‘Window on Korea’ five-year project has been renewed for the third time from 2023-2027

 

 

The Window on Korea project (2013-2017) was initially offered by the National Library of Korea (NLK) to the Bodleian Libraries in 2012. The project involved the creation of a new Korean Studies Library in the basement of Nizami Ganjavi Library together with an A/V seminar room as well as a gift of some 3,000 books from the NLK. A further 200 books a year for the next 5 years were also be donated as part of the project.  Some 5,000 books were also transferred into the Library from other sites.   It offered the opportunity to expand the collection as well as bringing all necessary Korean materials (reference, newspapers, teaching, audio visual, and research materials) into one location at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies where Korean courses are taught.  The open ceremony was held on 21 June 2013 and was attended by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ian Walmsley, Bodleian Librarian Richard Ovenden OBE, members of the Korean teaching staff, members of the Faculty, members of other Faculties, librarians (both external and internal), as well as members of senior staff from other departments of the University. Deputy Director Kim Nam Sook represented the NLK and Director Kim Kab Soo represented the Korean Embassy.

 

The WOK project was renewed for another five years (2018-2022) when Director General Kim of the NLK visited Oxford and signed the MOU with Bodleian Librarian Richard Ovenden OBE in 2018.

Since the refurbished work for the Nizami Ganjavi Library was completed in November 2022, the WOK seminar room has been moved to a much larger room equipped with A/V facilities as well as a large display case showing Korean cultural treasures.  We look forward to collaborating with NLK for the next five years.