Southeast Asia curator and associate professor dies

May Kyi Win, associate professor and curator of the Donn V. Hart Southeast Asia Collection in the Northern Illinois University Libraries, died Feb. 23 at her home in DeKalb. She was 54. A member of the library faculty since 1990, Win was the only native Burmese curator in the United States. During her tenure at the University Libraries, she contributed to the Burmese collection and the Mainland Southeast Asia collection through her expertise in languages and her knowledge of the literature of the region.

May Kyi Win

"She will be long remembered for her selfless service to others," said Richard Cooler, director of the Center for Burma Studies. "Her deep sense of charity extended to all things, both great and small. The library that she so loved will never be the same without her expert assistance, warm presence and charitable spirit."

Win adopted her niece and brought her to America from Burma for proper schooling and also opened her home for lodging and provided food for participants in Burma Studies conferences, he noted.

The Burmese collection is considered the world's largest and best collection outside of Burma. In addition to her duties as collection development and reference librarian in the Southeast Asia collection, she was the chief cataloger of Burmese language materials.

"May Kyi Win worked tirelessly to improve the collection, to secure additional funding and to provide first-rate service. Her passing is an immeasurable loss to the University Libraries, the NIU community and international scholarship," added Arthur P. Young, dean of University Libraries.

She will be remembered as a kind and willing mentor to students, a user-centered reference librarian and as a person of strong faith and high moral character, said colleagues.

Win was the author of two books, "Historical Dictionary of Thailand" with Harold E. Smith and "Historical Dictionary of the Philippines" with Artemio R. Guillermo. She was working on a revised edition of the Thai dictionary at the time of her death.

Win is survived by her father, U Aung Thein; siblings in Burma, Pyone Pyone Maw, May Kyi Lay, Han Sein, May Kyi Ihawy and Hla Han; and her niece, Soe Soe Nyein.