Library Newsletter Issue 24

Issue 24

Jul 2025

Editor’s note

Welcome to our latest newsletter! As we look ahead to the 2025-2028 triennium, we are excited to share our newly established strategic priorities, focusing on digital advancement, open scholarship, and support for transdisciplinary learning and research.

This issue highlights the generous donation of personal archives from theatre veteran Dr Chung King Fai, enriching our understanding of Hong Kong’s theatrical history. We also introduce three innovative digital scholarship projects that bring academic content to life through technology.

Our library services have been enhanced with the integration of Interlibrary Loan and HKALL, and our new PressReader subscription offers access to over 7,000 global publications. Additionally, our recent exhibition on Maurice Hutton and the China Inland Mission combined historical narratives with modern technology to offer a unique perspective on missionary work in China.

Finally, we look back on the visits from IFLA’s fellows and the representatives from the China National Archives of Publications and Culture (Guangzhou Branch), which have strengthened our collaborations with global community.

Enjoy reading this issue and welcome your feedback!

Jeannette Ma
Special Collections and Archives Librarian

Library Strategic Priorities for the 2025-2028 Triennium

Upon assuming the responsibilities of the University Librarian in 2021, one of my initial tasks was to establish strategic priorities for the 2022-2025 triennium. Now, as we reach the conclusion of this period, it is time to reassess our direction. While our existing priorities have served their purpose effectively, the rapidly evolving landscape of scholarly information demands fresh thinking. Moreover, as student and faculty needs continue to evolve, we must ensure we are providing the best library service possible to the HKBU community.

In recent months, the University Library has carefully conducted a strategic review. Drawing on community feedback and incorporating contemporary best practices from both local and international libraries, we have developed new strategic priorities for the 2025-2028 triennium. These priorities maintain our commitment to digital resources and open scholarship while introducing new focus areas. Notably, we have prioritised support for the University’s transdisciplinary learning and research initiatives. I invite all stakeholders to review these new priorities in detail and welcome your feedback.

I would like to acknowledge the collaborative effort of Library staff in shaping these new priorities. Special recognition goes to Bethany Wilkes, our Deputy University Librarian, whose leadership in designing and implementing a robust planning process was instrumental to the success of this endeavour.

Christopher Chan
University Librarian

Library Receives Donation of Personal Archives from Theatre Veteran Dr Chung King Fai   

The University Library is deeply honoured to receive a generous donation of personal archives from the renowned local theatre veteran Dr Chung King Fai (鍾景輝). The donation comprises over 200 items, including play and television scripts, translation manuscripts, production files, house programmes, photographs, news clippings, and personal records, which document every important phase of his remarkable career as a theatre director, actor, television producer, and theatre educator from the 1950s to the 2010s.

Stage photo of Dr Chung King Fai in Hong Kong Repertory Theatre’s Richard III (2009)

A graduate of Yale University’s School of Drama, Dr Chung has long been dedicated to promoting the development of theatre in Hong Kong. As early as the 1960s, he introduced contemporary American drama to the local theatre scene, broadening the horizons of Hong Kong audiences. This donation encompasses records from many of Dr Chung’s major theatrical productions, such as Our Town (1965), A Hatful of Rain (1965), The Glass Menagerie (1967) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1981). Also included are scrapbooks containing theatre columns and reviews written by Dr Chung for local newspapers. These materials not only document over half a century of Dr Chung’s creative process and insights but also serve as invaluable primary sources for studying the development of Hong Kong theatre, particularly during the golden era of amateur drama groups and university theatre productions in the 1960s and 1970s.

A complete production record of Hong Kong Baptist College’s Our Town (1965), which includes documents ranging from script and production materials to promotional materials.

Lighting cues for Hongkong Amateur Players’ Club’s A Hatful of Rain (1965)

Set design for The Matchmaker (1960s-70s)

Dr Chung has a longstanding association with Hong Kong Baptist University. Upon returning from his studies abroad, he began his career as a full-time Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature at the then Hong Kong Baptist College, where he established the city’s first tertiary drama courses. He also advised the Dramatics Club and directed several groundbreaking translated productions. Even after moving into the television industry, he continued to teach part-time at the College for nearly two decades. He later served as the founding Dean of the School of Drama at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts for 18 years, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of professional theatre training in Hong Kong.

