Category: Libraries in China

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Awards, Grants & Scholarships Experience Libraries in China Professional Development What others are saying

International Activities

Hurricane Ridge 一览众山小

Never looked back until the LDO pushed me a few times. Vivienne followed up over the phone and asked for some rough numbers and dates. Then I am suprised by how many friends I have made globally and how much I have learnt from those activities. If the Collaborative Virtual Reference is considered as the fun start, then winning the BC Scholars to China and TLEF Fund has gained me financial support to reach out and wide. When I tried to slow down now, more and more invitations are rushing in. Our library users benefit the most and above all, I enjoyed all those long jurneys. 读完卷书不如行万里路,行万里路不如阅人无数，阅人无数不如名师指路，名师指路不如自己去悟. Glad I have experienced all these, and now just follow my own heart and select those work I like the best.

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Libraries in China

Know before You Go

Noa just came back from Israel and preparing for her trip to Beijing. Prof. Swatek is also thinking to get connected in person with some Kunju performers. A few more folks are planning and want to meet before they book the flight. Although I am well connected, I have some disappointment on every trip. Shocking news from H-Net: ALL of the Republican era archival materials have been withdrawn from public access for “scanning”. I had trouble last fall in Beijing and couldn’t get anything from the archives there. We really need to know before we go.

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Events Libraries in China What others are saying

Director Zhu’s Visit

My regular Thursday TS work was interrupted, and I had to return to Asian. Peking U. Library Director, Dr. Zhu Qiang, just arrived in town for Ingrid’s Presidential program. Shakeela came to Asian Library first to arrange for another group of VIP visitors. I picked enough rare objects from the vault right before Dr. Zhu showed up accompanied by Alvan and Jo Anne.

I met Dr. Zhu last Oct. in Xiamen. He only spent three days here. He asked about current teaching and research in China Studies, and he knows some profs at UBC. The upper floor didn’t impress him much, and he requested to see the special collection right away. He pointed out that our Puban Collection cataloguing is incomplete. PKU has a scientific lab that can test the age of ancient rarebooks. He even invited me to PKU. 朱馆虽然话不多，但是颇有气场。

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Libraries in China Reference Questions

Emigration Statistics

Unlike the common question on Chinese immigrants, I was helping a Ph.D candidate to track down emigration statistics from the People’s Republic of China from 1949 to 1989 and to date. A new government sponsored research report Conducted by Xiamen U happens to be released, but only on 1970 to 2008: “从上世纪７０年代到２００７－２００８年间，从中国前往世界各地的移民超过１０００万人。其中，来自港澳台地区的约１６０－１７０万，来自中国大陆约８００多万。前往发达国家的中国新移民近７００万，前往发展中国家的有３００多万。 “Another study estimates that a total of 45 million Chinese have emigrated in the last 30 years. It’s an estimate probably because it’s more difficult for the government to track emigrants than immigrants.

It’s funny that both studies are sponsored by the same government agency (qiaoban). The new study conducted by Xiamen U. is probably more accurate. I met Dr. Zhang at last fall’s conference in Xiamen, and she is coming to WCILCOS this May. I can learn more details of the survey from her in person. Interesting topic. I imagine the number of emigrants prior to the open door policy is probably very tiny (not to count the millions who went to Taiwan in 1948 and 1949).

This reminds me an earlier reference request on China’s emigration policy in 1956. Quite some people were allowed to leave the country unexpectively then.

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Events Experience Libraries in China Life

International Students

Just finished the conference paper, and found time to come back here. Several events related to international students in the past weeks. Minister Wong visited us last week and mentioned: “49 high schools in China using the Canadian high school curriculum, some of those graduates may come to UBC”.

Winnie brought a group of 15 students from the IGSPP program. On top of a regular orientation of the library collection and services, I was asked to help with their “soul searching about what they really want to do in terms of their academic and career planning. ” My personal experience as an international student and a foreign worker seemed to attract their attention and reduced our distance.

I am glad that many people on this campus are willing to help these kids far from home. Winnie, Lee Ann, Alden, etc. I was invited again to the networking session of Launch a Career in Canada. Enjoyed the chat with students from all over the world. Glad to see Charles whom I usually only get to see during new school year orientation. He suggested we work out more programs together.

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Events Experience Libraries in China

Shanxi Revisit 重游山西

小时候去过很多次山西，只觉得大山里有洞可钻又有河的地方很好玩。那时不仅暑假在山里避暑，记得还被送到大寨参观。大学毕业前最后一次陪父母旅游又到了山西——太原、晋祠、五台山，至今印象深刻。记忆中的山西人纯朴、热情、友善。这次的交流项目将太原作为最后一站实在惬意。马跃、小宋、王馆带我们沿着宽阔笔直、布满霓虹灯的道路来到丹枫白鹭。 下榻的小酒店除了色彩亮丽的漆器家具，还有壁炉和书架。邱学长在等待安排房间的时候，已经便览《山西通志》啦。房间里温暖如春，似乎还有地热。看得出是省馆精心挑选了这个离会场有点距离的温馨之处。这对于离家月余、四出奔波的我尤其重要。

乔家大院

在山西，我找到了置身华夏山水之间的感觉，人们以自己的本土文化自豪， 告诉我们“五千年的文化要看山西”。莫非当年父母知道我一心想出国留学，带我走遍山西是有一番苦心的。

星期天，趁山西各地同行在太原集合报道的时候， 我们到了40公里以外的乔家大院。只在张艺谋的电影里见过，而这次亲临其境的感觉完全不同。从乾隆年间直到现在，那厚重的院墙，深不见底的院落和雕梁画栋的装饰让人流连。 那时的乔家就已经将金融生意遍布全球甚至走向世界了。家规、行规、大宅院的管理等等是有它一套的。

Commercialized ancient city--Pingyao

相比之下平遥古城展示的是State Power。我虽惊叹其保存完整，但衙门尤其是监狱的刑法展示让我觉得难以承受。风衣放在面包车里，车只能停在城外。到后来借得李博士的毛衣，又买了顶帽子，才坚持着走完平遥。满街的商业气息已经让我窒息，碍于导游小伙的劝导，也只好洒下些银子。但一定要不择手段，像大牌广告这样招揽生意吗？一个文化旅游胜地在国力许可的情况下，是否可以做出更有品位的商业呢？像当年平遥鼎盛的时候？

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Events Experience Instructions Libraries in China Professional Development

Wuhan, 10/29 to 11/3

Glad to see Wuhan as one of the stops of the TGAG trip. On top of the work, it’s like a reunion event. Jingxia successfully worked out the program held in her City Library, just like she brought her library into IFLA. I felt pressure after I saw the program package already in my hotel room.

The group had a meeting after dinner to clarify what we each need to work on. Thanks for the well equiped auditorium, I could move freely on the stage and had my eyes on the entire audience.

Glad to learn the Wuhan Library’s weekend workshops. Some library directors grabbed me to the side and told me their dilema and they had to activate all kinds of connections in order to survive.


Wuhan U just built and was about to open another new library. Marble floor and walls in the lobby. We used to have dance parties in the dinning hall near our dorm, it would be nice to dance here.

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Events Experience Instructions Libraries in China News & Announcement Professional Development

In Guiyang, 10/24-10/29

Our TGAG team was finally formed in Beijing and I flew back down south to Guiyang to attend the Society’s annual meeting and to train the librarians in Guizhou Province. Although our trainees work in an underdeveloped province, they asked good questions and have strong desire to contribute to their communities. I was impressed by the girl who stood up and asked me questions. We had similar experience, and she is keen volunteering on top of a full-time job. Her email reached me right before I start to teach in Wuhan.

与严秘书长和邱学长合影

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Experience Libraries in China Reference Questions

Rare Book in CASS, 10/12/2011

A’Huang has already connected me to the History Institute. She was busy training that day, so Lao Liu took me to Mr. Yuan, who generously showed me the unique item, a hand-written copy from early Qing.

CASS has my Childhood friends and Wuhan U buddies. The hyper-exciting chat can never end, all my needs in Beijing are their prioritized responsibility.
They travel and spend their vacation time together, their kids can also play together. I envy them and hope they can bring me this kind of group activities to Vancouver some time soon.

Since CASS libraries have so much treasures, I’d come back many times in the future. They promised me that they won’t change jobs and will retire in their current positions. One-day reunion is too short, we promised to meet again when I return from Taipei. Yeah, I will have my book royalties then.

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Events Experience Libraries in China Life News & Announcement

Donation to the Orphanage, 10/11/2011

First thing we did in China was to visit this orphanage in Fangshan District of Beijing city. Respresenting the Society, along with our vendor, Ms. Zhang Ying’s company, we donated new books to the lovely children and their loving care givers.

Helen in the baby room reminded me about our Helen (Kim)'s plan.

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