The Enquiries Counter is located on the 2/F of the Main Library New Wing and the registration service is available until 30 minutes prior to closing. The Enquiries Counter handles the following library card applications (except HKU staff and student cards issued by the Registry): 

 

Eligible HKU SPACE Adjunct Lecturers, Adjunct Associate Professors or Part-time Tutors will be issued one-year Borrower's Card as indicated on the library card application letters and it will be valid for the duration of your contract. Application can be made online or at Enquiries Counter on the 2/F of the Main Library (New Wing). 

• Please bring along the following documents for application in person:
  • HKID card or Passport
  • A passport size photograph
  • A notification letter for library access from HKU SPACE Registry
  • Facilities Access Card (if any)
• Application fee
  • HK$50 for the University-levied smart card fee (waived if you already possess a facilities access card)
  • Cost of replacement: A fee of $150 will be levied for the replacement of lost or damaged card.

 

Eligible HKU SPACE Part-time students will receive a library card application letter from your program office. Type of access (Borrower’s or Reader’s cards) and card validity will vary depending on programs or courses. If you wish to upgrade your membership, please contact your program coordinator before submitting the application. Application can be made online or at Enquiries Counter on the 2/F of the Main Library (New Wing). 

• Please bring along the following documents for application in person:
  • HKID card or Passport
  • A passport size photograph 
  • A notification letter on library card application
  • Facilities Access Card (if any)
• Application fee
  • Cost of replacement: A fee of $150 will be levied for the replacement of lost or damaged card.

 

HKU Graduates may either apply for (i) Circle of Friends (Platinum), (ii) Borrower or (iii) Reader with different library privileges: 

Category	Application fee	Validity	Library privilege
Circle of Friends (Platinum)	$550 (Annual fee)	1 year	48 Books + 6 AV items	Remote access to selected e-resources (Alumni e-Library)
Borrower	Deposit HK$1000 (Refundable) + $50	5 years *	12 Books + 6 AV items	On-site access to e-resources
	BEA HKU Graduate Credit Card + $50	Same as the expiry date of the Credit Card
Reader	$100	5 years *	On-site reading	On-site access to e-resources

* The privileges are renewable upon confirmation of valid contact details on or before the date of expiry 

Note:

(i) The regular Graduate Borrower’s card and Graduate Reader’s card do not carry remote access privileges to electronic resources. Please consider joining HKUL Circle of Friends for remote access to SELECTED electronic resources. Access to these resources may also be changed by the vendors or HKUL without prior notice.
 

(ii) Some of the licensed e-resources are restricted to current HKU staff, students and/or SPACE users. View details of e-resources access at http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/ER/. 

 

Circle of Friends Platinum Card

Cardholders can enjoy remote access to selected e-resources available at Electronic Resources Alumni e-Library with borrowing privileges. Application can be made online or at Enquiries Counter on the 2/F of the Main Library (New Wing). For more membership information, please refer to Circle of Friends or call 2859-8903.

• Please bring along the following documents for application in person:
  
  • HKID card or Passport
  • A passport size photograph
  • A proof of graduation (e.g. certificate of graduation, transcript, testimonial)
  • A cheque or credit card for payment
• Application fee
  
  • HK$550 for annual fee
  • Cost of replacement: A fee of $150 will be levied for the replacement of lost or damaged card.

 

Graduate Borrower's Card

Card Holders will be entitled to borrowing privileges of up to 12 books and 6 audio-visual items at any time. Application for the Graduate Borrower's Card can be made online or at Enquiries Counter on the 2/F of the Main Library (New Wing) with a refundable deposit of $1,000. This deposit can be waived if you hold a HKU Graduate Credit Card issued by Bank of East Asia, and your Borrower's Card will be valid as long as the Credit Card remains so. For more information, please send email to libcir@hku.hk or call 3917-5945.

