Joy Kim (she/her/hers) was the Curator of the Korean Heritage Library (KHL) at the University of Southern California before her retirement in October 2024.
What was your position title and workplace when you worked in East Asian Studies librarianship? How long have you worked there?
I began my career at the University of Southern California in 1985 as a Korean Cataloger. By 1988, I became Team Leader of the CJK Technical Services Team and in 1989, I was named Curator of the Korean Heritage Library (KHL). I continued to serve as CJK Team Leader until 2007 when CJK services were centralized, while also serving as the KHL Curator until my retirement in October 2024. Altogether, I worked for nearly 39 years at USC and retired in October 2024.
How did your journey in working with East Asian libraries and collections begin?
My journey began in Korea, where I majored in Library Science at Ewha Womans University and worked in a college library in Seoul. Then I came to the U.S. for graduate study. While pursuing my MLIS at UCLA, I was fortunate to become a staff member at UCLA Libraries as a copy cataloger. My first professional job was a Japanese Cataloger at the Los Angeles Public Library. Although I enjoyed my work, I missed the academic library environment. When the opportunity arose at USC, I embraced the challenge and accepted the position despite a pay cut. USC has been extremely supportive of my work by providing a generous budget and autonomy to develop the Korean Heritage Library into a premier resource.
What did you enjoy most about your career in East Asian librarianship?
What I valued most about my career in East Asian librarianship was the unique intersection of academic librarianship and my profound connection to my Korean heritage. Working at USC allowed me to channel my passion and pride for Korean culture into advancing the Library’s mission in support of Korean Studies scholarship. This role provided me with a focused sense of purpose, making my work not only fulfilling but also deeply enjoyable.
I truly appreciated the diversity of my responsibilities, which extended far beyond traditional library tasks. From fundraising and organizing impactful events to hosting visitors and nurturing relationships with community members, scholars, and international librarians, every endeavor contributed to the growth and prominence of both the library and Korean Studies. This variety kept my work dynamic and engaging, allowing me to continuously grow.
Drawing from my personal experiences in the field, I authored an article titled “Characteristics of Korean Studies Librarianship,” which was featured in Chapter 7 (pp. 331-338) of the Handbook for Korean Studies Librarianship Outside of Korea, in 2014. This article addresses common questions I receive from aspiring Korean Studies librarians and reflects my commitment to sharing insights and best practices. The opportunity to contribute to the professional development of my peers has been particularly rewarding, showcasing my dedication to advancing the field and supporting future generations of librarians.
What did you regard as your achievements/accomplishments in the field?
As a Korean Studies Librarian, I have been a trailblazer, pioneering and implementing innovative initiatives to advance Korean Studies librarianship. Some of these include establishing the South Korean Approval Plan (1989–), vendor records (2007–2015), the USC Visiting Librarian Program (1993–2022), and spearheading electronic resources initiatives as the Chair of the Korean Collections Consortium of North America (2002). Each of these innovations contributed to expanding access to Korean Studies resources and improving library services both locally and beyond.
One of my most significant accomplishments was my work as Chair of the Committee for Korean Materials (CKM) from 1999–2002. During this time, I recognized the challenges faced by smaller East Asian libraries, many of which lacked dedicated Korean Studies librarians. In response, I mobilized the expertise within CKM to organize the first Workshop on Korean Studies Librarianship in 2000. This initiative served as a model for subsequent similar workshops and led to the publication of Korean Librarianship Outside of Korea: A Practical Guide and Manual in 2002. This guide, affectionately called the “Korean Studies Librarianship bible” by loyal users, proved invaluable to many institutions for over a decade until the CKM published a new edition, Handbook for Korean Studies Librarianship Outside of Korea, in 2014. These efforts played a critical role in helping smaller collections enhance their Korean Studies resources and services across North America.
I am also proud to have been elected as the first Asian female President of the Council on East Asian Libraries (CEAL), and to have been awarded the National Order of Civil Merit by the President of South Korea in 2011.
What changes or trends in East Asian librarianship have you witnessed?
You might find it amusing that when I first started at USC in 1985, I created library cards by hand because the American computers back then couldn’t process East Asian scripts. At the time, East Asian librarianship was very much a niche field, largely disconnected from mainstream library technology. Over the course of my career, I’ve witnessed incredible transformations—from handwritten cards to the development of RLIN CJK, OCLC CJK, the adoption of Unicode, and the widespread introduction of electronic and digital resources, and now, the AI.
What’s remarkable is how rapidly the field has evolved. The pace of transformation in East Asian librarianship has been staggering, and today, the field is at the forefront of library innovation. I’ve seen it shift from being a niche area to one brimming with opportunities for leadership, creativity, and impactful change. As East Asia has emerged as a global powerhouse, economically, culturally, and politically, East Asian Librarians are well situated to play an integral and leading role in the world of academic librarianship.
Tell us about your favorite book or series:
Lately I’ve grown fond of audiobooks, especially when it comes to classics. Recently, I’ve listened to all the available Tolstoy works in Korean audio and have since moved on to Charles Dickens. After finishing Great Expectations, I’m now immersed in A Tale of Two Cities. My next reading project will focus on the works of Han Kang, the first Asian female Nobel Laureate. A few years ago, I read The Vegetarian in English when it won the Man Booker International Prize, but now I want to read it in the original Korean. I was thrilled to discover that all her books are currently checked out from the USC Korean Heritage Library, so I’m heading to the bookstore today to start my own collection.
Tell us some fun facts about you:
I love foraging for edible plants right in my own garden. Instead of planting a traditional vegetable garden from commercial seeds, I love the adventure of discovering and nurturing wild plants that naturally spring up in my yard. Some of my favorite finds are dandelion leaves, leeks, wild sesame, mugwort (쑥), and pigweed (비름나물), which I find far tastier than spinach! Foraging has taught me to be resourceful and patient, though it does come with its risks. I once had a close call when I accidentally picked a poisonous plant, mistaking it for an edible one, but that didn’t deter my enthusiasm. It’s all part of the learning process!
