The final report of the Survey of Users of Korean Materials has now been completed. It covers the results of a survey conducted by mail questionnaire and interviews. Funding for the project was provided by the Korea Foundation, the Australia-Korea Foundation, the Korean Studies Association of Australasia and the National Initiatives and Coordination Branch of the National Library of Australia.
The survey of existing and potential or assumed users of Korean materials was carried out by the Korean Working Group, with the assistance of consultants, between June and September 1997. The prime consultant was Ruth Megirian of Suilven Consulting, while Patrick O'Neill assisted with telephone interviews. The Korean Working Group consists of Korean studies academics and librarians from institutions with major Korean collections around Australia. Dr Ken Wells of the Australian National University (ANU) has played a major role in the Group. Much of the work has been carried out by the National Library, in particular Cliff Law from National Initiatives and Coordination, with Marie Sexton and Andrew Gosling from Asian Collections.
Face to face interviews were carried out in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane between June and October 1997, and telephone interviews were carried out in November 1997. A total of 100 people responded to the written questionnaire, of whom 25 were also interviewed. A total of 80 interviews were carried out. Total survey population was therefore 155 throughout all Australian states.
The objectives of the project were:
- to survey research and information needs related to Korean academic studies
- to survey research and information needs for Australian businesses having dealings related to Korea
- to determine library usage patterns, on-line usage, adequacy of collections, areas of growth, readersí services, subject/formats used for research and information
- to determine growth areas, together with the reaction to and the potential for paid-for services and the types and numbers of potential users/information seekers.
The objectives of the project were largely met and the results of the survey established not only areas requiring further investigation, but also resulted in recommendations and resolutions for future actions, collection strategies and policy development.
The conclusions drawn were that:
- awareness of the extent of collections around Australia is relatively low, especially among the business community;
- use of on-line services is clearly increasing, but knowledge ñ and use ñ of the CJK system is low;
- rationalisation of collections, together with lack of awareness of other collections, may be a factor in lower levels of satisfaction with library services and collections;
- timeliness of information, both in the provision of information and the currency of information collected, was an issue, in particular the lack of newspapers and current periodicals;
- there is a need for materials about and from North Korea in all subject areas;
- gaps in collections in areas other than North Korea related more to a perceived lack of depth in collections rather than a lack of subject matter; and
- further research is needed to determine the viability of offering or extending paid for services.
A series of recommendations were developed for referral to the Korean Working Group. The recommendations address the issues raised and rank them according to importance. Each recommendation also lists the timeframe for action to be taken and the group responsible for such action.
Recommendations were:
- that Australian libraries continue to work together to improve access to materials on Korea in both printed and electronic formats; that coordination between libraries be improved; that increased networking should be pursued including via the Internet
- that access to the National Chinese, Japanese and Korean Online System be more widely promoted and made available in all major and academic Australian libraries
- that existing library services be more effectively promoted as it appears that users are not fully aware of them
- that contacts with Korean libraries be developed to improve services to Korean users in Australia; that the possibilities of obtaining photocopies and loans through formal arrangements with them be pursued
- that the problem for users of slowness of inter-library loans and supply of photocopies be considered as well as the effectiveness of the system including direct charges
- that access to electronic economic data on Korea be improved within Australia
- that collecting of library materials on North Korea be given greater priority by Australian libraries with Korean holdings especially the National Library
- that gaps in collecting, such as lack of current periodicals and newspapers, be considered together with possible funding sources
- that needs of business which are bypassing libraries be discussed more fully with business councils and users.
Implications for the National Library
The findings of the Survey clearly affect the National Library, which is by far the largest provider of Korean collections and services in Australia. The Survey found relatively low awareness and use of Korean collections and of the National CJK Service pointing to a need for greater promotion to prime clients. Perceived problems with slowness and charging issues with inter-library loans may also need to be considered. Material from and about North Korea was identified as a priority for collecting, with the National Library seen as the most appropriate collecting institution.
Recent follow-up by the Library has included promotion of the National CJK Service at the Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) at the University of New South Wales, 28 September - 1 October 1998. The promotion of CJK (and of Kinetica) attracted considerable interest among Korean studies academics at the conference as well as other Asian Studies scholars.
Copies of the final report of the Survey are available from Andrew Gosling, e-mail: agosling@nla.gov.au
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