Script for Hong Kong Baptist College’s Death of a Salesman (1964)

The University Library extends its heartfelt gratitude to Dr Chung for his generous donation, selflessly sharing the fruits of his artistic career with all those who love theatre. The Library’s Special Collections and Archives is committed to preserving and promoting this unique and precious collection, fostering the use of local theatre archives for research, and continuing his mission of promoting the theatrical arts.

Shan Shan Lu
Assistant Library Officer, Special Collections and Archives

Three New Digital Scholarship Projects

We’re excited to introduce three innovative digital scholarship projects that bring history, culture, and sociological research to life through cutting-edge technology. Developed in collaboration with our faculty members, these projects offer immersive ways to engage with academic content.

Developed by Dr. Li Kin Sum (Sammy) from the Department of History, this groundbreaking platform transforms how we study ancient Chinese art. Five iconic masterpieces, including Emperor Xuanzong’s Journey to Sichuan (《明皇幸蜀圖》) and Travelers Among Mountains and Streams (《谿山行旅圖》), now come alive as interactive 3D models.

Users can rotate, zoom, and analyze brushstrokes and viewpoint perspectives like never before.

This digital project has been featured in multiple media outlets including newspaper articles in am730, Ming Pao (明報), Sing Tao Daily (星島日報) and Oriental Daily (東方日報) published on June 2, 2025.

Visit the website at:

In collaboration with Prof. Cindy Yik Yi Chu from the Department of History, this project digitally preserves 10 Jesuit chapels from the early 20^th century through 360° interactive virtual tours. These churches symbolize the legacy of the missionaries’ influence in Sai Kung’s villages, showcasing the blend of Chinese and Western cultures. Users can freely navigate each church tour, inspecting both interior architectural details and exterior facades from their screens.

Visit the website at:

Co-developed with Dr. Adam Ka-Lok Cheung from the Department of Sociology, this project presents the research findings on the situations faced by Hong Kong families when employing foreign domestic helpers. The website features 7 research summaries, 5 categories of interview case studies, and interactive data visualizations. Users can filter the dataset by employer profiles and cross-reference the research summaries and interview excerpts to gain nuanced insights into employment dynamics and policy challenges.

Visit the website at:

Yvonne So
Digital Scholarship Manager

Enhanced Interlibrary Loan & HKALL Services Are Here!

We’re excited to announce that our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services have been enhanced with new features! Most notably, Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Hong Kong Academic Library Link (HKALL) are now seamlessly integrated, creating one unified service to support your research journey.

For those new to these services, our enhanced ILL system (now incorporating HKALL) is your gateway to accessing millions of books, journal articles, and theses from libraries locally and worldwide when the materials you need aren’t available at HKBU Library.

What’s Changed in the New System?

Expand your search beyond HKBU collection in OneSearch

New request forms unifying Interlibrary Loan and HKALL requests, and with useful information

Make Your First Request in the New System! 

Learn how to search and submit an ILL (and HKALL) request. 

• Via OneSearch (Recommended) 
• Via Interlibrary Loan Request Form 

Learn More! 

Visit our updated Interlibrary Loan page for complete service details, policies, and step-by-step guides. 

Maggie Wong
User Services Librarian

Global Press at Your Fingertips: HKBU Library Now Offers PressReader

The HKBU community now has instant access to over 7,000 premium newspapers and magazines from around the world!

Launched in April 2025, our PressReader subscription delivers publications from 120+ countries in 60+ languages. You may recognise your favourite titles like The Guardian, Newsweek, and China Daily across categories including news, business, fashion, travel, and technology.

PressReader’s intuitive interface presents full-colour, interactive publications, with downloadable articles for permanent access. As one community member noted, it’s “a nice substitute for paper format newspapers” and others have praised it as a “great resource” providing access to “a lot of information in our society.”

Learn more about PressReader and download the app to start reading today. Questions? Contact the Library team for assistance.

