australian collections on Korea.
Victorian academics: The group of four did not see this as a problem for themselves, though one queried whether the collections were well enough known by others.
ACT academic: While he was able to find some of what he wanted, some important Korean technical data was not in libraries.
Australian government official: He is not familiar with the Korean library collections in Australia. He relies particularly on Foreign Affairs resources particularly primary source information provided by the Australian Embassy in Korea. The service from the Foreign Affairs Library is prompt and efficient.
ACT academic: Unable to comment as he is not a Korea specialist.
Victorian business: Generally obtains information from sources in Korea, such as the firms office in Seoul, the embassies, or from personal contacts in the universities and elsewhere. Locally, information is obtained through the firms library.
WA academic: Has not tried to use resources other than those held in the local university library, due to time restraints. Has heard of CJK but not used it, and likewise for inter-library loan.
What could you suggest that would improve knowledge about these collections for you, your colleagues and students?
Promotional activities
Australian government official: He said that if Korea established an information and cultural centre in Australia it would be very useful for providing information about Korea to the Australian community. This had been discussed at the recent Joint Cultural Commission meeting. If it is set up, the National Librarys professional advice would be valuable. He referred to the National Korean Studies Centre and the importance of its Korean collection complementing the National Librarys collection. He also said it was important for more of the Australian National Universitys major Asian collections to be accessible through the national database.
Queensland academic: He suggested there be a brochure setting out what the major Korean collections in Australia hold. He had used and been much impressed by the National Library collection.
ACT academic: A guide to Korean collections in Australia could be included in the KSAA Newsletter and on the Internet.
Victorian academic: A guide to the contents of the various collections would be useful.
Victorian academic: A hardcopy statement of Korean collection strengths of the National Library, Monash, Griffith etc. would be very useful.
Victorian academics: A booklet on what is where in Australia is needed. One person said this should include collection strengths. Another suggested a mailing list.
Victorian academic: She suggested distributing a page with web addresses to heads of departments of Korean studies. This information could also be included in publications such as the Australia-Korea Chamber of Commerces newsletter. A list of where collections are and contact details would be useful.
Australian government official: He also suggested there be a publication on Australian-Korean contacts similar to the one on Australia and Japan, and this could be on the Internet.
NSW academic: He suggested promotion of the collections and services.
NSW academic: She said that libraries with collections on Korea, such as the National Library, should publicise these collections.
NSW academic: Korean collections in Australia need to be publicised more. The large Korean community in Sydney of around 50,000 people also has information needs which libraries could help meet.
ACT academic: The KSAA Newsletter can be used to inform people of where to get information on holdings, as can the ASAA review.
NSW academic: He suggested promotion of the Korean library collections on the Internet especially on how to access them through interlibrary loans.
Business organisation member: The Korean collections in Australia need to be promoted.
Tasmanian academic: The Korean Chapter of the Asian Studies Association is the best vehicle for distributing information; he expects that its homepage will become more important.
NSW business: Just making known whats available would be helpful.
Current awareness
ACT academic: He thought it would be useful to resurrect the Korean Current Awareness Bulletins. An abstracting service covering Korean materials would also be very valuable.
South Australian academic: He suggests reinstating the NLA Current Awareness Bulletins or listing recent Korean acquisitions on our webpage. This would be very useful to academics.
ACT academic: He suggested an electronic current awareness service linked to the very useful Whats New in WWW Asian Studies Newsletter currently provided by Matthew Ciolek at the Australian National University.
Queensland academic: She would find a list of current acquisitions useful.
Victorian academics: New acquisitions of the major collections should be publicised, for example through a simple newsletter.
Queensland academic: He also recommended that the National Library list new acquisitions on the Internet.
Victorian academic: She suggested resurrecting the National Librarys Current Awareness Bulletins listing new Korean acquisitions, but on the Web rather than hardcopy.
Queensland academics: The second interviewee said a current acquisitions list from the National Library would be useful.
NSW academic: Lists of new acquisitions would be useful.
Queensland academics: The first interviewee suggested the National Librarys Korean home page should include a facility for feedback including suggestions on acquisitions. A brief brochure on the various Korean collections would also be valuable.
ACT academic: He did not favour current acquisition lists.
ACT academic: He would like to see more sophisticated mechanisms for provision of information. He said it was difficult to know where to look for information in areas outside his own areas of research, for example to answer students questions.
Interlibrary loans
ACT academic: Clear information about the interlibrary loan procedures for using materials from the National Library would be useful, as he was unaware of this service.
NSW academic: He suggested promotion of the Korean library collections on the Internet especially on how to access them through interlibrary loans.
CJK Service
ACT academic: It would be an improvement if the CJK catalogue containing Korean script were more readily accessible on the Internet. The NLA OPAC is useful but without Korean script is limited.