• Please bring along the following documents for application in person:
  
  • HKID card or Passport
  • A passport size photograph
  • A proof of graduation (e.g. certificate of graduation, transcript, testimonial)
  • ATM transaction advice / BEA HKU Graduate Credit Card (Please get payment instruction for library deposit from Enquiries Counter)
• Application fee
  
  • HK$50 for the University-levied smart card fee
  • Cost of replacement: A fee of $150 will be levied for the replacement of lost or damaged card.

 

Graduate Reader's card

To get on-site access to library resources, graduates have to pay HK$50 for the University-levied smart card fee and a processing fee of HK$50. Application can be made online or at Enquiries Counter on the 2/F of the Main Library (New Wing). For more information, please send email to libcir@hku.hk or call 3917-5945.

• Please bring along the following documents for application in person:
  • HKID card or Passport
  • A passport size photograph
  • A proof of graduation (e.g. certificate of graduation, transcript, testimonial)
• Application fee
  • HK$100 for the University-levied smart card fee & processing fee
  • Cost of replacement: A fee of $150 will be levied for the replacement of lost or damaged card.

 

Members of the community are welcome to join the University of Hong Kong Circle of Friends which is a group of friends and book lovers who support the Libraries. To be part of the HKUL community, you may either apply for a (i) Platinum card (HKU/SPACE Graduate only), (ii) Gold card (Borrower) or (iii) Silver card (Reader) to enjoy the privilege of reading Electronic resources (Alumni e-library) or borrowing from our libraries and other benefits like electronic newsletter of the Libraries, invitation to talks, exhibitions and special events. Application can be made via online or at Enquiries Counter on the 2/F of the Main Library (New Wing). For more membership information, please refer to Circle of Friends or call 2859-8903.

• Please bring along the following documents for application in person:
  • HKID card or Passport for individual user
  • A passport size photograph for individual user
  • A proof of graduation (for graduates only)
  • A cheque or credit card for payment
  • Facilities Access Card (if any)
• Application fee
  • Membership categories in Circle of Friends:
    • HKU Graduate (Platinum) - $550
    • SPACE Graduate (Gold/Platinum) - $1,650 / $2,200
    • Centennial College Graduate (Gold) - $1,650
    • External Individual (Silver/Gold) - $1,650 / $3,300
    • Non-profit institution (Silver/Gold) - $1,650 / $3,300
    • Corporation (Gold) - $6,600
  • Cost of replacement: A fee of $150 will be levied for the replacement of lost or damaged card.

 

Scholars and full-time students of overseas universities with a bona fide research need are in general given on-site access to the library without borrowing rights for a maximum of 3 consecutive months within one academic year. Access is granted for research requiring unique Library materials that are not available elsewhere. 

Please note that part-time students of overseas universities, as well as external students of distance learning programmes, are not eligible for this privilege. 

• Services available to visitors
  • On-site access to library collections and e-resources without borrowing privileges
  • Use of HKU free Wi-Fi
  • Access to printing, scanning and photocopying facilities
    • Library users can purchase or top up printing units at any Add Value Machines with an Octopus card in the Libraries. The cost is HK$3 for 10 units or HK$30 for 100 units.
    • All uPrint printing units are NOT refundable. Library users are advised to purchase the printing units as required (minimum HK$3/transaction).
• ​Before your visit
  • Overseas visitors who wish to apply for access should send an email to libcir@hku.hk in advance with the supporting documents and information:
    • A referral letter from your institution
    • List of HKU Library materials required (Check the availability of library materials at Find@HKUL)
    • Date and duration of visit
    • Staff or student identification
• How to register
  • ​Approved visitors should approach the Enquiries Counter at the 2/F entrance of Main Library and present the following documents for verification. 
    • HKID card or Passport
    • Staff or student identification
    • A referral letter from your institution

 

Users with genuine academic research needs and endorsement from HKU faculties or departments may apply for a borrower’s or reader’s card for entering the libraries.

