The SNU Library

At the heart of many academic institutions lies a library, a place with an abundant collection of resources and materials that propels intellectual discovery. SNU is no different. Opened in 1946, the SNU Library boasts an impressive collection of materials that answers the curiosity of its scholars.

The SNU Library consists of eleven structures, including the Main Building, the Kwanjeong Building, and nine branch libraries across its campuses. The Library has the most extensive collection of materials in Korea, with approximately 5.1 million books, including ancient literature, 210,000 journals, and 260,000 non-book materials. In line with its aim of becoming a knowledge hub that fuels creative thinking and academic excellence, the Library cooperates with various institutions both within Korea and abroad such as Hokkaido University or the Library of Korea’s National Assembly. The support that the Library provides to SNU members, however, is not only limited to its provision of academic material: the Library also hosts a variety of programs and events to offer SNU members a broader source of intellectual inspiration. From unique exhibitions to customized workshops, here are some of the services that the Library provides to SNU members.

LikeSNU: Enhancing Research Efficiency with AI Technology

Starting with research support services, LikeSNU is a big data-based information platform that aims to assist SNU members in navigating the vast array of available materials and finding those that suit their needs. The service was developed and introduced in 2022 and uses AI technology to systematically analyze the big data of SNU members accumulated over the past eight years by the central library system. The analysis is used to provide users with book, journal, and even SNU lecture recommendations that are specifically tailored to their interests. Accessing the recommendation function is simple: enter the LikeSNU website and login using the same username and password information that you use for the SNU central server. The daily recommendations customized for each user are then directly accessible on the homepage.

Today’s Recommendations Suggested by LikeSNU’s Big Data Analysis

Besides the recommendation function, LikeSNU also contains other features that make materials more accessible to SNU members. For example, for those who want to explore current trends in academia, the Knowledge Universe may be useful. This feature allows users to discover popular theme areas within different disciplines among SNU members. Upon selecting a study area, the Knowledge Universe shows users different sub-categories that other users have investigated recently, which can be narrowed down into further sub-categories should the user desire. The system presents various materials that are related to the specified topic area, as well as a simple graph that illustrates the number of dissertations written about the topic area each year according to its database.

The Knowledge Universe Function of LikeSNU, situated on the main page of the LikeSNU website

With its practicality, LikeSNU is recommended to those needing assistance in finding the right resource to help them in their academic endeavors.

Build Research and Dissertation Writing Capabilities with Library Workshops

April’s Library Workshop Series Schedule

The series of workshops hosted by the Library every month is another one of its programs aimed at supporting SNU members in their research and dissertation writing process. The focus of the workshops varies depending on the current needs and demands of SNU members and the ones held in April included topics such as thesis submission preparations and effectively utilizing database platforms such as EBSCOhost. To assist as many students and researchers as possible, the workshop system is both run in real-time and left on record as videos so they can be accessed at any time. The real-time workshops are conducted both in-person and online and are led by SNU’s librarians.

Apart from the monthly series of workshops, the Library also holds various special workshops. These special workshops differ from the regular monthly workshops in that they provide participants with more focused assistance specifically on the discipline area of their dissertation. Using a survey, the demand for certain special workshops is determined and accordingly, professionals knowledgeable about the demanded workshops are invited to run them. The “Senior Researcher Special Lecture: SNUIN’s Research Diary” series, for instance, is a lecture series where researchers who have written their thesis are invited to share their overall experiences researching and writing their dissertation in their respective academic discipline.

Lecture support programs tailored to support certain lectures specifically and the group workshops where participants can request as a group for specific workshops at their preferred time are only some of the other research support workshops that the Library offers. More information on these can be found on the “Library Instruction” page of the SNU Library website.

Fuel Creativity through the Small Exhibition series

The 22nd Small Exhibition - A Sensory Transformation: From Sight to Touch x Enjoying Artwork in a New Way

Recognizing the importance of art and cultural expression in driving forward creativity, the SNU Library also hosts a variety of small but unique exhibitions and galleries. The Small Exhibition series, held in the Kwanjeong Gallery located on the first floor of the Kwanjeong Building, is one such activity. As part of SNU’s “Art and Culture Sharing” program, the Small Exhibition series is an ongoing enterprise where new and rising authors and members of the SNU community can host exhibitions presenting their various artwork, ranging from installations to photography pieces. The exhibitions to be held as part of the Small Exhibition series are selected after careful consideration of their educational and artistic value.

Tactile Artwork presented in the 22nd Small Exhibition

The 22nd Small Exhibition - A Sensory Transformation: From Sight to Touch x Enjoying Artwork in a New Way is the latest addition to the Small Exhibition series. The exhibition, showcasing tactile artwork, was jointly organized by the Barrier Free team of the Seoul National University Social Responsibility (SNUSR) Corps and the S Gallery of the Siloam Center for the Blind. For those interested, it will be open until April 30.

Aside from its established services and programs, the SNU Library also organizes a variety of events that are open for all members of the SNU community to enjoy. To celebrate Korea’s National Library Day, April 12, for instance, the SNU Library arranged several events such as a book give-away and a screening of movies that are based upon novels between April 12 to 18. All in all, the SNU Library is equipped with a diverse array of resources and services that are readily available to help SNU community members in their endeavors and will continue to build upon its capabilities. To access its services and stay up-to-date on its activities, visit the Library’s website.

Written by Yeryoung Lee, SNU English Editor, yeryounglee@snu.ac.kr