Newsletter No. 68

2 No. 68 19th April 1995 CUHK Newsletter Plans to Improve the Library System From the University Librarian L e t me begin by stating the raison d' ê tre of an academic library. Simply stated, the mission and goals of a university library are, in logical order: 。to support study, teaching, and research related to all academic programmes; 。to assimilate, organize, and preserve human knowledge and intellectual heritage in varied forms and systems; 。to provide library resources and facilities for the administration and development of all units of the university community; 。t o cooperate and network with other libraries and information centres for the universal development and advancement of education. We are committed to develop our library into an intellectual centre where students and faculty members will come to 'check tilings out', other than just a comfortable place to study and learn in. We have over 1.2 million books and bound volumes of periodicals, and more than 8,500 current journal titles, and our library system is equipped with networking and multimedia computer technologies which extend our capabilities and international linkages dramatically. Our library system is a very complex organization with several branch libraries, each with their specialhistorical background and special subject colleclions. The hilly terrain of the campus and the randomly spread out academic faculties and units have created many hurdles for access to library materials; the management and delivery of library services have also been handicapped by such geographical divisions. We are working on overcoming these hurdles and handicaps. We arealso trying to fine-tune the Subject Oriented Library Scheme which was first implemented in 1993, making adjustments based on users' requests. Enhancements for easy access and document delivery are provided on-campus and off-campus to make it more convenient for users. The following steps will be taken to further improve services and communication: 1. Provide more orientation sessions, computer skills workshops, and library research seminars for faculty and students. 2. Develop subject specialists among librarians and enhance reference services in support of study and research. 3, Strengthen outreach programmes for faculty members and students, and gauge users' needs and expectations through surveys and electronic mail communication. 4. Provide training, re-education, and motivation for all library staff to acquire new knowledge and skills, and to keep up with technological changes. Through counsellingand seminars, staff will be taught how to handle stress, problematic encounters and difficult situations, and improve public relations. Making the library user-friendly requires not just a team of friendly staff, but also easily accessible services, collections, library catalogues and computer systems. Plans are being developed in these areas, and improvements shall be visible within a year. Projects in the pipeline include: 1. Renovation of library buildings and relocation of offices to make all materials accessible to the handicapped, newcomers as well as researchers. We plan to rearrange our public service units and shelving areas so that more space and staff will be provided exactly where readers will need them. 2. Construction of a user-education room and a seminar room for hands-on experience, user instraction, and library orientation. In this age of information explosion, users need a higher level of computer literacy and bibliographic knowledge to find what they need. Both novice users and experienced researchers will needcontinuouseducatio nin order to keep up with changes. 3. Development of a multimedia, non-book learning resource centre where users will find all types of information and bibliographic resources through new technological products such as CD ROMs, hypertext media, self-learning materials, andexternali n f o r ma t i o n systems. We plan to work closely with academic departments and the Independent Learning Centre to build a magnetic self-learning centre to enhance teaching, study, and research. To keep abreast with current development of information technologies, and to make library resources easily searchable, a more user-friendly computer system will be introduced by the end of 1995, gradually replacing the current DOBIS/E system. With the installation of the new integrated system, many other features and modules will be implemented in 1996. Local and international databases shall be accessible though all on-line public terminals in central and branch libraries. The next step will be to extend such access to in-office and in-hostel terminals, making our campus a 'virtual library' regardless of location and region. New technologies have brought about many changes and expectations. The University Library System is ready to face the challenge to make complementary changes. We will work with parties inside and outside the University to find new resources and approaches for study, teaching and research for our potential users. In addition to plans outlined above, the University Library System is at present sponsoring two innovative projects. One is the First Search service which offers free search and record printing of 50 popular and special databases all over the world. If this experiment is well received in the first two months, we will continue and expand the service. A comment froma faculty member said it ail: 'I found the First Search very useful. In fact, I think it is indispensable for my teaching and research. I use it almost every day. I hope more people will try it and that it will receive more publicity.' The second project, which is equally innovative and significant, is the development and production of a Hong Kong newspaper database. The database will cover daily Chinese and English local papers, in full text complete with images (pictures and graphics) and World-Wide- Web, and searchable via a computer terminal connected to HARNET and INTERNET. This project is funded by the University Grants Committee and CUHK. When this database comes on-line, it will put our University on themap worldwide. But that will be another story. will keep you posted. Michael M. Lee Beware of Theft! The Security Unit Alerts A spate of theft cases have occurred on the campus recently, and the same modus operandi o f the thieves has been repeated successively. More often than not, theft reports subsequent to the crime consist of recollections of dubious 'visitors' posing to look for particular offices and people; these 'visitors' go on to knock and enter unattended offices before stealing small, valuable items. Such cases have been reported in the University Administration Building, L i Dak Sum Building, and the Siu-Loong Pao Building. Libraries, and unattended school bags therein containing wallets, have also been popular targets of thefts. The Security Unit has appealed to everyone on the campus to take good care of their belongings, to lock their doors and drawers upon leaving their offices, and to report immediately the presence of any seemingly persona non grata, thereby enabling security guards to act quickly in intercepting them and ascertaining their identity. A little care could go a long way. I Have Been One Acquainted with the Night Sketches of a Poetic Evening