The University of Hong Kong Libraries
The University of Hong Kong Libraries is an essential part of the educational facilities provided to you by the University. The Libraries lends itself to the three pillars of the University's vision for Teaching and Learning, Research, and Knowledge Exchange through its outstanding resources, people-centred services as well as its innovative and collaborative approaches.
The Libraries consists of the Main Library and six branch libraries, namely the Dental Library, Fung Ping Shan Library, Lui Che Woo Law Library, Music Library, Tin Ka Ping Education Library, and the Yu Chun Keung Medical Library. Of scholarly interest is Special Collections which houses a unique collection of Hong Kong materials, rare books, pamphlets, and microforms.
History and Facts
Established in October 1912 and located in two rooms in The University of Hong Kong’s Main Building with a floor area of about 288 square meters plus a small Medical section in the Pathology Building.
Fung Ping Shan Library was established in 1932 as the University's Chinese library through a generous donation by the late Mr Fung Ping Shan. Construction of the library began in 1929. It was completed three years later and was officially opened on 14 December 1932 by Sir William Peel, then Governor of Hong Kong. In 1961, Fung Ping Shan Library moved into the Main Library building and, with the consent of the Fung Family, the original library premises were converted into the Fung Ping Shan Museum.
Facilities
The Libraries offers a conducive environment for study, research, and knowledge exchange. HKU Campus Wi-Fi services are available throughout the Libraries connecting patrons to the HKU network and to a number of printers in the Libraries. Scanners are also available and payment for the peripheral usage can easily be made by using uPrint.
The Libraries have steadfastly been meeting the ever-changing needs of the digital world. To engage our patrons with the next level of digital technology, the Libraries created the new Ingenium to complement Level 3, the learning common style facility. Located on the 2/F of the Main Library, the Ingenium is an interdisciplinary space for the University community to be inspired by and to interact with some of the latest technologies.
Think Tank is located on the G/F of the Main Library. After entering the Ground Floor Ancillary Entrance/Exit and just past the gates, patrons will initially enter the Social Space and Leisure Study Space. As patrons venture pass the Leisure Study space, the Think Tank emerges. The Think Tank is comprised of the Quiet Study Space and the Deep Quiet Study Space, the Special Collections Joseph Needham Room, and the Seminar Room.
The Libraries also provides a great variety of spaces suitable for different learning styles, including reflective self-study as well as collaborative study. For more convenience, book a space before visiting the Libraries.
Library Orientation and Workshops
Mastering the necessary research skills is crucial to your learning process. Library essentials for Undergraduate Students
is a self-paced online course aiming to familiarize first-year students with the information resources and the library facilities and services in support of their learning and research. Enrollment of the course begins in mid-August. Upon completion, students are able to win a free certificate. In your academic journey, honesty is the foundation of your pursuit of knowledge. You are therefore strongly encouraged to join the online course Information Literacy Training: Academic Honesty, through which you will learn how to cite properly and avoid plagiarism in order to acknowledge the work of others. Synchronous library workshops and hours are also offered to complement students’ self-learning. Registration is available online.
Resources
The Libraries provides a wide range of information resources including a comprehensive collection of books, journals, audio-visual materials and a rapidly expanding collection of article databases, e-books, e-journals, e-news. You can access them via FIND@HKUL on the library homepage and with the Mobile@HKUL app anywhere, anytime.
You are also entitled to request resources that are not available at the Libraries from other local and overseas institutions through Interlibrary Loan service.
Borrowing
Current students and staff are entitled to borrow books for up to sixty days or more. You can check your borrowing privileges for other Library materials here. The Libraries’ Inter-branch Delivery service provides the convenience of requesting library material be delivered to Main Library or any of the three branch libraries, namely Dental Library, Lui Che Woo Law Library and Yu Chun Keung Medical Library. Returning of library material can also be done at the Main Library or any of the three branch libraries or at one of three 24/7 Automated Book Returns located at the Main Library, the Lui Che Woo Law Library and the Yu Chun Keung Medical Library.
Library material can be renewed and requested online at Find@HKUL. You can also view and manage your Library account online at MyAccount@HKUL via the Library's website or using the Mobile@HKUL app.
Knowledge Exchange at HKU Scholars Hub
With the University’s emphasis on Knowledge Exchange, research details are made known and visible to allow those in government, industry, and academia to find an expert at The University of Hong Kong for contract and collaborative research, media comment, supervision of postgraduate students, etc. The University Libraries has developed an Exchange Hub, namely, the HKU Scholars Hub with author profiles (ResearcherPage) of each of its professoriate staff.
Contacts