230 likes | 348 Views
Technical Issues on Korean Online Database Group Purchases. Mikyung Kang (UCLA) Jaeyong Chang (UCB) Korean Studies Librarian. Experiences on Korean CD-ROM group purchase in 1998 …. What I dreamed was…. Sharing costs Getting more bargaining power
E N D
Technical Issues on Korean Online Database Group Purchases Mikyung Kang (UCLA) Jaeyong Chang (UCB) Korean Studies Librarian
What I dreamed was… • Sharing costs • Getting more bargaining power • Collaborating among EAALC (East Asian Academic Librarians of California)
Technical 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 English Windows
Communication 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 problems Started with 5 libraries which promised to participate Only 2 libraries left in the end
Lessons from the past experiences … • Wait for the right timing: • Technically ready • Financially ready • Psychologically ready • Let Korean DB vendors know of potential oversea customers
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 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.. • 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 … • 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 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
So, finally decided to purchase/subscribe Korean Online databases as a group again…
Experiences on Korean Online Database group purchases in 2003 …
Again, 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
Technical 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 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… • Jaeyong Chang (UC Berkeley) • Hee Sook Shin (Columbia Univ.) • Yunah Sung (Univ. of Michigan)
Any questions? Thank you!