ACT academic: I think the CJK terminal is good, as long as it is kept up to date. Having Korean materials consultants employed on some sort of regular basis at all the libraries that have Korean materials is important.
ACT academic: He said it was important to make the union catalogue of Australias Korean holdings (i.e. the National CJK Service) as comprehensive as possible.
NSW academic: He also said his library should provide more information about the CJK system of which the University of New South Wales is a member as well as interlibrary loans and other library matters.
Films
Victorian academic: Films held throughout Australia should be in the national database and available for loan.
Internet
Business organisation member: The Internet has great potential for providing business with information, but so far the private sector has been much slower to use it than government or the universities. Business is still not aware of what is available.
Queensland academics: One said the Internet is becoming increasingly important for Korean. The other added that abstracts are accessible on the Internet and there is a need for access to theses and abstracts held by the National Library in Korea. He suggested the National Library provide more links to Korean Internet sites including Korean university libraries.
WA academic: Would like to see a web guide to library collections, or a single point of access to the main collections. Has only looked at the NLA Asian Collections site once, with the help of a librarian.
Selection of acquisitions
ACT academic: He suggested that there be more involvement by users in recommending purchases.
ACT academic: She was concerned that with the ANU Library collecting almost no Korean material and the National Library emphasising the social sciences, areas including Korean literature and earlier history were being neglected. Much of the more specialised material she required was not held by the National Library, which is one reason for her relying on collecting herself. She said that selection of such material was difficult and required detailed specialist knowledge to distinguish the best publications on any particular subject out of the many being published in Korea. She suggested involvement by academic experts in the selection process for the National Library, though this would require calling upon a number of people for different areas of expertise, which would not be straightforward. The number of such experts was limited. She also referred to her major forthcoming publication Encyclopedia of Korea which would include extensive bibliographic information on important sources, which would be of value for Australian libraries selecting Korean materials.
ACT academic: One other gap is in the area of collected works of various important Koreans. Unless these are listed in major catalogues or are published by the Korean National History Compilation Committee or suchlike body, they tend to be missed. I think it is the responsibility of people such as myself to put in orders for these, but all these things cost money.
NSW academic: Acquisition funds for Korean could be sought from the Korea Foundation or private funds in Korea such as Hyundai and Daewoo. To avoid gaps, the National Library could have advisory bodies of academics to assist in selecting research materials.
Research grants
Victorian academic: She believed it would be useful to have a system similar to the Asian Studies Library Awards (ASLA) to assist researchers to use the major collections, especially in Canberra.
South Australian academic: He claims it is not much more expensive for him to go to Korea and stay with family and use libraries and bookstores there rather than stay in Canberra and use NLA. Travel funds for using NLA etc. would be useful.
Queensland academics: Both believed that library scholarships to enable postgraduates in other parts of Australia to use the National Librarys Korean collection would be useful.
NSW academic: He said he did not face obstacles, but for honours and postgraduate students who need to visit Canberra for their research he recommended library scholarships such as the former Asian Studies Library Awards (ASLA) possibly funded by the Korea Foundation or similar bodies.
Library and business coordination
Victorian academic: The greatest need was for Australian libraries to clearly decide who will do what in relation to Korean collections and services, disseminate that information and liaise with users on needs and gaps. As far as business needs are concerned she believed it was not businesses as such but the accountants, lawyers and management consultants who service business, who make use of statistical and other data.
Australian government official: He said there needed to be greater connection between academics, libraries and the business councils. There was little interaction between academics and business. The business councils meet regularly, and he encouraged library participation which might also lead to funding as major companies were involved.
Victorian business: A clippings service which provided the specific information he needed would be useful, rather than having staff scan publications. Since he gets time to read at most two documents per day about Korea, library services are not appropriate to his needs.
NSW academic: He is concerned that universities around Australia are each applying separately to the Korea Foundation and other bodies for library development funds and book donations. He believed a more coordinated approach would be more effective in meeting user needs nationally.
No suggestions
South Australian academic: Not an issue.
South Australian academic: No suggestions.
Queensland librarian: There has not been much discussion on improving knowledge of the Korean collections and services.
Queensland academic: He did not have suggestions in this area.
Queensland academic: Griffith University Library was endeavouring to improve its collection on Korea.
ACT academic: Speed of availability rather than accessibility is a problem. Will often buy a book in the United States rather than seek it by other means. Inter-library loan not used very often, will buy or obtain by other means.
NSW legal firm: Would use library material more if it were more easily available, but since the firms needs are reactivein relation to specific casesthe question is difficult to apply.
Tasmanian business: I have doubts about the possibility of libraries providing commercial information, which is so specialised and tailored to requirements.
Victorian business librarian: No suggestions.
ACT academic: She thought funding problems would make improvements difficult.
Australian government official: He said the problem is there is too much print and electronic information about Korea. Much of this sea of information is not current and is of doubtful value.
