3 Years of Action! Exciting Developments in Southeast Asian Libraries since CONSAL XIII John Hickok,...

3 Years of Action!3 Years of Action! Exciting Developments in Southeast Exciting Developments in Southeast Asian Libraries since CONSAL XIIIAsian Libraries since CONSAL XIII

John Hickok, M.L.I.S., M.A.John Hickok, M.L.I.S., M.A.

Librarian/InstructorLibrarian/Instructor

California State University, Fullerton, USACalifornia State University, Fullerton, USA

Hello CONSAL!Hello CONSAL!

Selamat petang/siangSelamat petang/siang

Sawaddi krupSawaddi krup Sabai deeSabai dee

Hello (la!)Hello (la!)

Jom reap seurJom reap seur

Mingalarba Mingalarba

MabuhayMabuhay

Xin ChaoXin Chao

BackgroundBackground 2005-6: year-long travel grant to research 2005-6: year-long travel grant to research

conditions of libraries in Asiaconditions of libraries in Asia

BackgroundBackground Why? Because California is home to huge Asian Why? Because California is home to huge Asian

populations (both immigrants and students)… all with populations (both immigrants and students)… all with different Information Literacy levelsdifferent Information Literacy levels

BackgroundBackground So by better understanding where immigrants/students So by better understanding where immigrants/students

are coming from… California librarians can better serve are coming from… California librarians can better serve themthem

In the next 20 minutes…In the next 20 minutes… Summarize challenges found in 2005-6Summarize challenges found in 2005-6 Highlight some exciting successes since thenHighlight some exciting successes since then

(concluding with a photo jubilee!)(concluding with a photo jubilee!)

In the next 20 minutes…In the next 20 minutes… Summarize challenges found in 2005-6Summarize challenges found in 2005-6 Highlight some exciting successes since thenHighlight some exciting successes since then

(concluding with a photo jubilee!)(concluding with a photo jubilee!)

Note 1:Note 1: successes noted are only a just a small successes noted are only a just a small sample; there are SO MANY moresample; there are SO MANY more

Note 2:Note 2: successes noted do not mean one-size-fits successes noted do not mean one-size-fits all, or challenges are all goneall, or challenges are all gone

ChallengesChallenges

ChallengesChallenges

In these 6 categories…In these 6 categories…

1.1. Library EducationLibrary Education

2.2. Library ServicesLibrary Services

3.3. Emerging TechnologiesEmerging Technologies

4.4. Management & MarketingManagement & Marketing

5.5. Library AssociationsLibrary Associations

6.6. Library DynamicsLibrary Dynamics

1.1. Challenges in Library Challenges in Library EducationEducation


Limited LIS Education in some countriesLimited LIS Education in some countries LIS Curriculum challengesLIS Curriculum challenges Need for more User EducationNeed for more User Education


Vietnam:Vietnam: foreign partnerships in LIS foreign partnerships in LIS training (Simmons, etc.)training (Simmons, etc.)



Singapore NTU / Malaysia UMSingapore NTU / Malaysia UM: continued : continued refinement of required Library Info.Lit. refinement of required Library Info.Lit. trainingtraining



Singapore NTU / Malaysia UMSingapore NTU / Malaysia UM: continued : continued refinement of required Library Info.Lit. refinement of required Library Info.Lit. trainingtraining

Philippines UPPhilippines UP: new LIS courses on library : new LIS courses on library marketing, telecom networking, etc.marketing, telecom networking, etc.

2.2. Challenges in Library Challenges in Library ServicesServices


Limited resources/staffing in school Limited resources/staffing in school librarieslibraries

Limited resources in (smaller/rural) public Limited resources in (smaller/rural) public librarieslibraries

Less proactive Reference serviceLess proactive Reference service


Laos:Laos: beautiful new Vientiane Public Library beautiful new Vientiane Public Library


Laos:Laos: beautiful new Vientiane Public Library beautiful new Vientiane Public Library Cambodia/MyanmarCambodia/Myanmar: schools partnering with : schools partnering with

NGO’s for book donationsNGO’s for book donations



NGO’s for book donationsNGO’s for book donations Malaysia:Malaysia: beautiful new rural public libraries beautiful new rural public libraries



NGO’s for book donationsNGO’s for book donations Malaysia:Malaysia: beautiful new rural public libraries beautiful new rural public libraries Brunei UBD / Thailand Chulalongkorn U.:Brunei UBD / Thailand Chulalongkorn U.:

proactive IM reference serviceproactive IM reference service



NGO’s for book donationsNGO’s for book donations Malaysia:Malaysia: beautiful new rural public libraries beautiful new rural public libraries Brunei UBD / Thailand Chulalongkorn U.:Brunei UBD / Thailand Chulalongkorn U.:

proactive IM reference serviceproactive IM reference service Vietnam Hue UVietnam Hue U.: Library staff must actively .: Library staff must actively

interact with studentsinteract with students

3.3. Challenges in Emerging Challenges in Emerging TechnologiesTechnologies


Some libraries still developing Some libraries still developing electronicallyelectronically

Unconnected or Incompatible software Unconnected or Incompatible software among librariesamong libraries

In libraries already heavily electronic, an In libraries already heavily electronic, an over-reliance on technologyover-reliance on technology


New electronic achievements: New electronic achievements: Laos NUOLLaos NUOL: open source software. : open source software. Malaysia Malaysia UKMUKM: new library proxy server. : new library proxy server. Vietnam: VNU-Vietnam: VNU-HanoiHanoi: new subscriptions to scholarly databases. : new subscriptions to scholarly databases. Cambodia PUC, Philippines UCMCambodia PUC, Philippines UCM: new : new computerscomputers



