Technical Issues on Technical Issues on Korean Korean

Online Database Online Database Group Purchases Group Purchases

Mikyung Kang (UCLA)Mikyung Kang (UCLA)Jaeyong Chang (UCB)Jaeyong Chang (UCB)

Korean Studies Librarian Korean Studies Librarian

Experiences Experiences on on

Korean Korean CD-ROM CD-ROM

group purchase group purchase in 1998 …in 1998 …

What I dreamed was…What I dreamed was…

• Sharing costs

• Getting more bargaining power

• Collaborating among EAALC (East Asian Academic Librarians of California)

But,But,

what I faced was …what I faced was …

Technical problemsTechnical problems

• Required Korean Windows to install• All file names were Korean• UnionWay was not stable enough,

but the only available way to input for Korean characters to search in EnglishWindows

Communication problemsCommunication problems

• Ignorant of technical language (Computer technicians are using different languages!!)

• Hard to understand technical terms for hardware/software

• Not able to translate of course

Commitment problemsCommitment problems

Started with 5 libraries which promised to participate

Only 2 libraries left in the end

Lessons from the past Lessons from the past experiences …experiences …

• Wait for the right timing:– Technically ready– Financially ready– Psychologically ready

• Let Korean DB vendors know of potential oversea customers

In the meantime …In the meantime …

• Online Services for all CD-ROM titles and more DB titles available

• Global IME works fine with Korean online databases

• PDF format full-text files available• Free trial online service offers

Free Trial ServicesFree Trial Services

Offered from three Korean DB vendors for initial 6 mo.

– Nuri Media: KRpia & DBpia– Dongbang Media:

EncyKorea & Korea AtoZ – KSI: KISS

When you have online DBs..When you have online DBs..

• No installation needed• No Korean Windows required • No special software needed,

except Global IME• Global IME is good enough for

searching• Easy access• Convenience

In 2003 …In 2003 …

• Expanded free trial services until June 30, 2003

• Web-based Survey on usage of Korean Studies online databases during Jan.-Mar. 2003

After the survey After the survey and the trial services …and the trial services …

• Not much technical problems reported

• Usage statistics available from the vendors

• Many recommendations from users • Consensus among UC Korean Studies

Librarians for consortial purchases of Korean online databases

KSI online statisticsKSI online statistics

UCLA EAL homepageUCLA EAL homepage

So, So, finally decided to finally decided to

purchase/subscribe purchase/subscribe Korean Korean

Online databases as a Online databases as a group again…group again…

Experiences Experiences on on

Korean Korean Online Database Online Database group purchases group purchases

in 2003 …in 2003 …

Again, Again, what I dreamed was…what I dreamed was…

• Sharing costs• Getting more bargaining power• Collaborating among Korean

Studies Librarians, UC-wide as well as Nation-wide

• Easy access• Time and energy savings

But, still problems …But, still problems …

Technical ProblemsTechnical Problems

• Proxy server connection• Computer configuration at home• Not easy to help users’ home

access problems• Han’gul typing through Global IME

(not familiar with Korean keyboard mapping)

Communication ProblemsCommunication Problems

• Time difference between Korean vendors and US libraries

• Hard to communicate with the vendors, if you don’t know them in person

• Users’ searching technique problems for Korean words

Many Thanks to…Many Thanks to…

• Jaeyong Chang (UC Berkeley)

• Hee Sook Shin (Columbia Univ.)

• Yunah Sung (Univ. of Michigan)

Any questions?Any questions?

Thank you!Thank you!