Are there gaps in these collections which hinder your work? In what areas are those gaps?
Journals
ACT academic: No striking gaps. Periodicals and magazines might perhaps be made more available. Working papers series from universities and economic institutes are an important but expensive resource, e.g. from the Korean Development Institute. She often buys individual titles when in Korea, since the series is not available locally.
Queensland librarian: The Griffith University collection has mostly come from Korea Foundation funding and donations. Only eight Korean language journals are held. A considerable number of English language publications on Korea have been ordered recently. While most of the faculty are interested in linguistics the professor is concentrating on economics.
Queensland academic: Griffith University holds few journals. A site for accessing journals electronically is needed. This could be provided by the National Library. Up to date information is a problem especially business and other English language journals, though the Internet is changing this.
Queensland academic: He was concerned that Griffith University Library had been obliged to cut journal subscriptions.
Victorian academic: She also mentioned the need for multiple sets of major Korean journals in Melbourne libraries, and these must be kept up to date.
Victorian academic: Her interests are particularly in law, business and politics. She believed the National Librarys Korean law collecting was too ad hoc. She said it did not cover the core of standard texts. The Library should have the latest legislation in Korean and English translation plus commentaries. She also said there are a few important Korean journals not held in any Australian libraries.
Victorian academics: One said up to date issues of Korean journals are not available. The other added Korea is changing quickly and up-to-date information is vital, including for business people.
Victorian academics: One interviewee said more journals are needed, particularly recent issues with up to date information. A fourth person wanted a project to obtain missing back issues of periodicals.
Tasmanian academic: No gaps that Im aware of. Probably could use more newspapers, especially microfilms of past issues.
Queensland academic: He stressed the importance of up-to-date information particularly in periodicals and also that English language publications on Korea were vital.
NSW academic: He suggested greater efforts to obtain Korean university journals on exchange. He also urged acquisition of the many research publications on Korea from the United States.
Linguistics
Queensland academic: The University of Queensland has only very limited holdings in English and Korean. She finds it hard to find the linguistics materials she needs.
Queensland librarian: While most of the faculty are interested in linguistics the professor is concentrating on economics.
ACT academic: In his own area of research, linguistics, he did not think there were gaps. There are many publication in English available. For his Korean language teaching resources were not a problem.
ACT academic: His main research interest was in a highly specialised area of Korean linguistics, which he did not expect to be covered by the National Library or ANU, though the National Library does hold more general items of interest to him.
Law
Queensland academic: There was a shortage of material at Griffith University on Korean economics, business and law. This was needed especially in English as most students do not read Korean. Law students doing country studies had been unable to choose Korea because of the unavailability of materials. Materials needed to be up to date as Korea is changing rapidly.
Victorian academic: Her interests are particularly in law, business and politics. She believed the National Librarys Korean law collecting was too ad hoc. She said it did not cover the core of standard texts. The Library should have the latest legislation in Korean and English translation plus commentaries.
Victorian academic: Business reviews and business law materials are important.
NSW legal firm: It would be nice to have good legal sources available, but since law is constantly changing, the final resort for us will always be direct confirmation from Korean legal sources.
North/South relations
Queensland academic: There was also a need for more on relations between North and South Korea.
ACT academic: In his own area of particular interest, North Korea, he is pleased the National Library has purchased North Korean newspapers but the number of publications held from the North is low. In addition few South Korean publications on the North Korean question are held. He relies on his own collection for research and uses the National Library mainly to keep up to date with current events using the good collection of current Korean periodicals. He rated the National Library collection as suitable for postgraduate level students rather than more advanced researchers.
ACT academic: Most library collections are weak on Korean strategic issues. However as the number of scholars in this field in Australia is very small it may be more cost effective for them to have their own collections rather than libraries trying to develop collections in this area.
NSW academic: His research interests in the humanities are adequately covered. However materials from North Korea are scarce. As North Korea is now sending students to Australia, linkages could be established to obtain North Korean publications.
English-language publications
Queensland academic: He stressed the importance of up-to-date information particularly in periodicals and also that English language publications on Korea were vital.
ACT academic: He did not think there were many gaps, but queried how good the coverage was of the increasing amount of English-language publishing in Korea, especially in the area of Korean politics in which he was particularly interested.
Victorian academic: She feels there is a need for more English language material on Korea for students. She questioned the benefit to students of the Korean language holdings at Monash. Business reviews and business law materials are important.
NSW academic: Her need was for English language material about Korea rather than Korean language.
Queensland academic: There was a shortage of material at Griffith University on Korean economics, business and law. This was needed especially in English as most students do not read Korean. Law students doing country studies had been unable to choose Korea because of the unavailability of materials.
WA academic: Would like to see more material held in the university library, especially material in English, even though some of her students study Korean. Is interested in a broad range of material and Korean society and history, and would appreciate more video materials.