Newly connected branch libraries:Newly connected branch libraries: Indonesia UI, Airlangga, BrawijayaIndonesia UI, Airlangga, Brawijaya



Newly connected branch libraries:Newly connected branch libraries: Indonesia UI, Airlangga, BrawijayaIndonesia UI, Airlangga, Brawijaya

Great user guides/tutorials to accompany Great user guides/tutorials to accompany technology:technology: Philippines DeLaSalle, Singapore Philippines DeLaSalle, Singapore NUS, Malaysia IIUMNUS, Malaysia IIUM

4.4. Challenges in Management Challenges in Management & Marketing& Marketing


Limited budgetsLimited budgets Under-utilization of Librarians’ Under-utilization of Librarians’

skills/potentialskills/potential In some libraries, a “maintenance” rather In some libraries, a “maintenance” rather

than proactive leadershipthan proactive leadership


Cambodia PUC & CMU:Cambodia PUC & CMU: partnering with partnering with outside organizations to supplement book outside organizations to supplement book budgetsbudgets



Laos Nat’l Lib:Laos Nat’l Lib: expanding its “Book Box” expanding its “Book Box” donation programdonation program



Laos Nat’l Lib:Laos Nat’l Lib: expanding its “Book Box” expanding its “Book Box” donation programdonation program

Proactive leaderships: everywhere! (ex:Proactive leaderships: everywhere! (ex: Aida Cruz, Feati U., PhilippinesAida Cruz, Feati U., Philippines))

5.5. Challenges in Library Challenges in Library AssociationsAssociations


Low Perception (image) of librariansLow Perception (image) of librarians Limited influence/reach of some Library Limited influence/reach of some Library

AssociationsAssociations Limited networking/partnering in some Limited networking/partnering in some

countriescountries


Continued lobbying activity by Library Continued lobbying activity by Library Associations of Philippines, Singapore, Associations of Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, MalaysiaThailand, Malaysia



Individual directors promoting Librarian Individual directors promoting Librarian image (ex. Singapore NTU’s Choy Fatt image (ex. Singapore NTU’s Choy Fatt Cheong: all librarians “on the front lines” Cheong: all librarians “on the front lines” interacting)interacting)



Individual directors promoting Librarian Individual directors promoting Librarian image (ex. Singapore NTU’s Choy Fatt image (ex. Singapore NTU’s Choy Fatt Cheong: all librarians “on the front lines” Cheong: all librarians “on the front lines” interacting)interacting)

Formal formation of Vietnam’s Library Formal formation of Vietnam’s Library Association, 2006 (hooray!)Association, 2006 (hooray!)

6.6. Challenges of Library Challenges of Library DynamicsDynamics


Perception of libraries as merely “quiet Perception of libraries as merely “quiet arhives” rather than active learning centersarhives” rather than active learning centers

Newer resources of libraries not always Newer resources of libraries not always advertised/knownadvertised/known

Nature of SEA education often Nature of SEA education often standardized examinations over standardized examinations over independent library researchindependent library research


Singapore’s NUSSingapore’s NUS promotes activity in the promotes activity in the library with its “Info Commons”; Malaysia’s library with its “Info Commons”; Malaysia’s UTM has lounge & game areasUTM has lounge & game areas



Philippines’ UPPhilippines’ UP lists free open-source e- lists free open-source e-sources for all to seesources for all to see



Philippines’ UPPhilippines’ UP lists free open-source e- lists free open-source e-sources for all to seesources for all to see

Thailand’s Chiang Mai UThailand’s Chiang Mai U. features . features extracurricular events in the library extracurricular events in the library (movies, lectures, discussion groups, etc.)(movies, lectures, discussion groups, etc.)

And now…And now…

A photo jubilee of these successes, to A photo jubilee of these successes, to represent ALL your successes!represent ALL your successes!

Myanmar: school library NGO Myanmar: school library NGO donationsdonations

Laos: continuing Book Box Laos: continuing Book Box programprogram

Philippines: new school library Philippines: new school library ribbon-cutting ceremony ribbon-cutting ceremony

Thailand: CM U.’s Library--Thailand: CM U.’s Library--events/lectures at the “American events/lectures at the “American

Corner.”Corner.”

Cambodia: school library NGO Cambodia: school library NGO donationsdonations

Singapore: NUS’s Information Singapore: NUS’s Information CommonsCommons

Myanmar: NGO “book fair”—Myanmar: NGO “book fair”—donation for community librariesdonation for community libraries

Brunei: Proactive Reference—Live Brunei: Proactive Reference—Live IM chatIM chat

Vietnam: new CanTho LIS Vietnam: new CanTho LIS curriclumcurriclum

Laos: new Vientiane public libraryLaos: new Vientiane public library

Singapore: proactive Librarian Singapore: proactive Librarian reference, NTU reference, NTU

Malaysia: rural public librariesMalaysia: rural public libraries

Vietnam: Hue U. learning resource Vietnam: Hue U. learning resource center--active learningcenter--active learning

Thailand: new/improved Thai Thailand: new/improved Thai Library Association Web siteLibrary Association Web site

Cambodia: PUC library—upgrading Cambodia: PUC library—upgrading computerscomputers

Philippines: Director Aida Cruz, Philippines: Director Aida Cruz, rebuilding a library from scratchrebuilding a library from scratch

Indonesia: UI’s new integrated Indonesia: UI’s new integrated online catalogonline catalog

And of course…And of course…Vietnam: VLA formed (2006)!Vietnam: VLA formed (2006)!

Chuc mung thanh cong !

Thank YouThank You

Cám ơnCám ơn

3 Years of Action! Exciting Developments in Southeast Asian Libraries since CONSAL XIII John Hickok,...

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