KF뉴스레터-Korean Collection at the University of Toronto (East Asian Library)

Korean Collection at the University of Toronto (East Asian Library)

Korean collections at East Asian libraries serve crucial roles as an outpost and cornerstone of Korean Studies learning and research, as well as a bridge to a better understanding of Korea among the international community. One such outpost is located at the University of Toronto.

Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto consists of three campuses: historic St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. The St. George Campus is situated in the downtown core of Toronto, the capital city of the Province of Ontario, Canada. Recognized as Canada’s leading university and one of the finest educational and research institutions in the world, the University of Toronto includes about 67,000 students and 11,000 faculty and staff, as of 2004.

The University boasts the number one research library in the country and ranks fourth in North America, after Harvard, Yale, and the University of California at Berkeley.

The Korean collection maintains a meaningful position within the institution. The Korean team of the East Asian Library performs diverse activities as facilitators and supporters of Korean Studies scholars and students in their teaching, research, and learning, by providing high-quality information resources and services.

Korean Studies Program at University of Toronto
In 1971, Dr. Ross McDonald (born the son of missionary parents in Hoeryeong-si, Hamgyeongbuk-do) taught the first university’s course on Korea, “Religion in Korean Society” at the Department and Centre for the Study of Religion. In 1977, Dr. Chae-sin Yu offered a course entitled “Introduction to Korean Civilization” at the Department of East Asian Studies. Since its inception, the Korean Studies discipline has grown into an active program, consisting of 2-core faculty, including the present Chair, Dr. Andre Schmid and three lecturers. The Centre for Korean Studies offers the following disciplines: history, religion, anthropology, film, and language.

According to 2003 statistics of the Department of East Asian Studies, some 495 undergraduate students enrolled in classes on Korea at University of Toronto. The number of undergraduate students who have registered for Korean Studies courses has steadily increased over the past few years, which indicates a genuine interest in Korea, and also an indicator of expanding demand for Korean Studies.

Background of Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library
The Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library traces its origins to 1933. The Rev. William C. White, former Anglican Bishop of Henan, China, heard of an outstanding Chinese library for sale. It consisted of about 40,000 volumes collected by scholar Mr. Mu Hsueh Hsun, former secretary at the German Legation in Beijing. Bishop White immediately put in an offer and purchased the library. The Mu Collection reached Toronto in 1935, marking the start of the university’s Chinese collection.

Today, the University of Toronto Library system consists of 32 libraries, including college libraries, special collections, specialized libraries, and information centres. The East Asian Library is one such library. In 1987, Dr. Cheng Yu-tung, Chairman of New World Development Co. Ltd., donated $1.5 million to support the expansion and renovation of the East Asian Library. The Library was renamed Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library to recognize this significant contribution and dedicated support of Dr. Cheng.

The Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library is located on the St. George Campus on the 8th floor of the John P. Robarts Library. With holdings of more than 380,000 volumes, most in the Korean, Chinese and Japanese languages, the Library is a major East Asian Studies research collection in North America. The Cheng Yu Tung Library is divided into three main sections: Korean, Chinese and Japanese.

The Korean section houses a wide range of primary, secondary, and tertiary sources related to Korean Studies. In addition, the Korean team selects, organizes, and makes the collection available to users to promote Korea, and to function as a stepping-stone between Korea and not only Canada, but also the entire world.

Status of the Korean Collection
Currently, the East Asian Library maintains over 25,000 volumes on Korea, including both books and serials (Council on East Asian Libraries Statistics 2002-2003, Association for Asian Studies).

Special efforts have been undertaken in recent years to strengthen the holdings in Korean history, literature, language, political science, Confucianism, and art history. As of 2004, the Library has also begun to focus on additional areas, such as Korean Christianity, North Korea, and Korean Women’s Studies, in order to support the active and rapidly growing Korean Studies teaching and research programs at University of Toronto.

In general, academic libraries in North America use the Library of Congress Classification System (LCCS). The system organizes materials in libraries according to branches of knowledge, or in other words, according to subject areas. The Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library is no exception; however, of special note, the Library has prepared a special space for the Korean collection, designated South Reading Room (SRR), where multi-volume Korean history sets are stored.

In 1997, the University of Toronto was the first institution in Canada to join the Korean Collections Consortium of North America. As a member of the Consortium, the University of Toronto is responsible for acquiring materials on the following areas: Korean intellectual history, Korean fiction and essays (including its history and criticism), military science and history, local and regional governments, and materials on Korea published in Canada. The 10-member Consortium supports Korean Studies teaching and research programs in North America by providing library services to optimize access and use of the Korean Studies collections developed through the Consortium.

With the exception of the Korean Heritage Library at the University of Southern California, Korean collections in North America typically represent less than a 10 percent share of East Asian holdings. This indicates that Korea’s political and economical stature still needs to be improved internationally. Compared to the Chinese and Japanese collections, the Korean collection at University of Toronto is still in a beginning stage due to its belated commencement. However, the Korean library team is striving to accelerate the pace in order to reduce the relative gap.

Not only Korean Studies scholars and students and Korean international students, but also Korean immigrants use the Korean collection daily. However, the Library does not end there. It also endeavors to promote its collections and services to Canadians as well as scholars worldwide.

Korean Section Activities
Using the Collection
The University of Toronto Korean collection catalogue is accessible through the University of Toronto library online catalogue (http://webcat.library.utoronto.ca/) from anywhere in the world. When accessing this page to search for an item, users need to type in the library catalogue search box in Romanized Korean terms (McCune-Reischauer Romanization system). Because this may cause difficulties in searching, the Library is currently working on a system to resolve this issue.

In addition, the Library also provides Romanization classes, reference services, and search instructions for Online Public Access Catalogues (OPAC).

First Digital Archive of Korean Newspapers
At present, the East Asian Library has undertaken a digitization project for two local Korean-language newspapers: Minjoong Shinmoon and The New Korea Times. This effort is being funded by the National Institute of Korean History (NIKH) in Korea. When the project is completed, a digital archive of these newspapers will be available from University of Toronto websites and the NIKH.

Active Exchange Programs
The Cheng Yu Tung Library also acquires materials through exchanges and gifts. It promotes vigorous materials exchange programs with numerous Korean universities and government organizations, including Seoul National University, Korea University, National Defence University, NIKH, the National Assembly, National Library of Korea, and the Academy of Korean Studies.

Contact

Hana Kim, Korean Studies Librarian, Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library
E-mail: hn.kim@utoronto.ca
Phone: 1-416-978-3805

Related Web Sites

University of Toronto
http://www.utoronto.ca/

University of Toronto Libraries
http://www.library.utoronto.ca/

Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library
http://www.library.utoronto.ca/east/index.html

Department of East Asian Studies
http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/eas/

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Korean Collection at the University of Toronto (East Asian Library)

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