Culture
South Australian academic: The NLA Korean collection is generally good on the social sciences though not on very specialised areas of his interest.
ACT academic: She was concerned that with the ANU Library collecting almost no Korean material and the National Library emphasising the social sciences, areas including Korean literature and earlier history were being neglected. Much of the more specialised material she required was not held by the National Library, which is one reason for her relying on collecting herself. She said that selection of such material was difficult and required detailed specialist knowledge to distinguish the best publications on any particular subject out of the many being published in Korea. She suggested involvement by academic experts in the selection process for the National Library, though this would require calling upon a number of people for different areas of expertise, which would not be straightforward. The number of such experts was limited. She also referred to her major forthcoming publication Encyclopedia of Korea which would include extensive bibliographic information on important sources, which would be of value for Australian libraries selecting Korean materials.
ACT academic: Yes, for me the main gap is Japanese-language primary research materials on the colonial period (1905-1945). During this period, most of the historical sources are in Japanese. Some of these were held in Korean Government-General Departments, and some in the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs in Japan. Because of the division into Japanese- and Korean-language holdings, these materials, which are clearly Korean historical sources, fall between two stools and are not collected. I think much of these materials is on microfilm and could be acquired through some cooperative agreement between the Japanese and Korean sides. For the Japanese, it is part of their imperial history, indispensable for a study of Japanese colonial policy and practice.
One other gap is in the area of collected works of various important Koreans. Unless these are listed in major catalogues or are published by the Korean National History Compilation Committee or suchlike body, they tend to be missed. I think it is the responsibility of people such as myself to put in orders for these, but all these things cost money.
ACT academic: While libraries are collecting strongly on the social sciences he saw cultural trends including religion as needing a strong focus.
Victorian academics: One said there is a very serious lack of material about the Korean media. Students wanting to study this area would have to bring materials from Korea with them. The other said the same is true for materials about Korean cinema. An Australian institution such as Cinemedia or one of the universities should acquire Korean films and make them available for loan. He also said that there is a lack of good teaching materials for Korean.
NSW academic: In her use of the Fisher Library at the University of Sydney she found there was a lack of up to date material in English on social issues. There was also a lack of major analytical studies. Her need was for English language material about Korea rather than Korean language.
NSW academic: The University of New South Wales Library currently has just a small collection on Korea. His own academic interests are in linguistics, language education, culture and society, but libraries need to collect more generally in politics, economics and law. There is also a need for Korean language novels for the 150 students from Korea and 250 resident Korean speakers studying at the University of New South Wales.
Business organisation member: Koreans know considerably more about Australian business and economic conditions than do Australians about Korea, despite the importance of Korea to this country. Companies do not realise the opportunities existing in Korea. There needs to be a centre where Australians can obtain basic information about Korea, as a basic awareness of Korea is sadly lacking in this country. For a deeper understanding he urged that libraries collect missionary materials as Western including Australian missionaries have had a major influence in Korea.
WA academic: There are not many statistics going back to the 1960s, when not much was made available publicly under the Park régime, and when there were few censuses. Also, climatic data is gathered in a different way to countries such as UK and Australia, and it is difficult to obtain accurate data.
NSW academic: Resources on teaching are her area of speciality, and there is very little available on this subject.
Business
Australian government officials: Without being aware of what is in the collections they could not really comment on gaps. However they did mention priority areas. One said up-to-date trade statistics including what Korea imported from other countries would be useful as his office could not justify buying such material. The types of publication of interest to Austrade included Korea Exchange Bank and Korea Development Bank economic reviews. Korean Trade Promotion Agency (KOTRA) practical how-to publications were useful to business.
Queensland academic: He mentioned Korean investment in Southeast Asia as an important area for collecting.
Victorian academic: She commented that it is hard to know about gaps if you are unclear what is in the libraries. However she did refer to problems in obtaining Korean statistical material such as Gross National Product figures which are important for academics and business users.
Victorian academic: Business reviews and business law materials are important.
Business organisation member: There is a gap between the services provided by libraries and what business people want.
Victorian academics: Another said there was a lack of raw economic and statistical data. He referred to census data and input/output tables as examples. The National Library had some data but with gaps. A third person felt Monash could obtain the materials required without too much difficulty.
Science
ACT academic: He mentioned gaps in the technology area including some publications from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Korea Industrial Technology Association.
Queensland academics: At the national level, with the stress on the social sciences, they queried which libraries would collect on language and literature and also in the sciences. Korea Foundation gifts did not include the sciences or engineering. One mentioned CD-ROMs and videos as increasingly important.
Collection problems
ACT academic: Although the National Library has the only substantial Korean collection in Australia it has many gaps. He said this was not because of poor selection, but because the collection is still very young and does not hold many important older publications. As over 30,000 titles are published in Korea annually and the volume of publishing is increasing while prices are rising the National Library can only purchase a fraction of the output.
