Kristina Dy-Liacco is Librarian at Latse Contemporary Tibetan library. Kristina is also responsible for much the programming and event organisation at Latse, most recently she brought the acclaimed Tibetan director Pema Tseden to New York, where his new film screened at MOMA for a week long run. She holds an MA in Tibetan Studies from the University of Indiana.
Interview with Kristina Dy-Liacco
Could you tell me a little about your role at Latse?
I generally oversee the management of the collection with Gen Pema la, we work together in acquisitions, ctaloguing, special collections, promotion, public programming and publiclations in the form of the Latse journal.
Could you tell me about your background in Tibetan studies?
I have an MA in Tibetan Studies from the University of Indiana, after which I pursued another MA in Library sciences.
Do you engage with library patrons on a day to day basis?
Yes, definitely. We have a good mix of patrons. There are lots of Columbia students, students from the New School, NYU, anybody with an interest in Tibet. Lots of Tibetan studies scholars make it a point to stop by Latse if they are passing through New York. We also have lots of visitors from the local Tibetan community too. Although we are a non-lending library, we are a public library and we welcome any potential visitors.
You do events too of course?
Yes we have all kinds of events, that attract more than an average library patron. Film screenings, exhibitions, and more!
I know you organised Pema Tseden’s visit to New York recently. Could you tell us a little more about Pema and his time in New York?
We’ve had a relationship with Pema for a long time. As I’m sure you know Latse was an initiative of Trace Foundation. Trace actually provided the initial grant that allowed Pema to attend the Beijing film Academy where he received his cinematic training. In that sense, it was so brilliant to have Pema in New York. We are always interested in entering into partnerships to promote Pema’s work and the week long run he had at MOMA was super exciting.
Do you have memories of favourite event?
Let me think. A lecture on the postal history of Tibet. These days not so many people seem interested in stamp collecting but it’s remarkable to see how much something so small can reflect the course of history. Tibet did have their own stamps and their own postal system. For example when did it become a Chinese territorial stamp? Hearing about modern Tibetan history through the sense of the postage stamp was innovative and went beyond the traditional academic lecture.
Lastly what’s the best way for a Columbia student, who might not know Tibetan, to make use of the library?
We of course have tons of English language material as well as archival sources that are more material history than literature. I just recommend that students get in touch and come down. Gen Pema la and I are both happy to receive visitors!