3 Years of Action! Exciting Developments in Southeast Asian Libraries since CONSAL XIII John Hickok, M.L.I.S., M.A. Librarian/Instructor California State University, Fullerton, USA

Hello CONSAL! Selamat petang/siang Selamat petang/siang Sawaddi krup Sawaddi krup Sabai dee Sabai dee Hello (la!) Hello (la!) Jom reap seur Jom reap seur Mingalarba Mingalarba Mabuhay Mabuhay Xin Chao Xin Chao

Background : year-long travel grant to research conditions of libraries in Asia : year-long travel grant to research conditions of libraries in Asia

Background Why? Because California is home to huge Asian populations (both immigrants and students)… all with different Information Literacy levels Why? Because California is home to huge Asian populations (both immigrants and students)… all with different Information Literacy levels

Background So by better understanding where immigrants/students are coming from… California librarians can better serve them So by better understanding where immigrants/students are coming from… California librarians can better serve them

In the next 20 minutes… Summarize challenges found in Summarize challenges found in Highlight some exciting successes since then Highlight some exciting successes since then (concluding with a photo jubilee!) (concluding with a photo jubilee!)

In the next 20 minutes… Summarize challenges found in Summarize challenges found in Highlight some exciting successes since then Highlight some exciting successes since then (concluding with a photo jubilee!) (concluding with a photo jubilee!) Note 1: successes noted are only a just a small sample; there are SO MANY more Note 1: successes noted are only a just a small sample; there are SO MANY more Note 2: successes noted do not mean one-size-fits all, or challenges are all gone Note 2: successes noted do not mean one-size-fits all, or challenges are all gone

Challenges

Challenges In these 6 categories… 1. Library Education 2. Library Services 3. Emerging Technologies 4. Management & Marketing 5. Library Associations 6. Library Dynamics

1. Challenges in Library Education

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

1. Challenges in Library Education

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

1. Challenges in Library Education Vietnam: foreign partnerships in LIS training (Simmons, etc.) Vietnam: foreign partnerships in LIS training (Simmons, etc.) Singapore NTU / Malaysia UM: continued refinement of required Library Info.Lit. training Singapore NTU / Malaysia UM: continued refinement of required Library Info.Lit. training

1. Challenges in Library Education Vietnam: foreign partnerships in LIS training (Simmons, etc.) Vietnam: foreign partnerships in LIS training (Simmons, etc.) Singapore NTU / Malaysia UM: continued refinement of required Library Info.Lit. training Singapore NTU / Malaysia UM: continued refinement of required Library Info.Lit. training Philippines UP: new LIS courses on library marketing, telecom networking, etc. Philippines UP: new LIS courses on library marketing, telecom networking, etc.

2. Challenges in Library Services

Limited resources/staffing in school libraries Limited resources/staffing in school libraries Limited resources in (smaller/rural) public libraries Limited resources in (smaller/rural) public libraries Less proactive Reference service Less proactive Reference service

2. Challenges in Library Services

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

2. Challenges in Library Services Laos: beautiful new Vientiane Public Library Laos: beautiful new Vientiane Public Library Cambodia/Myanmar: schools partnering with NGOs for book donations Cambodia/Myanmar: schools partnering with NGOs for book donations

2. Challenges in Library Services Laos: beautiful new Vientiane Public Library Laos: beautiful new Vientiane Public Library Cambodia/Myanmar: schools partnering with NGOs for book donations Cambodia/Myanmar: schools partnering with NGOs for book donations Malaysia: beautiful new rural public libraries Malaysia: beautiful new rural public libraries

2. Challenges in Library Services Laos: beautiful new Vientiane Public Library Laos: beautiful new Vientiane Public Library Cambodia/Myanmar: schools partnering with NGOs for book donations Cambodia/Myanmar: schools partnering with NGOs for book donations Malaysia: beautiful new rural public libraries Malaysia: beautiful new rural public libraries Brunei UBD / Thailand Chulalongkorn U.: proactive IM reference service Brunei UBD / Thailand Chulalongkorn U.: proactive IM reference service

2. Challenges in Library Services Laos: beautiful new Vientiane Public Library Laos: beautiful new Vientiane Public Library Cambodia/Myanmar: schools partnering with NGOs for book donations Cambodia/Myanmar: schools partnering with NGOs for book donations Malaysia: beautiful new rural public libraries Malaysia: beautiful new rural public libraries Brunei UBD / Thailand Chulalongkorn U.: proactive IM reference service Brunei UBD / Thailand Chulalongkorn U.: proactive IM reference service Vietnam Hue U.: Library staff must actively interact with students Vietnam Hue U.: Library staff must actively interact with students

3. Challenges in Emerging Technologies

Some libraries still developing electronically Some libraries still developing electronically Unconnected or Incompatible software among libraries Unconnected or Incompatible software among libraries In libraries already heavily electronic, an over-reliance on technology In libraries already heavily electronic, an over-reliance on technology

3. Challenges in Emerging Technologies

New electronic achievements: Laos NUOL: open source software. Malaysia UKM: new library proxy server. Vietnam: VNU- Hanoi: new subscriptions to scholarly databases. Cambodia PUC, Philippines UCM: new computers New electronic achievements: Laos NUOL: open source software. Malaysia UKM: new library proxy server. Vietnam: VNU- Hanoi: new subscriptions to scholarly databases. Cambodia PUC, Philippines UCM: new computers