NSW academic: The Korean collection at the University of Sydney is very small, and is insufficient for serious study. It has been built up randomly not according to a plan. There are 2000 books collected mainly through donation, plus there is a small annual budget, but only enough to buy 40 to 50 books per year.
Queensland academics: One said the Griffith University collection had largely been developed through Korea Foundation grants. Both said there was a lack of consistency and direction in selection as academics put in orders in an ad hoc way, without a librarian overseeing the growth of the collection. At the national level they queried that with the stress on the social sciences which libraries would collect on language and literature and also in the sciences. Korea Foundation gifts did not include the sciences or engineering. One mentioned CD-ROMs and videos as increasingly important.
NSW academic: The University of New South Wales Library currently has just a small collection on Korea. His own academic interests are in linguistics, language education, culture and society, but libraries need to collect more generally in politics, economics and law.
Victorian academics: One interviewee said more journals are needed, particularly recent issues with up to date information. Audio-visual materials were also needed. Another said there was a lack of raw economic and statistical data. He referred to census data and input/output tables as examples. The National Library had some data but with gaps. A third person felt Monash could obtain the materials required without too much difficulty. He said there was a need for a good Geographical Information System (GIS) facility. A fourth person wanted a project to obtain missing back issues of periodicals.
School materials
Australian government official: The Australia-Korea Foundation was receiving requests from schools for materials about Korea, which it could not respond to in a systematic way.
Australian government official: There is considerable demand for materials about Korea for school projects.
No gaps
South Australian academic: Not a problem.
South Australian academic: No problems.
Victorian business librarian: Not really any gaps. They have sometimes had difficulty in obtaining papers of US metallurgical societies, but now have a source for these in the United States.
Are there other obstacles which hinder you in your work?
Cultural obstacles
ACT academic: One obstacle was the poor channel of communication between Australia and Korea, as Korea remained strongly focussed on the United States. The number of Australian scholars concentrating on Korea remained small, with far too few doctorates being undertaken in this field, as there was no career path.
Australian government official: The Australia-Korea government-to-government and trade relationships have greatly outstripped other aspects of the relationship. There is a strong need for awareness-raising to overcome mutual misunderstanding and stereotyping. Information is vital to this. Reporting in Australia on Korea is poor, and media exchanges would be helpful.
Business organisation member: Business managers are not providing leadership in promoting Asia-literacy and are not looking ahead.
Victorian academics: One said the general level of knowledge about Korea and other parts of East Asia in the Australian community is low, so students need much basic preparation. However suitable materials in English are very limited. A third said Koreans in Australia do not have confidence that they can find the information they need here and rely on going to Korea to obtain what they require.
Business organisation member: He referred to various obstacles to Australians being properly informed about Korea including weaknesses in our education system; Koreas lack of projection of itself; and the tendency of Australia to look at Korea through American and Japanese perceptions rather than directly.
NSW legal firm: Language is the main difficulty, but the increasing availability of graduates in Asian studies is improving the meagre awareness of things Korean in Australia.
NSW Korean business: Although the library system in Australia has much information, not many people know what is there. Korean business and academic visitors find that there is no cultural awareness of Korea here to stand behind the economic relationship, and without that, the international relationship will never get beyond mere trading. Academic visitors are impressed by the amount of books held in libraries here, but not by the lack of cultural awareness about Korea. It is difficult for libraries to play the role of promoter, but activities such as exhibitions would be beneficial in making their holdings known.
Interlibrary loans
South Australian academic: Access is the main obstacle. Also the cost of interlibrary loans.
Queensland academics: One mentioned as a problem the costs of interlibrary loans which are passed on to the academic school.
Queensland academic: Interlibrary loan charges which are paid by the faculty are a problem and deter students from borrowing.
ACT academic: He was aware of the arrangements for Korean materials between the National Library and ANU Library, but believed academics at ANU were disadvantaged in not having useful and up-to-date Korean materials on campus, unlike for example at Monash. His main concern was access to the Korean collection at the National Library. While he had found the Korean staff at the National Library most helpful, there was a problem because of interlibrary loan costs, which the faculty or department are reluctant to pay.
ACT academic: The interlibrary loan arrangements for him to borrow National Library Korean materials were unsatisfactory because of the charges involved. He wanted to be able to borrow a large number of titles free of charge. Because of the charges he had not tried to borrow Korean items from the National Library during the last two years. It was inconvenient for him to go the National Library as he did not have a car.
Australian government official: Lack of information on how to access collections was an obstacle. There needed to be information on how to find out about and borrow materials on interlibrary loan.
ACT academic: The interlibrary loan system for borrowing from the National Library was inadequate for her needs as it was cumbersome and charges were passed on to the academic department. She was not aware of the recent changes for Korean materials whereby ANU academics may read these materials in their offices or at home.