Bethany Wilkes
Deputy University Librarian

Reviving History: Exploring the Legacy of Maurice Hutton and the China Inland Mission

Our recently concluded exhibition, ‘Footprints of the China Inland Mission: Missionary Maurice H. Hutton’, held from 3 April to 15 May 2025, brought together students, faculty, and community members to explore the remarkable legacy of Maurice Hutton and his work with the China Inland Mission (CIM).

At the heart of the exhibition was the Library’s newly acquired Maurice Hutton Family Collection. This collection includes historical photographs, rare books, as well as missionary posters and tracts. Our team meticulously examined these materials, uncovering hidden details and piecing together the incredible stories behind them. This allowed us to craft a layered narrative that brings to life the story of the CIM and Maurice Hutton’s invaluable contributions.

Did you notice the quotes at the beginning of each section? To deepen the storytelling, we created a timeless dialogue between CIM’s founder, James Hudson Taylor, and Maurice Hutton, connecting their shared vision and mission across generations.

Quote from the “Introduction” board

Quote from the “Life in China” board

Quotes placed at the end of the exhibition

One of the most exciting elements of the exhibition was our use of innovative technology. Using the AI video creation tool, Runway, we brought century-old images to life. For instance, we animated a photograph of Hutton’s daughter at a tea party, imagining them laughing, cheering their teacups with each other. This blend of history and modern technology offered visitors a unique perspective on the lives and moments captured many years ago.

A snapshot from the AI generated video

We would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this exhibition and to all those who shared their lovely comments on our feedback board. If you missed the exhibition or would like to revisit it, we invite you to explore the virtual exhibition online.

Virtual Exhibition

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to bringing more engaging events to the Library in the future!

Highlights of exhibition comments

Madeline Fong
Assistant Library Officer, Special Collections and Archives

Visits

IFLA Visit

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is the peak body representing libraries and information organisations globally. IFLA advocates for access to information and for the development of strong library services. In mid-April members of IFLA’s Library Buildings and Equipment Section (LBES) embarked on a visit to China to learn more about the country’s libraries, and Hong Kong was the first city on their itinerary.

On 11 April, the LBES delegation visited HKBU’s Au Shue Hung Memorial Library for a tour. I was pleased to be able to show them the recent renovations to Levels 6 and 7. IFLA colleagues were also impressed by the new banner that has been installed next to the main staircase, as well as the exhibition on our Maurice Hutton collection that was ongoing at the time of their visit.

In a related development, the renovation of Levels 6 and 7 was recently featured on the Designing Libraries website. I am excited to see the attention this project has received from fellow library professionals, and the acknowledgment of the excellent library environment that HKBU is providing to its students. We will also continue learning from other libraries, with a view to making further enhancements in the future.

Christopher Chan
University Librarian

Visit from the National Archives of Publications and Culture

Invited by the Chinese Medicine Library, the Deputy Director of the China National Archives of Publications and Culture (Guangzhou Branch) (CNAPC-GZ, 中國國家版本館廣州分館), Mr. Huang Lei and four of his colleagues visited the Main Library and the Chinese Medicine Library at HKBU on 9 April, 2025. They had a special interest in the exhibitions and collection management of the Special Collections and Archives at the Main Library.

They also met with library colleagues at the Chinese Medicine Library. In 2024, the Chinese Medicine Library donated a selection of Chinese medicine books to CNAPC-GZ. This site visit and in-person meeting, featuring in-depth discussions about Chinese medicine collections and resource sharing, resulted in an aim for further collaboration.

The China National Archives of Publications and Culture is the general repository of national archival resources and the bank of Chinese cultural seeds. It is also a collection, exhibition, research and exchange centre. It has a preservation system of “one headquarter and three branches” which includes the Central Archives (Wenhan Pavilion, 中央總館文瀚閣), Xi’an Branch Archives (Wenji Pavilion, 西安分館文濟閣), Hangzhou Branch Archives (Wenrun Pavilion, 杭州分館文潤閣) and Guangzhou Branch Archives (Wenqin Pavilion, 廣州分館文沁閣) . All of them were opened on 30 July 2022.

CNAPC-GZ is located in Conghua District of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, with a total construction area of ​​94,300 square meters and a collection of 25 million volumes (items). It specializes in collections focused on publications from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and Chinese medicine.

David Su
Chinese Medicine Librarian

Last updated: 07 July 2025