Opened in 1982, the Music Library is one of the branches of the University Libraries providing the primary repository of musical materials at HKU. Dr. Rayson Huang (1920-2015), then Vice-Chancellor, a chemist, and a violinist, saw the significance of building up music collections in support of the curriculum and research needs of music in higher education. His vision of music at HKU has become a notable treasure in the Music Library. The Music Library started with two rooms in the Main Building. For over a decade, the growth of collection size and usage in the Music Library was remarkable. In 1996, the Music Library moved to the first floor of the Hung Hing Ying Building, a two-storey Edwardian-style structure opened in 1919. To meet the rapid expansion of HKU community, the Music Library moved to the top floor of Run Run Shaw Tower on Centennial Campus in 2012, where was a comfortable and well-equipped research library to support the curriculum and research of the Department of Music, as well as broad musical interests and activities of the HKU community.  The space housed over 50,000 pieces of physical books and scores, as well as audio-visual items in western classical music, East Asia music, and world music. There were 18 single study tables, three small discussion rooms (14 seats), six Mac and PC workstations, and eight multimedia stations. In 2022, the HKU Libraries received a generous HK$2 million donation from the HKU Foundation to support the Digital Transformation of the Music Library, which redesigned the Library to a space fit for the 21st century. Currently, the Library offers an open and collaborative learning space with longer opening hours. Seating capacity has greatly increased by three times. HKU students, including music and non-music students, go to the Library for quiet study, music enjoyment, different digital engagements, and various artistic activities ventures.   

The Music Collection, located at 1/F, Main Library (Old Wing), has a print collection of over scores and books along with multimedia items. The Collection has particularly strong holdings on contemporary composers’ scores and extensive Western and East Asian facsimile scores. The Collection also has valuable rare scores, like the first editions of great pieces composed by George Frederic Handel, Ludwig van Beethoven and Arnold Schoenberg; and facsimile scores of well-known composers, ranging from J.S. Bach to contemporary Hong Kong composers.  

Opening Hours

For the latest hours on specific days, please check the library calendar
Public Holidays

Address

11/F, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong