Research Division and Affiliation: Social Coexistence, Assistant Professor
Librarian
I am pleased to have joined CSEAS as a librarian in July 2024. While attending university, I studied the religions and cultures of maritime Southeast Asia with great interest. Later, as a librarian at the Institute of Developing Economies, I was responsible for the maritime Southeast Asia collection, with a focus on Indonesia and Malaysia.
At the CSEAS Library, I would like to contribute to research activity in Southeast Asian Studies by collecting, organizing and providing materials while carefully examining the distribution of academic information related to the region. As a librarian specializing in a particular region, it is important not only to be familiar with the publishing and library conditions as well as the research trends in each country, but also to take a broad interest in the politics, economies, social issues and cultures of the region.
In 2018, I had the opportunity to spend one year in Yogyakarta, located in the southern part of Java, Indonesia, which was my first stay abroad. It was an invaluable time, not only to accumulate knowledge and experience related to libraries, but also to immerse myself in the local way of life and social activities. As well as learning about the culture and history of the area through unique foods and traditional festivals and events, I was also exposed to the small customs of everyday life and people’s ideas and concerns. These were experiences that I could not have gained from literature or information on the internet alone.
During my stay, I was also invited by friends from Gadjah Mada University, my host institution, to accompany them on a field survey of tobacco farmers, an experience that left a very strong impression on me. Beginning with the various procedures for carrying out the survey, I was able to witness rural life and small-scale farming activities. Furthermore, while accompanying the local researchers during the survey, I heard about the motivation for their study. Through all of this, I came to firmly believe that learning is not just about gaining data and information.
As many changes, including digitalization, unfold in people’s lives, I often wonder how the things I saw and heard during my stay will transform. While the situation differs from country to country in Southeast Asia, the ongoing digitalization of materials and information in the region is remarkable. As I constantly follow these rapid changes as a librarian, memories from my time in Yogyakarta come to mind. While I cannot deny that I am somewhat nostalgic, I am sure that my experiences of that time will become a great source of inspiration as I continue to deepen my intellectual interests while working in service of the library.
This article is also available in Japanese. >>
新任スタッフ紹介：土佐美菜実
