Library Resources for Arts & Sciences Faculty

Is there a recent acquisition in your collections that you're especially excited about?

Since I joined our library team toward the end of the fiscal year 2025, I have been compiling a wishlist for acquisitions for the upcoming fiscal year. I’m really excited to see these books becoming part of our collection soon. Among them, I’d like to mention Haebangch'on ŭi ch'aesikjuŭija [The Vegetarian of Haebangchon]. This book from Korea is an essay collection by Bum Sun Jun, Dartmouth alum in History, Class of 2014.
Although leisure readings like essays are rarely acquired here, I’m planning to pay more attention to original publications by Dartmouth alumni in vernacular languages, going forward. Bum Sun was a Korean student who came to the U.S. to study at Dartmouth. While this book isn’t solely about his time here, I imagine Dartmouth is present in his reflections on life more than it may appear on the surface. He describes Dartmouth as a milestone that “raised issues of identity politics and minority liberation” for him. It’s wonderful to see that our Dartmouth community’s works are being collected and archived back to our library. I think it’s another form of homecoming. And I am honored to work with this meaningful cycle.

What's your favorite place you've visited?

I loved Egypt! When I was twenty, I visited a friend in Cairo and spent a few days with her. Then we spontaneously chose to take a train to Alexandria. We went to a library in the city. There was this humongous stone facade, shaped like a scroll, carved with words from different languages. We wandered inside and marveled at the size of the library. They seemed to have way too many holdings and exhibits for a municipal library. Spending hours there still wasn’t enough to explore the entire library! 

It was only a few years later while pursuing archival studies that I discovered the significance of this place. This legendary, ancient library, and possibly the earliest research institution recorded in human history, held a collective preservation of knowledge in history and is known as the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. (And also that the current Bibliotheca Alexandrina I visited was newly built to hold the spirit of the original cornerstone.) 

Forgive the enthusiasm, but, in hindsight, this spontaneous, impromptu getaway was actually an early sign of my future to become a librarian. 

What's your favorite outdoor activity?

I enjoy hiking and taking a moment to enjoy the view. Or, I simply enjoy sitting on the beach and listening to the waves (and not because I can’t swim (wink))- it’s just my happy place!

Tell us about a movie or TV show you like, or one that you're currently watching. 

I am deeply fond of the stories that reflect on and celebrate ordinary human life. For this very reason, I enjoyed watching When Life Gives You Tangerines and The Good Place on Netflix.