ACT academic: The speed of interlibrary loans was inherently a problem. Electronic document delivery would overcome this.
Victorian academics: The other commented that interlibrary loans are too slow.
Victorian academics: Another said interlibrary loan is too slow.
Accessibility
South Australian academic: Access is the main obstacle. Also the cost of interlibrary loans. Photocopying is much cheaper in Korea. NLAs photocopiers are inferior to those in Korea or Japan which produce better quality copies and more reductions. He claims it is not much more expensive for him to go to Korea and stay with family and use libraries and bookstores there rather than stay in Canberra and use NLA. Travel funds for using NLA etc. would be useful. At NLA he finds going into the Korean stacks and browsing useful but as he has limited time in Canberra, it would be useful to have a desk in the stack where he could sit and examine a large number of books quickly for later ordering on ILL.
ACT academic: He was aware of the arrangements for Korean materials between the National Library and ANU Library, but believed academics at ANU were disadvantaged in not having useful and up-to-date Korean materials on campus, unlike for example at Monash. His main concern was access to the Korean collection at the National Library.
Victorian academic: She mentioned the scattering of Korean material in Melbourne among the various universities as a problem. She mainly uses the Monash and Swinburne collections. Library opening times for example at Monash are a problem as she requires access after work. She also mentioned problems logging in to some Australian library catalogues, which are sometimes restricted.
Specialist staff
South Australian academic: One obstacle for Korean studies is the lack of expert supervisors on Korean topics, so distance supervision may be needed for postgraduates.
Queensland academics: Library staffing was raised by both as an issue. While Griffith has a Korean-speaking librarian dealing with Korean materials is only a part of her duties and this affects processing time for new acquisitions. Both believed that library scholarships to enable postgraduates in other parts of Australia to use the National Librarys Korean collection would be useful.
Queensland academic: Lack of qualified library staff to process the materials is also a problem.
NSW academic: He mentioned as a problem that the University of New South Wales Library does not have someone qualified to take care of the Korean collection. He also said his library should provide more information about the CJK system of which UNSW is a member as well as interlibrary loans and other library matters.
Money
Queensland academic: He was concerned that Griffith University Library had been obliged to cut journal subscriptions.
Queensland academic: The funds for purchasing Korean materials are very small.
ACT academic: He mentioned that there were problems accessing some Korean statistical data on the Internet as they were charged for.
Queensland librarian: Funding uncertainties are an issue.
Victorian academic: Budgetary restrictions are a major obstacle.
Victorian academics: One said money is not available to build the collections. If a library is given an area to concentrate on it must be done well.
Time
Queensland academic: He also mentioned that academics with their teaching and administrative duties have very limited time in which to carry out research.
Queensland academic: Time in which to carry out research is limited. He teaches in the area of business and said there is a real need for a regular bulletin on Korea including business, the regulatory environment and market access from an Australian perspective. Existing material has an American or Japanese perspective. Such a bulletin would be very useful for meeting the information needs of Australian business. It should cover areas such as agricultural production, manufacturing, and changes in Korea affecting business directions.
ACT academic: Yes, as Ive probably mentionedbut really, it needs to be taken seriouslythe delay in acquiring materials because of the to-ing and fro-ing between ANU and NLA purchasing departments is especially hard on postgraduates, who have limited scholarship times.
Victorian academic: With increasing teaching loads, academics have less and less time to carry out research.
Miscellaneous problems
South Australian academic: There is a problem with auditing publications, verifying papers he has published in Korean journals. He has to persuade someone in Korea to send the Korean item and have it translated and authenticated. This is very time-consuming and causes some offence in asking people in Korea to do this.
Queensland librarian: She is concerned about duplication of Korean materials in Australia. Most collections are based largely on Korea Foundation donations, and academic libraries are being sent much the same materials. In Brisbane apart from Griffith the University of Queensland is collecting a small amount on Korea. Funding uncertainties are an issue.
Australian government official: He described obstacles in meeting the needs of Australian business for information about Korea. Generally Australian businesses are not well informed about Korea. When they seek information they want it to be highly focused and in a very brief, packaged and user friendly form. They do not want lengthy academic writings. The information must also be provided very quickly. Generally businesses rely on consultants to provide pre-digested information, and are dependent on how well the consultant knows the subject and is able to focus on the customers needs.
ACT academic: North Korea is inherently difficult to cover in library collections.
Victorian academic: Korea was not as advanced as Japan in developing materials in electronic formats. She would like law reports on CD-ROM but they were not available yet. The Asian Law Centre will be seeking Mechanism C funding for vernacular materials on Asian legal systems especially on CD-ROM.
Victorian academic: The quality of some of the Korean material including its political slant is a problem especially for students.
NSW academic: The main obstacle is the lack of books and journals in the university library. As a linguist he relies on his own collection. There needs to be a plan, ongoing staffing and a more substantial budget for Korean at the University of Sydney Library.
