Month: November 2012

Categories
Events Libraries in China Professional Development What others are saying

Conference at Peking University, Nov. 3 to 6

一塔湖图

We saw this winter’s first snow in Beijing and it didn’t stop people from attending the PKU conference. More people showed up at the Opening than expected despite the slushy road condition. Mary Lee Kennedy and Ingrid’s speeches were quite impressive.

Catherine Quinlan, our former UL, and now at USC, was presenting on her current library in a super fast pace. Zhijia was humble as usual. Her experience and tips of working with the National Central Library in Taiwan are quite useful for our projects, such as: to get the conservation money ready before they started their rare book digitization.

Categories
Experience

Asian Vault

Met Shaun in the vault on Monday, and he showed me how he was taking off the cover and what has been waiting for me to work on. Alvan took his time introducing me to the Belfor ladies and showing me the details of the rearranged vault. Not sure if I am in the position to make any decisions about those unprocessed gifts. I have started sorting the materials and making the priority list. Did abit research on Zhang Yuanji’s writings on the covers.

Still sufferring from the jet lag and I was dis-oriented when Richard and JP came in this early morning. The microfilm cabins will be moved out of the vault. Tried to convince Helen that sooner or later, everything has to be moved out. The question is where they can be moved to.

Categories
Experience Libraries in Japan

在筑波

Way up high study carrels

Narita Temple

Categories
Experience Libraries in Japan

Experiencing Japan



I was impressed by the flower arrangement teacher at the International Affairs of Tsukuba U. , elegant lady with very strong hands.

Prof. Sugimoto drove me and Patrick around the town, to his neighborhood and treated us for lunch in a traditional family owned restaurant. I have all the respect towards this scholar, who is open, humble and thoughtful.

Mei, my college friend and a Tsukuba graduate, drove me to Narita Temple and her house. I was so excited experiencing Japan outside of the campus. When we parked the car on Mei’s drive way, a group of first graders walked by from their school. I was formerly introduced to them and we were all got excited and were busy chatting and joking. They wanted to be in my picture and visit me in Canada for they know “many English words”.

Categories
Experience Libraries in Japan

Earthquake

Try to warn friends and family when I read about earthquake in Norhtern BC. They laughed at me worrying so much and maybe because I am in Japan. During my tour of the Tsukuba U. Central Library, and when I was taking this photo, I felt and heard the earthquake clearly, and so did others, but nobody was panicked or ran. Besides the auto-compact shelves, bars are also installed to prevent books falling off the shelves. It’s a very busy library. More than 50 volunteers and many student assistants are helping out.

The movie DVDs are marked with various copyright restrictions. A colorful exhibit on female students’ education history with lots of rare items from the vault.

Categories
Events Experience Libraries in Japan What others are saying

Lecture Time

I am flattered by Shoko who needs special permission to skip her class for my talk to the faculty.

The audience showed strong interest. It turned out to be very interactive. Thanks to Dr. Sugimoto and Dr. Lo’s introduction and tune setting. Dr. Hideo Joho’s comments impressed me and presented the difference in funding principles and organizational structure.

The senior gentleman from the Central Library stayed behind and thanked me in English and Chinese. I am humbled…

Categories
Experience Libraries in Japan

Arriving in Tsukuba

Unlike Tokyo, Tsukuba is more like Canada, quiet and slow paced, very clean and neat streets and very green. Stayed in fancy Daiwa Roynet before I moved into the guest house on campus. The security guard was very serious with all my paperwork, and he stamped with his personal seal at the end.

Had a quick lunch at the Italian place and dressed up for the class. The classroom is alot like Chinese ones except for the large Panasonic Screen. From the students’ questions, I can easily sense the huge difference, which added the pressure for the next day’s lecture to the entire faculty.

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