• Visiting scholars (including holders of honorary appointments without staffing record)
• Occasional and Visiting students

 

External borrower’s or reader’s card is issued to visiting scholars or fellows who do not receive an employee ID (known as staff number) and are visiting from other academic institutions for the purpose of short-term instruction and research.

The Libraries offer free access without borrowing privileges for a visit of a maximum of three months. To grant a longer period of access, you are invited to consider the following service categories:

Category	Application fee	Library privilege
Borrower	Refundable Deposit HK$1000 + $50	12 Books + 6 AV items	Remote access to HKU e-resources
Reader	$50	On-site reading	On-site access to e-resources

Note:

(i) Some of the licensed e-resources are restricted to current HKU staff, students and/or SPACE users. View details of e-resources access at http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/ER/. 

 

Sponsoring or requesting HKU departments / academic units should provide a letter presenting the necessary information to obtain access. The letter must be written on departmental letterhead, contain an introduction for the visitor(s) and indicate the duration of access.

• Please bring along the following documents for application in person:
  • A referral letter issued by HKU departments or academic units
  • HKID card or Passport
  • A passport size photograph
  • A pay-in-receipt as proof of deposit (Please get payment instruction for library deposit from Enquiries Counter)
  • Facilities Access Card (if any)
• Application fee
  • HK$50 for the University-levied smart card fee
  • Cost of replacement: A fee of $150 will be levied for the replacement of lost or damaged card.

 

 

Students from abroad who are not regarded as formal students of the University of Hong Kong or take courses organized by HKU faculties or departments on a credit basis are classified as occasional students. Meanwhile, students from abroad who carry out internship or join summer programmes in HKU are classified as visiting students.

Occasional and visiting students are eligible to apply for temporary Borrower’s or reader’s cards with monthly standard fees. The Libraries offer free access without borrowing privileges for a visit of a maximum of three months. To grant a longer period of access, you are invited to consider the following service categories:

Category		Application fee	Library privilege
Occasional student Student from other universities enrolled in short-term programmes (or electives courses/credits) organized by HKU faculties/departments	Borrower (For a period up to 12 months)	$136 x no. of months + $50	24 Books + 6 AV items	Remote access to HKU e-resources
	Reader (For a period of 4 to 12 months)	$100 x no. of months + $50	On-site reading	On-site access to e-resources
Visiting students Student from other universities on internship/placement/ summer programmes in HKU departments/academic units	Borrower (For a period up to 12 months)	$184 x no. of months + $50	24 Books + 6 AV items	Remote access to selected e-resources
	Reader (For a period of 4 to 12 months)	$138 x no. of months + $50	On-site reading	On-site access to e-resources

Note:

(i) The monthly fee will be charging the whole period of access.

(ii) Some of the licensed e-resources are restricted to current HKU staff, students and/or SPACE users. View details of e-resources access at http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/ER/. 

 

Requesting HKU departments or academic units should provide a letter in presenting the necessary information to obtain the access. The letter must be written on departmental letterhead, contain with introduction for student(s) and indicate the duration of access.

Apply by sending the supporting documents to libcir@hku.hk in advance. In general, the fee is paid by internal transfer to library account. A library charges letter will be prepared for the responsible staff once the library card(s) are picked up by the faculties or departments.  

•  Supporting documents for application:
  • A referral letter issued by HKU departments or academic units
  • HKID card or Passport
  • A passport size photograph
• Application fee
  • Monthly fee paid by HKU internal transfer (Please refer to the above table for details)
  • HK$50 for the University-levied smart card fee paid by HKU internal transfer
  • Cost of replacement: A fee of $150 will be levied for the replacement of lost or damaged card.

 

Some library cards are issued with payment of a library deposit, which will be refunded to the library cardholder when he or she returns the library card to us. Please apply in person at the Enquiries Counter with the library card. The library deposit will only be refunded when all fines are cleared and all library materials returned.