Tasmanian academic: Major obstacle is DEETYA, and the amount of paperwork generated.
No obstacles
WA academic: Not many obstacles. I have been four times to Korea, and have always found Koreans very cooperative in one-to-one relationships. It can be a problem to obtain translations, but there is an enormous amount published in English, and even with publications in Korean there are tables and other materials in English.
Victorian business librarian: No other obstacles.
NSW academic: Doesnt know of other obstacles.
South Australian academic: No.
Queensland academic: He said he did not face obstacles as Griffith University Library was responsive and helpful.
ACT academic: He did not refer to other obstacles.
ACT academic: No other major obstacles.
NSW academic: She did not mention other obstacles.
What trends are likely to affect your needs for information about Korea over the next 5 to 10 years?
Trends within Korea
ACT academic: Long term cultural trends in the region including Korea are very important. Society is changing rapidly and not just in the economic area.
Victorian academic: Trends include developments in the education system in Korea and changing values of youth in Korea. If there is rapid change we must collect up-to-date material on this. Korean web resources will also become increasingly important.
Victorian academic: As Korea deregulates and changes politically, law will become more important socially in a more participative society. Access to newspapers online including English-language titles will be very important. As more Australian academics and students visit Korea on exchange, their familiarity with Korean materials will increase use of Korean collections in Australia.
NSW business: The two major issues impacting on business in the next few years will be the path to democracy in Korea, with the rise of Kim Dae Jung and tensions in the ruling party affecting established networksyou no longer need to have a general on your side, but whom?and the restructuring of the economy, with major companies such as car and steel manufacturers failing, and Maggie Thatchers influence still being felt. The Far Eastern Economic Review is very useful in keeping up with events and trends.
Australia-Korea relations
South Australian academic: The political and economic situation in Korea will largely determine trends. The nature of relationships with Korean institutions is changing, with Australia not just seeking students but having closer ties and collaborative projects with Korea.
Queensland academic: Korea will remain important regardless of political and economic changes there. On Australians lack of awareness of Korea he thought over time tourism would improve this.
Queensland academic: The Australian-Korean relationship is becoming more important and will be studied more.
Queensland academic: The growing importance of Australia-Korea relations in the core areas of business, economics and law will require more library resources. Regulatory law is particularly important. English-language materials will continue to be the greatest need. In the longer term Korean science and technology material may become more in demand. The environment and government environment policies are already important.
ACT academic: Libraries may also be better placed than academics to forge links with the Korean bureaucracy. The Korean government is generous in providing funding for overseas Korean-studies-related projects.
Australian government officials: As the number of Koreans coming to Australia increases there will be greater recognition of Korea and its markets. At present Australians were still largely unaware of Korea and Korea did not have a distinctive image here, unlike say Japan. However he thought this would change quickly. This will mean increased expectations of the Korean collections and services for the very latest up-to-date information. His colleague added that Koreans also have a very limited and outdated view of Australia, but this is changing with tourism and the large numbers of Koreans studying here.
Australian government official: Political and economic changes in Korea are likely to increase its regional significance.
Australian government official: Australia is better informed about Korea than Korea about Australia. Australian government and academic interest in Korea is much higher than Korean interest in Australia, and this is unlikely to change. Korea is largely preoccupied with regional security and its own rapid internal changes. It is up to Australia to promote bilateral cooperation.
NSW academic: She said that as more Australian businesses focus on Korea the demand for materials on Korea will increase. Businesses do not know where to start looking for materials and rely on reputable bodies with expertise such as the Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific.
Business organisation member: He referred to some positive trends towards better understanding of Korea such as the work of the Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific (RIAP) at the University of Sydney.
Korean studies in Australia
ACT academic: He thought that although the predicted boom in Korean studies in Australia had not occurred there would be a gradual increase in the quantity and quality of work in this field.
ACT academic: The Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) will be placing great emphasis on Asian-language learning and research as well as military and political studies and this will affect use of the National Librarys Asian collections and services as ADFA is unlikely to develop Asian research collections.
ACT academic: She was concerned that the current stress on Korean business studies would continue, with literature and history neglected. In contrast Korean literature was being studied seriously in the United States. She was also concerned that the teaching of Korean was not training students to read traditional sources.
Victorian academic: As more Korean students now study here there is a growing demand from TAFEs and schools for English-language sources on Korean society, to better understand young Koreans, but there is a lack of easily available materials. Banking and finance are important research areas. As Korean studies mature there is likely to be greater interest beyond economics to literature and history.
Victorian academics: One said the boom predicted in Korean studies has not happened yet. The other added that it is growing but not as fast as anticipated.
Victorian academics: One thought the trend towards academics having very reduced research time would continue. Two stressed that the Korean reunification issue meant a growing importance for obtaining materials from or about North Korea, even though much of the available data was of doubtful reliability. Another agreed that the demand for materials about North Korea would increase. One also stressed that Korean studies is a growing field in which major new research will be found particularly in journals.
