• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.81-108
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• 2019

This research has investigated the perceptions of subject specialization services and the opinions of students majoring in library and information science preparing for librarianship, librarians operating in the field, and library directors on the status and ways of nurturing subject specialization for librarians, among others. To this end, based on the results of previous research and the survey questionnaire analysis, we have presented a policy to train subject librarians. First, we have proposed a plan for systematizing the current educational system within the department of library and information science. We have also suggested ways to secure subject expertise based on curriculum management, minor programs, multi-major programs, and interdisciplinary major programs based on the standard curriculum model. Second, we have presented a subject specialization educational system for field librarians, and further suggested details for the development of an educational program that can help build subject expertise and the operation of educational methods as well as the personnel in charge of implementing the educational programs. Third, we have proposed institutionalization of the qualifications of the subject librarian where the qualification requirements have been organized considering academic background, major program, library career, and career experience in the subject specialization service, further suggesting the implementation and maintenance of the system.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.159-178
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• 2008

As social institution, the public libraries in changing social environment are required to adopt a more systematic and efficient managerial strategy, only to function properly and to achieve the given goal. In this context, the specialization of the public libraries means the provision of information and library services through differentiation and focus strategy, and should be realized for the efficient library management. In order to examine the specialization of the public libraries in Korea, this study builds the theoretical background of the specialization of the public libraries, looks into the current situation of the public libraries, investigates and analyzes the specialization of the public libraries in terms of information and library services, and suggests some recommendation for improvement. By so doing this study aims at enhancing our understanding of the specialization of the libraries as a whole.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.241-271
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• 2017

The present study investigates domestic and foreign cases of library specialization, and specialization policies, areas, and effects in order to delineate future directions for research on the subject. The results of the study indicated that library specialization policies have been implemented in Korea and other countries. In Korea, a short-term policy was implemented in 1998, designating 13 special libraries, nine of which are currently in operation. Regarding types and directions of specialization, specialization of collections was found in many cases. Regional representative libraries were also found to have designated specific subjects they focus individually in terms of collections and services while providing services in subject areas. The future directions include research in qualifications and competence of professionals employed in special libraries, and in user satisfaction and needs to inform libraries' efforts for specialization.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.151-178
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to discuss the developmental direction of public library specialization by investigating the library specialization and the perception and opinions on the theme specialized librarians. A total of 69 directors have responded to the survey, and the main result was that while there are difficulties in terms of manpower and budget in providing the specialization services, they have been fully aware of the need and value of the libraries' specialized services and were willing to maintain and develop the services in the future. In addition, more than half of the respondents said that the provision of specialized services and the placement of theme specialized librarians at the public libraries are essential. The qualification for the theme specialized librarians was said to be higher than a master's degree and 4 to 7 years or longer of relevant work experience and must be managed as a national qualification system. Based on these results, suggestions were made that the discussions of the specialization service comprised of the training system for specialized librarians, the establishment and operation of the theme specialized librarian qualification system, and the cooperation with the theme related organizations for the qualitative improvement of the specialization service, among others.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.173-197
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• 2004

It is searched that 56 out of 185 university libraries(30.2%) has adopted 'subject specialization' organization. This 'subject specialization' emerged when university libraries began to care about their users and services for them more than other factors in planning and structuring their organization. The number of university libraries which try to adopt that organization has been continuously increasing. To settle 'subject specialization' in the university libraries under Korea's proper condition and to maximize its effect, each library should consider one's own conditions and step the reasonable procedure in adopting that system. Considering the similar condition which the university libraries in Korea face such as shortage of material support, 'Mixed Model of subject specialization" is reasonable, which means in whole structure of library function-oriented organization is adopted and in Reference Service, subject specialization is adopted. However, the ideal and final destination of Korea's university libraries is the adoption of 'Full subject specialized model": it can be reached when they are supported by sufficient human resources and good conditions.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.97-123
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• 2008

Subject specialized services are introduced in library environment in order to meet users' needs, which become more specialized, characterized, and personalized. This concept dates back to the 1960 in Korean scholarly research, and previous studies revealed that many libraries in Korea have provided this kind of subject specialized services to library users. This study aimed to consider appropriate directions of subject specialization in Korea. This study examined seven library cases the structure of which is organized by subject specialization. It tried to give a good grasp of background of building up the subject specialization system, current state of the service and its effects, problems and challenges of operating the system, recruitment and training issues of subject specialist librarians, their duties and tasks, and so on. Also Announcements of academic subject specialist positions in Korea are compared to in other countries such as United States, UK, and Canada in order to analyze the demand for subject specialist librarians.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.26
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• pp.205-234
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• 1997

