Issue 13
Sep 2022
Message from the University Librarian
It is an honour and a privilege to be writing this message as HKBU’s University Librarian. For a library professional, such an appointment is the pinnacle of what one might hope for in their career. I therefore hope that readers will not mind my indulging in some brief reflections on the journey that has brought me to this point.
Although I am new to the position of University Librarian, I am not new to HKBU. I began my service to the University back in 2008, as a frontline Information Services Librarian. As I advanced through the Library organization, I was grateful for the many opportunities to make a genuine positive difference to the work of our students and faculty. Continuing to build and multiply such opportunities, and aid like-minded colleagues in doing the same, was a major driving force behind my seeking positions of increasing responsibility at the Library.
I have also been extraordinarily fortunate throughout my career at HKBU Library to have had supportive supervisors, and I must acknowledge them here. My first was Ms. Dianne Cmor, to whom I will be forever grateful for giving a young and newly qualified librarian a chance in a professional position at a UGC-funded library. More recently I served under the leadership of Mr. Paul Lee (Associate Librarian, Public Services) and our immediate past University Librarian Mr. Kendall Crilly. Although all have now left the University, they made lasting impressions both on the Library and certainly on me personally.
In another sense, I am also not entirely new to the University Librarian position, having undertaken the role in an acting capacity for almost one year. During this period of significant change and uncertainty, the performance of Library staff has been magnificent. From frontline colleagues through to the senior leadership team, everyone contributed to the maintenance of a high level of service. As a Library, we were even able to articulate a set of strategic priorities for the 2022-25 triennium. I am extraordinarily proud to lead this group of people – and indeed I believe its people are by far and away the most important asset that the Library has. We have the capacity to do great things, and I will do whatever I can to turn that potential into a reality.
In the near term, there are several exciting projects on the horizon. Perhaps the largest is a major renovation of Levels 6 and 7 of the Main Library that will commence towards the end of this academic year. Apart from a much-needed facelift, our aim is to provide more study areas for students, both in terms greater quantity and well as greater quality. Libraries have always been the heart of the universities that they serve, and we will strive to develop HKBU Library into a state-of-the-art space worthy of the name.
Another impactful priority for the Library is facilitating open access to the research output of HKBU scholars. Recently HKBU Library has provided direct support through the negotiation of transformative agreements with publishers that cover the expensive article processing charges needed to make scholarly articles open access. Making HKBU research output available for free both raises the profile of the University and benefits society. For this reason, the Library will continue to dedicate significant energy and resources to this area.
These goals are just some of many that I hope to achieve as University Librarian. Over the coming months, I will share more. I intend for frequent and open communication, both within the Library and with external stakeholders, to be one of the hallmarks of my tenure. This will help us work together in support of the University’s priorities to deliver the best student experience, promote research excellence, and further develop our capacities.
I sincerely thank everyone connected to HKBU Library for their support.
Chris Chan
University Librarian
30 Years of Services at HKBU Library
30 years of life takes a person from infancy to adulthood; 30 years of marriage is called a “pearl anniversary (珍珠婚)” that signifies the preciousness and beauty of a long marriage; and 30 years is how long our colleague Mr. MA Fai Nam has worked at HKBU Library! Nam was presented with the long service award at the University’s Milestone in Service Ceremony on 30 June 2022.
Before joining HKBU Library, Nam worked in an electronic gadget warehouse. In 1991, he saw a job opening in the newspaper recruiting library staff. He thought the job content should be similar to what he was doing and so he went and applied. Little did he know, he would stay in this job for the next 30 years!
Nam has worked in several different areas of Library service. His first section was at the Main Library’s Circulation counter (now called the User Services counter) in the Kowloon Tong campus, then he moved up one floor to the Multimedia Learning Centre to provide help with audiovisual materials services. After that, he joined Shek Mun Campus Library and has worked there ever since.
When asked about his feelings on receiving the 30 years long service award, Nam said he is just grateful to have the opportunity to serve the Library for such a long time. The Library is equally grateful for Nam’s three-decades of commitment and contributions.
Let’s congratulate Nam again on his receiving the 30-year long service award! 👏👏👏
Maggie Wong
Information Services Librarian
Resources supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs)
To support the teaching and learning initiatives involving the SDGs, the Library has licensed a new collection from Taylor & Francis – SDG online. This collection consolidates SDG-related book chapters, articles, and teaching & learning resources (including presentation materials). You can easily retrieve the resources you need.
In addition, many new e-books relevant to the SDGs have been acquired recently. You can find them easily by using the advanced search mode in OneSearch:
To keep up to date on new library acquisitions (books and multimedia items), please check out the monthly new arrival lists here.
Becky Wu
Resource Management Librarian
Library Fun-tech!
We love fun technology! Have you noticed these machines in the Main Library?
If you have been to the Library in the past, you might have remembered our Facebook followers counter. While our Facebook is still going strong, we cannot ignore our growing community over on Instagram… therefore, here comes the Library Instagram followers counter!
The two counters are located next to the Information Desk on Level 3 of the Main Library. When you follow us on either Facebook or Instagram, the counter will instantly jump and reflect the latest follower numbers. Give it a try the next time you are in the Main Library! Of course, if you (sadly) unfollow us, our number will drop too (boo).
On the same floor as the counters, you can find our Short Story Dispenser as well. To library regulars who are not new to the University, have you noticed something different about the dispenser? We recently added a new glass panel for the Short Story Dispenser!
The glass panel used to be in black color with English text only. The new panel has a bright white look with text in both English and Chinese (as many of the HKBU-authored stories available from the dispenser are written in Chinese). We hope you like the new look!
For those who can’t come to the Library but would like to read short stories, go to our Short Story Dispenser online platform: https://hkbu.short-edition.com/
Maggie Wong
Information Services Librarian
Like what you read? Want to work with us at the Library? Let us know!
Last updated: 10 October 2024