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Events Experience Libraries in China What others are saying

The International Symposium Nov. 2012

I enjoyed learning from this Symposium held at the Sun Yat-sen U. Libraries. Just received the email on finalizing my paper to be included in the proceeding. Although

I understand the connection to Guangzhou, I was suprised by how many people approached me on collaboration proposals. I remember the complement of Mr. Yao Boyue from Peking U. and Prof. Lu Jintang from Taiwan U.

I made many new friends and feel lucky meeting those experts I only met in the virtual space before. Prof. Pan Jianguo, Mr. Wei Li, Ms. Li Yonghui, etc. I was happy to renew our friendship and learning from the mentors. Mr. Shen Jin, happily moved on from Harvard, he was very busy as the organizer. I was humbled by his closing remarks as my presentation “brought the attendees new knowledge”. Kept Soren waiting for the Li Erqiao’s manuscript and lots of interests in our collection, such as manuscripts and seals. Will try to email them this weekend.

Very impressed by the following presenters: Prof. Wang Guoliang from Taiwan U. on Qian Qianyi’s collection, Princeton’s Dr. Ma on Hong Yu Lou, Dr. Wang Lei from SYS U. on their Huizhou contract documents, NLC’s Li Jining, etc.

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Events Experience Libraries in China Professional Development

感受岭南

11月9日的飞机居然准点到达白云机场。在咖啡座等了树勇片刻,欣赏着窗外繁茂的草木。

晚饭时分,广州外商酒店的大堂被这帮老朋友的reunion渲染得其热无比。虽然每年都在美国见Soren,但他和沈津老师一样,到国内工作,这次在广州有机会向他请教实在难得。

大师兄一见面就高喊,“比北京好多了吧?!” 我忍不住大笑,想起他几天前穿衬衫在北京大雪中奔跑的情形。他还是怀念春天在温哥华的聚会。遇到不少港台的同仁,都对敝校环境津津乐道,让我有了想家的感觉。
在这岁末冬初的季节,漫步在中山大学的校园。除了闹中取静的图书馆的书香,还有各种岭南花草暗香浮动。深深地呼吸,我告诫自己要好好地学习和感受。

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Events Experience Instructions Libraries in China Libraries in Japan What others are saying

CASS Visit

Stayed behind in Beijing for UBC access privelage and new requirements for vendors.

Presenting at CASS , suprisingly with new discovery and project proposals. Xu Huan at PKU and Joe from Apabi also asked for meetings, but it didn’t work out due to time restraints. Students and young librarians started sending me follow-up questions from Japan and Beijing. They and ref questions from home kept me busy working from hotel rooms.

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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.

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Experience Libraries in Japan

在筑波

Way up high study carrels

Narita Temple

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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”.

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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.

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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…

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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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Experience Libraries in Japan Professional Development

First stop in Tokyo

Heavy fog at Beijing airport delayed my flight. When we landed in Narita, it was packed. Foreingers are required to take finger prints and photos, which slowed down further. On the way to Ueno, it was getting dark. It took me entire Saturday for this short flight.

Rachel picked me up on Sunday morning and took me to the National Museum. Its arrangment is very friendly, many buildings and smaller rooms with a beautiful garden. We spent hours there and didn’t feel tired at all. There’s special exhibit on Chinese ancient empires. Many rooms’ introduction stated the influence of China and Korea. Very low profile attitude, but the exhibits themselves present us the adaptive creativity of Japanese people.

On our way to meet Dr. Lo’s and Paul Kelly, we stepped into this bookstore, packed like in the Narita airport.

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