Special Libraries are not the organizations established and administered by the Library and Reading Promotion Law, but the ones organized to provide necessary knowledge and information required in the works performed by the staff of organizations. The goal of special libraries is to provide the information and materials required by the parent organizations, preferably, at the right time and in the right form. In accordance with the specialization of social structure, the number of special library has been increasing. Especially, industries need industrial information in their introduction of new management techniques and in the processes of technical development, so special libraries attached to industries have remarkably been increased. Special libraries, along with academic libraries, are the organizations providing necessary materials for the specialists who are producing knowledge of every field in the society. However, apart from academic libraries, the organizations, manpower, works, collections and services of special libraries have not been properly investigated and known. This research has tried to identify if those factors are provided for propose services. The result shows which factors are fulfilled enough or which ones need enforcement.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.91-111
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• 2018

This study was carried out on specialized library librarians to investigate the status and overall satisfaction of specialized services and to compare the degree of importance and satisfaction of specialized subject data, specialized service places, specialization programs, specialized subject area facilities and environment based on ISA technique in order to derive problems and improvement measures for the operation of specialized libraries. As results, first, it was found that a specialized library subject should be selected based on the characteristics, history, and resources of the library location as well as based on the demand survey of the local residents and users. Second, based on the appropriate program type of specialized subject and the results from users' demand surveys, specialized libraries should develop different types of experience-type, lecture-type, view-type and the likes. Third, specialized library space types can be divided into integrated type, independent-in-integration type, and independent type. Even though it is most ideal to provide independently specialized space, the space must be constructed considering the circumstances and subject of specialization of each library. Fourth, specialized libraries should have at least one dedicated specialist in the corresponding subject. Dedicated specialists should provide lending and reference services related to the specialization such as tidying, browsing, reading and operating specialized programs. And a dedicated specialist must be an expert in the specialized subject and also a librarian who is responsible of the general library operation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.17
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• pp.161-201
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• 1989

1. Introduction Korean society is moving toward an information society in 2000. At present a few Korean libraries are computerized and networks between libraries have yet to be formed. And there is no study done on the computerization of the Korean libraries. Therefore, this study will attempt to find elements that influence the computerization of Korean libraries. This research is composed of the following three parts. 1) Survey on the present status of computerized Korean libraries. 2) The influencing factors for Korean library computerization on the level of organization. 3) The relationship between professionalism and the access to the computer information on the level of librarians. 2. Hypothesis The basic hypothesis of this research is from the theory of the innovation of organization by Moch. He found that the size of the organization, specialization of the staffs, the task differentiation, and decentralization of decision making were the underlying influence for the organizational innovation. From this theory, hypothesis were formulated as follows. 1) The size of the library influences the library computerization. 2) Specialization of the librarians influences the library computerization. 3) Differentiation of the library services influences the library computerization. 4) The decision making process influences the library computerization. 3. Collection of the data Questionnaires were sent to 21 computerized libraries among which were 8 experimental group and 7 other controlled group libraries. Data were collected from April to July 1988. 4. Findings 1) The present status of Korean library computerization. -Korean libraries are computerized mostly in cataloguing. -The computer technology gate-keepers are mainly librarians. -The computerization budgets are not specifically allocated or funded by the organization but librarians made decisions to allocate library budget for the computer application. Gradually, more libraries are being funded specially for library computerization. 2) Factors that influence library computerization. -The size of the western books and the number of western periodical subscription influence the library computerization. -The number of annual book increase influences library computerization. -The number of annual book use influences library computerization. -The number of annual library users does not influences library computerization. - The size of the library budget influences the library computerization. -Librarian's specialization influences the library computerization. -Differentiation of library service influences the library computerization. Information service is positively related to the library computerization while data service is not related to the library computerization. -Decentralization of decision making in library service influences the library computerization.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.245-270
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate and analyze actual cases of specialized libraries which are increasing in number due to the influence of the local government policy and the specialization-oriented social atmosphere and to explore the development direction of specialized libraries in the future. In order to do that, the distributions, collections, facilities, professional manpower, programs, and services of the libraries providing specialized services were investigated and analyzed. A total of 55 libraries were analyzed and the implications and proposed policy directions based on the analysis are as follows. First, when selecting a specialized subject, the library should consider the local resources, local identity, local brands and demand of local residents. Second, specialized collections should be related to the specialized topic, and the number of specialized collections should be more than 10,000, but the proportion of specialized collections compared to the total collections should also be considered. Third, the design of space should consider the specialized subject, taking into account that required spaces and types are different depending on the type of specialized subject. Fourth, Specialized libraries should have specialists from the specialized area and the role of universities and librarian education institutes seem to be critical for cultivating specialized personnel. Fifth, the program type implemented by specialized libraries should be appropriately selected and operated from the program types of view-type, event-type, lecture-tepe, experience-type and contest-type, based on the specialized subject.