Korean Government Publications: Untapped Treasure Trove

Myoung C. Wilson

Social Sciences Librarian

Chair, Information Services Group

c/o Alexander Library

Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey

New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1163

email: mywilson@rci.rutgers.edu

A presentation at the annual meeting of the Committee of Korean Materials

Council on East Asian Libraries (CEAL)

Association of Asian Studies

New York, NY,

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Genesis of the Project

Nature of government publications in general Lack of bibliographic control and access

• English speaking countries vs. non-English speaking countries

A reference tool to enhance access to Korean materials for an English speaking audience

Modeled after the 1990 (and 1994) American Library Association project• Guide to Official Publications of Foreign Countries

Research Methodology

Adopted and revised selection criteria from the Guide to

Official Publications of Foreign Countries Data Collection

• Initial identification of titles from the 1998 Catalog of Government Publications

• Shelf reading/browsing at the library of the Korean Government Publishing Office, the National Library of Korea, and the National Assembly Library in Seoul, Korea

North Korean Materials

Types of Government Publications

Three Principal Types of Publications• Statistical Yearbooks (Mostly bilingual -- in Korean and

English) • Yearbooks• White Papers (mostly in Korean)

Publications of “quango” (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organizations)

Access and Dissemination of Government Publications

Different concept of depository libraries

Agency produced indexes and access tools

Lack of private sector engagement in repackaging government publications

Conclusion

Accelerated activities in building digital libraries

Digital libraries will enhance access to government publications regardless of the locations of the four depository libraries -- all located in Seoul

Importance of an open political environment as a stimulant to the production, dissemination and use of government publications