News & Announcements

Librarian Message re: Special Collections Access Procedure 

Jun 2022 

Dear Special Collections Users, 

The HKU Library Special Collections covers a variety of rare and unique materials which are quite fragile. This includes the western rare books relating to early China and Sinology dating back as early as 1588 – Historia della’ China, in Italian. These rare books collections are known as Morrison, Hankow and Charter Collections. Moreover, it contains materials relating to Japanese Occupation in Hong Kong. It also holds the looted library books from HKUL by the Japanese during World War II. Within the Special Collections, we have a unique Hong Kong Collection. 

Hong Kong Collection serves as a permanent one-stop repository of research materials covering all aspects about Hong Kong. Since 1974, we actively collect various kinds of Hong Kong-related publications and materials with the mission of preserving the Hong Kong history and cultural heritage.  We have the most complete Hong Kong Collection globally.  We are proud to support many researchers for Hong Kong studies with our collection. 

 To maximize the longevity of our special collections, the Preservation and Conservation team performs the necessary treatments to stabilize existing damages and prevent further damages. We also perform a wide range of care activities.  All these will enhance the overall value, significance and usage of the collections. The special collections are irreplaceable and invaluable sources for understanding the past, which is the foundation for the future.  

 Access procedures were recently updated to align with international best practice and policies of other international institutions and universities with Special Collections.  We focus on the preservation and protection on unique, valuable, rare and irreplaceable collections.  We need to prevent mishandling, over usage and vandalism.  We also want to ensure the collections and study space are being best utilised by researchers and scholars who need physical access to the collections.  

The official announcement and refined procedures including advance booking of our research desks, are on HKUL homepage. Please refer to this official source directly for details.  We will continue to review our approach as appropriate.  

Regards, 

Flora Ng,
CIO / University Librarian 

Special Collections has launched a new booking system for research desks reservation. Please visit ‘Book A Space’ for reservation or here for the detailed announcement.

To provide the enhanced integrated Media Services experiences across the whole campus, effective Apr 1, the Library Media Services function will be integrated with the Learning Environment Services (LES) Team, powered by ITS and Library.

Exhibiting Hong Kong in London, Part 2

Curated by The University of Hong Kong’s Gary Pui-fung Wong, the Libraries is pleased to present Exhibiting Hong Kong in London, Part 2 at the Exhibition Area, Ingenium, 2/F Main Library from 9 February 2022 to 11 March 2022.

The British Empire Exhibition was held in London in 1924 and 1925. Hong Kong took part, with its own exhibition area – the Hong Kong Section – which was the only comprehensive showcase of Hong Kong to take place in Britain during the colonial era.

This multimedia retrospective exhibition recreates the Section with a three-dimensional model, multimedia projections, and displays of the century-old original artefacts.

Part 1 of this exhibition introduced the basic facts of the Hong Kong Section and evaluated the (mis)representation of Hong Kong’s Chinese communities in the British Empire Exhibition. Part 2 will further evaluate the Hong Kong Pavilion’s architectural design and the involvements of British and European communities in the Section. It will display more items about the Hong Kong Section, as well as other sections of the British Empire Exhibition.

Details of the Exhibition

Date:    9 February 2022 – 11 March 2022

Venue: Exhibition Area, Ingenium, 2/F Main Library, The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Time:    During Main Library Opening Hours
Closed on Public Holidays [http://lib.hku.hk/general/hours.html]

For enquiries, please contact: exhibitinghongkong@gmail.com

Website: https://exhibitinghongkong.net/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ExhibitingHongKong

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhibitinghk

* Free admission; register at the Enquiries Desk, 2/F of the Main Library

* HKU requires anyone wishing to enter the campus either to be fully vaccinated or to take weekly self-tests. All visitors are required scan the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s eVT QR code on one of the readers at the entrances of HKU.

Please check HKU’s entrance policy here before visit: https://covid19.hku.hk/announcements/all/2021/12/11231/

The University Libraries will be closed on the following days during the coming Chinese New Year holidays:

The Main Library Overnight Open Area (Library Corner) and the Yu Chun Keung Medical Library 24-hour Study Room will be closed during the Chinese New Year holidays and will be reopened on 4 February 2022.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Flora Ng

Chief Information Officer and University Librarian

Please note that the “Level 3, Main Library, HKU (for the persons had been present during 11 am to 12 noon on 4 January 2022” is included in the HKSAR compulsory testing notice on 7 Jan 2022.  If you had been present at Level 3 Main Library during 11 am to 12 noon on 4 January 2022, please follow the compulsory testing requirements, undergo the testing.

Please find the link below of Government gazettes compulsory testing notice and Annex 1 (Details of Compulsory Testing Notice):

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/07/P2022010700094.htm?fontSize=1

https://gia.info.gov.hk/general/202201/07/P2022010700094_384985_1_1641519560377.pdf

Thank you for your attention.

The Level 3 Information Counter will merge with the Service Counter on the 2/F Main

Library to provide integrated inquiry services in the virtual environment.

Effective from 10 January 2022, for assistance, please go to the 2/F Service Counter or call 3917 2202 or Ask-a-Librarian:

• Electronic Reference Service: Email your questions to a Librarian
• WhatsApp-a-Librarian: WhatsApp us at 5441-5441
• InformationService: Visit our Librarian On Duty
• Telephone Reference Service: Call us at 3917-2202
• Research Consultation Service: A personalized advisory service (for academic staff and postgraduates only)

Notes for using the Battery Charging Station

Available cables and recommended mobile devices:

QC3.0 / QC4.0+          : Qualcomm’s Quick Charge

PD3.0                          : USB Power Delivery

SFC and AFC                : Samsung’s Super-Fast Charging and Adaptive Fast Charging

FCP                              : Huawei’s Fast Charging Protocol

PE                                : MediaTek’s Pump Express

Note

• For your safety, do not use your mobile device while it is charging.
• Only connect original or safety-certified charging products.
• Please use the charging station up to 30 minutes only if another user is waiting.
• If your mobile device is unusual hot during charging, please stop charging to protect your mobile device.
• Charging up to 80% full is recommended.
• Battery charging monitoring App (e.g. AccuBattery, Charge Meter) can be used to monitor the charging status like the input current, voltage & charging speed.
• Take care of your personal belongings while you are using this service

Disclaimer

Users should bear all risks and responsibilities for any damages to mobile devices, own belongings; and incidents arising from the use of the charging service. The University Libraries of HKU does not and will not assume any liability with respect to the use of this charging service.

Services affected: All online services (except Find@HKUL and Electronic Resources)

Date & Time: 24th Dec 2021, 10:00 to 17:00, a few interruptions of each of 30 minutes.

Reason: Library IT infrastructure upgrade – SAN storage

Area: Skylight at roof, New Wing, Main Library. 

Attention: there may be dusty and noisy work during the period.