Chinese Canadian Library Weblog

Golden sunshine on leaves starting to turn red and yellow against the blue sky. Every day at UBC there are big groups of freshmen being oriented. Two weeks in this new term, and the excitement is still building. Prof. Rea’s new Ph.D student tried to meet one-on-one, but I have to run to the BBLearn Group meeting, already missed a meeting due to the Exhibit. Another Master student stopped me clarifying a seminar room location. I really need to focus on orientation and instruction now.

Half way to the Learning Centre, Prof. Shinn told me the next Wat lecturer, Dr. Wang Fan-sen, is coming in less than two weeks. Not enough time to put up the display if we don’t have all of his books.

Tried very hard to put the exhibit behind me, and so I can concentrate on the instruction. Collaborate is easy to use, so I will wait for Connect to settle in. Yvonne has spent lots of time on my Connect account. I like the best practice part of our group report, but so far, none of us have tried out delivering instruction in Connect. Anyway, it’s a good start for my online instruction that can reach the faculty and students no matter where they are.

Just received the thank-you letter from Japan and glad to know Shoko is back home safely. She gave an impressive presentation last Friday. When I dropped her off at YVR, I had a Canadian style hug.

Glad to learn about the library operation in Japan and the program at Tsukuba. I think that their program is more forward-looking and intercultural. They sent the students to various countries as interns. A graduate student from Tsukuba requested an interview over Skype.

This morning, all my mind was on the visa issue in Guangzhou and how to hang the panels in the Auditorium. Asian Studies’ pancake breakfast was in there and changed the setting and feeling of the room. The folks’ warm greetings stopped my worries on the exhibition. What a great opportunity meeting new colleagues! Dr. Lin from Taiwan shared her views towards Academia Sinica. The new Chinese Language Program Director, Dr. Wang Qian, is young, sweet and energetic. She questioned me about services for her students right away. Too bad, I had three meetings scheduled, and didn’t have chance to chat with lots of people.

Ran over to IAR with the paper plate. Happy for our History Ph.Ds who received global offers. Their research questions are still fresh in my mind…Tim is not only supporting the exhibit, but also helping with developing the collection. Late for the meeting with Trish, and need to follow up with Sheryl on the CCR donation, need to schedule another meeting in IAR. Wonder if my answer to her translated literary works has left anything out.

Interrupted by visiting scholars half way through the letter to Canadian Embassy in Beijing. My paper in Chinese Classics & Culture lead them here. Phoebe thought they were my friends. Let them browsing the stacks while I brought some rare items out of the vault. They were shocked to see 18th Century’s books on open shelves. A New York Prof who is teaching in Hong Kong just emailed me for Deng Zhimo’s Chan Yin Gao. Wrapping up within 45 minutes and had a quick stop at the Digital Initiatives, thanked all folks there for the testing with Asian rare books.

Prof. Rea’s new student was waiting in Asia, answered her questions and realized the seniors have been helping the new comers like her. Good for you, guys! Some one is making my life easier. This post is getting too long, and emails are still rushing in…

This coming academic year’s orientation starts with Forestry exchange students again. It’s interesting that both Dr. Koerner, whose foundation funded Puban purchase, and Dr. Barber were foresters. Asian Centre’s renovation didn’t seem to bother the group, and I was talking out loud with my biggest voice. Katherine prepared detailed online demos and examples. We came across a microfilm title with Summon search limit with “books or ebooks”. Wonder what other suprises I will be bumping into with the newly designed website and upgraded systems.

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.

On my way to Digital Initiatives, and enjoyed a free concert. Other people slowed down too when they walked by. Very soothing music. Several tasks this summer and need this kind of bright day to feel light and refreshing. Last week’s weather helped me to cut vacation time short. Need to prioritize all the work for the next two months.

程师兄又在批判啦，这回是针对不爱读书的中华民族！：“相对世界其他民族而言，中华民族可能是世界上最不喜欢读书的民族之一。如果不是隋朝以后延续一千多年的科举考试和如今的高考和就业与职务晋升的要求，这种学而优则仕的利诱，中国恐怕没有多少人乐意去读书，更遑论终生学习”。

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.

This book keeps me up today–The Vancouver stories: west coast fiction from Canada’s best writers. I love Vancouver more now and feel different when I just saw the “Lions of Vancouver”. I am sure the stories will come back to me next time when I stroll in Stanley, West End or Chinatown. As Stephen said at our Rose Garden, this is a town “full of 灵气”。But, back to the Conference time, I couldn’t feel any aura surroundings.

The kids are making some new Philipino friends when they start Hip pop dancing. Maria said that her son will keep attending the Portuguese school this summer. Last party we attended in Jan’s house was just like the town we live in. Megan was speaking French for most of the night with A.P. and his mother. Several CBC friends and their mixed kids told us their interest in learning Chinese as a foreign language, and the food was from all over the world…

It was hard to turn down the invitation from China, but maybe it’s time to put other countries on my agenda, since I am already well connected.

Chris wrote from Australia on TARUMOTO Teruo’s 樽本照雄 新編增補清末民初小説目錄, which can be made into a value-added project by librarians. I am glad Harvard colleagues share the same interest. Tarumoto sensei reminds me about those independent scholars at the Conference two weeks ago.

Rudy Chiang’s presentation on BC salmon canneries was fascinating. I figured he must have come up with those questions from his own work as fish quality specialist, like “Who were those 76 Chinese fishermen recorded in New Westminster’s 1881 Census?” “What’s the dollar amount of 1904 canned salmon pack from the Chinese and First Nations crew (1.7 million)?” I could sense his excitement from his findings.

Maurice Guibord’s project on transformations of landscape, architecture and burial practices in local cemeteries is quite different from UBC folks’ projects. He sounded even more exciting when the attendee lady from Cuba asked him question in Spanish. I had a pleasant chat with him at lunch time, and he left after lunch for his Francophone Historical Society event.

It is time to have some reflection on the conference, which now seems to go down in history.