Victorian academics: Korean reunification is a major issue. One said if links between Australian and Korean universities strengthen, more Australians will study in Korea, and when they return, they will increase the demand for Korean materials here. Another said Koreans coming to Australia to study are covering a wider range of subjects, and doing less vocational training. Their information needs will include social science and humanities topics about Korea. The first added that the children of the growing Korean community in Melbourne will use more Korean materials. A third person mentioned the recent debate on race in Australia as a factor in Koreans deciding whether to study in this country.
NSW academic: Enrolments for Korean at the University of Sydney have risen considerably and this is likely to be sustained. As the number of postgraduates rises there will be a growing need for research resources.
NSW academic: Korean studies are set to expand at the University of New South Wales. Library resources will be needed for language, social, cultural and business studies. Korean being under the Faculty of Commerce has a business orientation and strong relationships with the Korean business community have been developed.
Internet
South Australian academic: The Internet may also affect the role of libraries. Access to Korean newspapers and journals on the Internet is already quite well developed.
Queensland librarian: The Internet is becoming more important.
Queensland academic: The Internet is growing in importance, though much there is of marginal value.
ACT academic: He believed electronic information including CD-ROMs and networked information would become more important, though printed books would remain significant. He thought links between Australian and Korean libraries would develop further.
ACT academic: He mentioned the growing importance of the Internet.
ACT academic: Korean Internet sites were already well developed and would become more so. Libraries such as the National Library should be more proactive in providing value-added Internet resources.
ACT academic: The Internet will become more and more important but paper-based sources remain more convenient to work with especially when reading Korean script. The number of Korean periodicals on the Internet is growing quickly. With rising book prices in Korea, Australian libraries would be wise to purchase major reference tools before prices become prohibitive. In the short term the current Korean currency crisis may be a window of opportunity for libraries acquiring from Korea.
Australian government official: The Internet has great potential for providing access to information from and about Korea.
Business organisation member: The Internet is likely to lead to greater knowledge and understanding of Korea by business.
ACT academic: Korean reunification is a real possibility over the next decade. In the last two or three years the Internet has transformed access to information on current Korean topics. Having journals on the Internet is a major development as by the time printed journals are received they are out-of-date.
Victorian academic: Korean web resources will also become increasingly important.
Victorian academic: Online materials will become increasingly important. As Korea deregulates and changes politically, law will become more important socially in a more participative society. Access to newspapers online including English language titles will be very important. As more Australian academics and students visit Korea on exchange, their familiarity with Korean materials will increase use of Korean collections in Australia.
Victorian business: Already close to 50% of his information comes directly from the Internet, and with the inclusion of selected databases the figure rises to 60-70%. He looks forward to the arrival of push technology where the two or three items he is interested in will be delivered automatically.
Queensland business: Uses the Internet personally on a small scale, but most Internet information is of the broad-brush variety and does not fill the specific needs which are catered for by the trade press.
NSW legal firm: Staff are increasingly using the Internet not only in relation to Korea but to all aspects of business.
Tasmanian business: With the opening up of the Internet, and the development of search engines, library collections may become a thing of the past, especially in relation to business information.
NSW business: We are planning to look at the Internet early next year, but I would not care to hazard a guess about trends relating to that and other areas.
NSW academic: Has the Internet at home, but since sites do not often include contact details, she still relies on the mail to obtain further information. Her students use email, but do not use the Internet as a major source of information.
Victorian business: There will certainly be increased need for information about Korea. The firm will probably introduce Internet access in the next year or so, it has been slow to move on this front, partly because of its Macintosh platform.
WA academic: My main interest is statistics and census information, in English. At the moment there is nothing much on the Internet, and I find it much better to go to Korea and talk to the bookstores, and explore what they have, be it fully or only partly in English.
WA academic: Expects more use of the Internet, and is already using it primarily to access newspapers, but students do not yet have access.
Publishing
South Australian academic: Joint publications in Korean journals a growing trend. He also expressed an interest in broader connections on Korea, e.g. with NLA and the Korean Working Group.
South Australian academic: The volume of publishing in Korea has been increasing rapidly, particularly with democratisation over the last decade. This is likely to continue. The issue of what libraries decide to buy is important, and should include input from users anticipating future needs.
ACT academic: I imagine the prices of Korean books will go up. Demands on me as a consultant are likely to increase, from business and government offices, which means I would like very quick access to sources, and any decentralisation of holdings would hinder this. My own research, however, is driven less by trends or changes in Australia, Korea or the wider world than by my own training and interests.
Next Section or Return to Contents
Last updated 10 December 1998
| About This Site | Copyright | Privacy | Accessibility | Site Map | Site Search | Content A-Z | Contact Us |