3. Challenges in Emerging Technologies New electronic achievements: Laos NUOL: open source software. Malaysia UKM: new library proxy server. Vietnam: VNU- Hanoi: new subscriptions to scholarly databases. Cambodia PUC, Philippines UCM: new computers New electronic achievements: Laos NUOL: open source software. Malaysia UKM: new library proxy server. Vietnam: VNU- Hanoi: new subscriptions to scholarly databases. Cambodia PUC, Philippines UCM: new computers Newly connected branch libraries: Indonesia UI, Airlangga, Brawijaya Newly connected branch libraries: Indonesia UI, Airlangga, Brawijaya

3. Challenges in Emerging Technologies New electronic achievements: Laos NUOL: open source software. Malaysia UKM: new library proxy server. Vietnam: VNU- Hanoi: new subscriptions to scholarly databases. Cambodia PUC, Philippines UCM: new computers New electronic achievements: Laos NUOL: open source software. Malaysia UKM: new library proxy server. Vietnam: VNU- Hanoi: new subscriptions to scholarly databases. Cambodia PUC, Philippines UCM: new computers Newly connected branch libraries: Indonesia UI, Airlangga, Brawijaya Newly connected branch libraries: Indonesia UI, Airlangga, Brawijaya Great user guides/tutorials to accompany technology: Philippines DeLaSalle, Singapore NUS, Malaysia IIUM Great user guides/tutorials to accompany technology: Philippines DeLaSalle, Singapore NUS, Malaysia IIUM

4. Challenges in Management & Marketing

Limited budgets Limited budgets Under-utilization of Librarians skills/potential Under-utilization of Librarians skills/potential In some libraries, a maintenance rather than proactive leadership In some libraries, a maintenance rather than proactive leadership

4. Challenges in Management & Marketing

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

4. Challenges in Management & Marketing Cambodia PUC & CMU: partnering with outside organizations to supplement book budgets Cambodia PUC & CMU: partnering with outside organizations to supplement book budgets Laos Natl Lib: expanding its Book Box donation program Laos Natl Lib: expanding its Book Box donation program

4. Challenges in Management & Marketing Cambodia PUC & CMU: partnering with outside organizations to supplement book budgets Cambodia PUC & CMU: partnering with outside organizations to supplement book budgets Laos Natl Lib: expanding its Book Box donation program Laos Natl Lib: expanding its Book Box donation program Proactive leaderships: everywhere! (ex: Aida Cruz, Feati U., Philippines) Proactive leaderships: everywhere! (ex: Aida Cruz, Feati U., Philippines)

5. Challenges in Library Associations

Low Perception (image) of librarians Low Perception (image) of librarians Limited influence/reach of some Library Associations Limited influence/reach of some Library Associations Limited networking/partnering in some countries Limited networking/partnering in some countries

5. Challenges in Library Associations

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

5. Challenges in Library Associations Continued lobbying activity by Library Associations of Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia Continued lobbying activity by Library Associations of Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia Individual directors promoting Librarian image (ex. Singapore NTUs Choy Fatt Cheong: all librarians on the front lines interacting) Individual directors promoting Librarian image (ex. Singapore NTUs Choy Fatt Cheong: all librarians on the front lines interacting)

5. Challenges in Library Associations Continued lobbying activity by Library Associations of Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia Continued lobbying activity by Library Associations of Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia Individual directors promoting Librarian image (ex. Singapore NTUs Choy Fatt Cheong: all librarians on the front lines interacting) Individual directors promoting Librarian image (ex. Singapore NTUs Choy Fatt Cheong: all librarians on the front lines interacting) Formal formation of Vietnams Library Association, 2006 (hooray!) Formal formation of Vietnams Library Association, 2006 (hooray!)

6. Challenges of Library Dynamics

Perception of libraries as merely quiet arhives rather than active learning centers Perception of libraries as merely quiet arhives rather than active learning centers Newer resources of libraries not always advertised/known Newer resources of libraries not always advertised/known Nature of SEA education often standardized examinations over independent library research Nature of SEA education often standardized examinations over independent library research

6. Challenges of Library Dynamics

Singapores NUS promotes activity in the library with its Info Commons; Malaysias UTM has lounge & game areas Singapores NUS promotes activity in the library with its Info Commons; Malaysias UTM has lounge & game areas

6. Challenges of Library Dynamics Singapores NUS promotes activity in the library with its Info Commons; Malaysias UTM has lounge & game areas Singapores NUS promotes activity in the library with its Info Commons; Malaysias UTM has lounge & game areas Philippines UP lists free open-source e- sources for all to see Philippines UP lists free open-source e- sources for all to see

6. Challenges of Library Dynamics Singapores NUS promotes activity in the library with its Info Commons; Malaysias UTM has lounge & game areas Singapores NUS promotes activity in the library with its Info Commons; Malaysias UTM has lounge & game areas Philippines UP lists free open-source e- sources for all to see Philippines UP lists free open-source e- sources for all to see Thailands Chiang Mai U. features extracurricular events in the library (movies, lectures, discussion groups, etc.) Thailands Chiang Mai U. features extracurricular events in the library (movies, lectures, discussion groups, etc.)

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

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

Myanmar: school library NGO donations

Laos: continuing Book Box program

Philippines: new school library ribbon-cutting ceremony

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

Cambodia: school library NGO donations

Singapore: NUSs Information Commons

Myanmar: NGO book fair donation for community libraries

Brunei: Proactive ReferenceLive IM chat

Vietnam: new CanTho LIS curriclum

Laos: new Vientiane public library

Singapore: proactive Librarian reference, NTU

Malaysia: rural public libraries

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

Thailand: new/improved Thai Library Association Web site

Cambodia: PUC libraryupgrading computers

Philippines: Director Aida Cruz, rebuilding a library from scratch

Indonesia: UIs new integrated online catalog

And of course… Vietnam: VLA formed (2006)! Chuc mung thanh cong !

Thank You Cám ơn