Interview with MJ Han

I had the opportunity to conduct a interview of MJ Han during the Mortenson Associates Program. MJ Han is a currently a Professor and the Head of Acquisitions and Cataloging Services unit at the University of illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Library.

  1. Tell me a little about yourself, and your career to date

My name is Myung-Ja K. Han, and I am currently a Professor and the Head of Acquisitions and Cataloging Services unit at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Library. I have been working for the UIUC Library for the last 15 years.

I have not imagined where I am now when I started the Library School in 2003. After graduating from the library school, I was fortunate to be hired as a Visiting Metadata Librarian to support the grant funded project and learned everything I needed to know to become a metadata librarian during my first year on the job. Then I applied and became the first tenure track Metadata Librarian. With great support and help from the library and colleagues, I was pulled into several key grant projects and initiatives that helped me to be successful as a librarian and a researcher. I would like to stress that

  • I’m interested in pursuing a Master’s or Doctoral degree. Would you mind giving me some insight on how I should be preparing to pursue those goals?

Masters and doctoral programs require different sets of qualifications. If you want to go to the master’s program simply to become a librarian, what you need is a statement outlined a reason why you want to become a librarian. If you have a clear track in mind, such as school librarian, academic librarian, data librarian, or public librarian, then that would be helpful.

The doctoral program requires evidence of research (a couple of publications or presentations) or at least the research ideas that you want to pursue as the school matches you with a faculty member in the area you are interested. This also means that you must research which faculty members are available in certain schools that you want to work with. The interviews with those faculty members are usually one of the admission processes.

However, in both cases, a well-written personal statement (cover letter) is very important.

  • What advice would you give young librarians?
  1. Always be curious and find something new to pursue while doing the work that was given to you. It is you who will make your own work fun, interesting and important to others.
  2. Do not be afraid of making mistakes. We learn so much by making mistakes. Most mistakes are repairable.
  3. Do not be afraid of asking questions or help. People understand you more and appreciate your willingness to be open and learn.
  4. Be a good collaborator that will make you go further and far. There are so many things you can do as a good member of the team that also lead you to become a leader.
  • Are there any skills and advice you would suggest to someone in their mid-career who has lead a team and add value to their organization?
  1. Before accepting the position, think about whether the role suits with your personality, and understand the team and the people.
  2. You have to ‘get’ the value that your team can bring to the organization, then keep talking about it with your team, so everyone understands it and buys in.
  3. Listen first and talk later. Give everyone a change to talk about their mind, thoughts, and ideas, so they feel that they are a part of the team, not simply following. But at the same time, you have to show that you are a strong leader not swayed by everyone’s opinion. However, also, you have to show that you are brave enough to admit your mistakes and correct the course when it is needed.
  4. Be consistent. There is always a policy and rule. Stick to the principle.
  5. HR is your friend. If you have any questions, seek out their guidance.
  6. Build allies – Talk about your thoughts, problems, challenges with your boss or other mid managers. At least one person surely has experienced the same and will share what they have learned with you.
  • If you don’t mind me asking, what are your plans for the future?

Come to think of it, I have not had any professional goals in mind. I call myself an accidental librarian as I have not had any plans to get here. I worked hard, as any other Asians do, and fortunately I met a great group of people who embraced me and valued my work. So I am hoping that I can be that someone, like my colleagues, who can pave the way for any new willing librarians while keeping finding new ways of doing technical services work.  

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