When Siyoung Choi first visited academic libraries in the United States as a tourist several years ago, she wanted to learn more about their operations. As a 2024 Korea Foundation intern at the UC Irvine Libraries, she gained a deeper understanding of how a major American university library operates and contributed her expertise along the way.

Choi, who earned bachelor's degrees in both library and information science and business administration from Ewha Womans University in South Korea, is currently pursuing her master of library and information science (MLIS) degree. She recently completed a 10-month in-person internship at UC Irvine Libraries. Since 2016, UC Irvine Libraries have regularly hosted Korea Foundation interns from South Korea like Choi.

During her international internship, Choi worked in the Libraries’ Collection Strategies department, where she assisted in managing Korean studies materials for both the Korea Corner and the East Asian Collection. This opportunity was ideal given her academic background and professional interests.

"I have a strong interest in diversity and serving marginalized users, and the UC Irvine Libraries are known for their expertise in these areas. Additionally, UC Irvine's excellent Korea collection aligned well with my background as a native Korean and an MLIS student," she explained.

Celebrating a Historical Moment

One of Choi's most meaningful projects in Irvine came at a historic moment for Korean literature when Korean author Han Kang was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Choi curated an exhibit to celebrate the achievement.

"I created a dedicated Research Guide page and designed a display area, which allowed me to learn in detail how library exhibitions are planned and executed," she said.

The project took on further special significance when Choi promoted the exhibition during a special lecture on Han Kang hosted by the UC Irvine Center for Critical Korean Studies.

"It was incredibly rewarding to see how positively faculty and students responded to the materials I created. Most of all, it was deeply meaningful to me that during my internship, a Korean writer received such a historical honor, and I was able to celebrate and share it with the campus community," Choi added.

The exhibition also revealed the depth of UC Irvine's Korea collection.

"When preparing the Han Kang exhibition, I was surprised to discover that the Libraries had already been collecting her works even before she gained international fame with the Booker Prize. That demonstrated the library's genuine commitment, passion, and expertise in Korean literature," she noted.

A Learning Experience

Working with the Korean studies collection has fundamentally shaped Choi's understanding of library work.

"One of my first tasks was to understand the research interests of the Korean studies faculty and graduate students I would be working closely with,” explained Choi. “Through this process, I realized that building a strong collection isn't about selecting what I think is valuable, but about prioritizing the needs of users."

While officially working with Research Librarian for Asian Studies Ying Zhang in the Collection Strategies department, Choi's experience extended far beyond traditional collection work. Zhang provided opportunities for her to collaborate with other teams, including the Student Engagement and Outreach Working Group, where she helped plan events. She also supported one of UC Irvine’s upper-division East Asian Studies writing courses as a teaching assistant and offered reference services.

"Through these collaborations, I came to see that the Libraries not only value individual expertise but actively encourage applying that expertise across different areas to develop fresh perspectives," Choi reflected.

Choi’s internship also revealed striking differences between library practices in Korea and the United States. In Korea, users rarely interact directly with librarians, who tend to focus more on back-end tasks like managing the circulating collection, operations, and event planning.

“But at UC Irvine, librarians are highly engaged with users through reference services, teaching, and public lectures,” observed Choi. “Users are encouraged to approach librarians, and there's an active exchange of expertise."

Expanding Global Perspectives

More than anything however, Choi’s internship provided crucial practical training to complement her academic knowledge. Opportunities to work as a subject specialist librarian are limited in Korea, so it was beneficial for her to gain diverse experience and observe the various services here.

Additionally, the internship significantly expanded Choi's professional vision. Choi’s most significant takeaway from her internship was how much it broadened her perspective.

“Previously, I was primarily interested in Korean libraries and library science. Now, I envision myself working on a more global scale," stated Choi. The experience also boosted her confidence as an international professional, and she now plans to pursue a PhD in informatics to explore how libraries can expand and improve their services.

Zhang, who supervises the Korea Foundation interns, emphasized the mutual benefits of the program. While the interns gain exposure to American academic library practices, the Irvine community is also enriched by the exchange.

"The interns' career and global skills are sharpened while our library and Korean studies communities on campus benefit from the interns' language skills, cultural familiarity, and library and information science backgrounds," said Zhang.

For Choi, the experience represented more than professional development; it was an opportunity to contribute to cross-cultural understanding through library services and to build skills that will serve both her future career and the global communities she'll eventually serve as a librarian specializing in Korean studies.

Photo caption: From left to right, Korea Foundation intern Siyoung Choi, Research Librarian for Asian Studies Ying Zhang, Director of the Korea Foundation Los Angeles Office Changshik Yoon, Endowed University Librarian Lorelei Tanji, and Associate University Librarian for Administrative Services Kevin Ruminson.