Achievements

This service was launched in February. Staff answered 79 questions via WhatsApp, constituting 6% of all questions asked.

Users liked its convenience and fast turnaround.

To update our researchers on latest trends in scholarly publishing and communications, the Library launched a new website, Scholarly Communications @HKUST Library http://library.hkust.edu.hk/sc/. This online information platform focuses on 4 main areas: Author Tips, Data Management, Open Access (OA), and Research Repositories.

In conjunction with major academic publishers, the Library held 3 Author Workshops for HKUST staff and RPGs. Videos, PowerPoints, etc. from the workshops are hosted on the new website.

We made a number of enhancements to the HKUST Scholarly Publications Database. These included the redesign of the Home Page, implementation of Online Attention with altmetrics badge, addition of Project data and Patent records, and establishment of links to retrieve pre-published full-text version in the Institutional Repository.

It has proven useful and popular with the HKUST community; with PAO having implemented a search box in the Home Page of the HKUST Website to enable visitors to use the SPD. This was made possible by using the SPD API we previously developed.

Led by HKUST, this project aimed to produce a durable plastic card, to facilitate users’ access to other JULAC libraries. Another aim was to streamline users’ registration process at host libraries. On behalf of JULAC, we tendered a vendor to design and supply pre-printed cards, printers, and software.

We took a leading role in designing the JULAC Card Registration Systems (JCRS) and developing its core component to facilitate user-initiated transfer of data among member libraries in a secured environment.

The new JULAC Library Card was launched on May 19, 2014.

In fall 2013, the LC opened 24 hours per day for the whole term. It remained in service on all public holidays for the two terms. Overnight traffic was high.

Built and operated with a vision of an integrated space for students to access academic resources and services from multiple units, and to participate in learning activities of various kinds, such as:

• Careers Center activities (one-on-one consultation; CV writing and review; campus interviews, etc.)
• Student Development activities (REDbird Award Program briefing and training; UROP in Action briefing; Counseling and Development workshops; SBM ELITE program, etc.)

We also continued the SAO jointly sponsored Snack Breaks during finals in fall 2013 & spring 2014 and Tea with the President in the Refreshment Zone in Fall 2013.

This year we held a record number of events, with high attendance and encouraging feedback. Some of the events were part of the University academic programs, partnering with departments and campus units. There were 7 exhibitions and 31 related talks and guided tours, in addition to the display of student artworks. The 7 exhibitions were:

• Confucian, Buddhist & Taoist Selections: An Exhibition of The Jiazi Society of Calligraphy
• Splendor of the Past: The Spirit and Form of Ancient Chinese Ceramics
• Mother Glaze: An Exhibition of High-Temperature Wood-Fired Ceramics by Lin Rui-hua
• Discover University Archives and Special Collections
• A Measure of Freedom – Contemporary Paintings from Myanmar
• Karma – Landscape Sculpture by Danny Lee Chin-fai
• The Hong Kong Chiu Chow Chamber of Commerce Ko Pui Shuen Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition

In 2012, the Library held its first all Staff Retreat to develop a Strategic Plan for 2012-2015, and held a Scenario Planning Workshop for2013. Through these, our staff collectively engaged in strategic planning and communicated efficiently across units. The sessions proved valuable in helping the Library to position its staff and services effectively for the 3-3-4 transition.

The Library worked hard to encourage and to support staff development. The number of programs attended increased 138% and staff enrollments by 337% compared to the previous year.

To prepare for the Research Assessment Exercise, the Library formed an RAE Team. Team members helped in the design of Research Outputs Submission System (ROSS) interface, created the document repository, programmed the token-based single-sign-on interface, and developed the research output de-duplication report mechanism.

We are currently verifying and inputting bibliographic information, obtaining the full-text of the submissions, cropping abstracts from full-text, clearing copyright, arranging submission of physical items, and liaising with cost centers. The team worked closely with cost centers in both the dry run and the final submission exercises.

Working with VPRGO, we developed the Scholarly Publications Database to index publications by HKUST researchers. By June 2013, it indexed 50,180 publications, had 498 publicly released author profiles, and was accessed 190,787 times. It makes HKUST’s research output easily discoverable.

Internally, the database can be a tool for analysis and reporting; externally, industries and researchers can use it for knowledge discovery. We developed SPD APIs to support the Research Outputs Submission System (ROSS) and to help power PAO’s revamping of the HKUST Website. We also developed a program to automatically harvest the cited count records frequently.

To enhance resource sharing, the Library joined the new Rapid Book Chapter Service in October 2012. In the first 9 months, the Library lent 222 chapters and borrowed 126. That month, we also expanded electronic document delivery to PG students. This led to a 202% increase in requests for electronic documents from the Library’s print & microforms collection.

In January 2013, with University support, we launched a new Dissertation Purchase Subsidy Scheme. Under this trial Scheme, the University subsidizes ~80% of a dissertation’s purchase cost. The requesting RPG only paid a $60 flat fee. The trial has been extended through 2014, and the fee will be reduced to $30. This service will also expand to cover all dissertation and thesis requests, not just from UMI, but also those held elsewhere in the world.

To support curriculum expansion under 334, the Library’s collection received a strong boost in all areas in the last academic year.

• E-Reference – Most print China yearbooks have been migrated to e-format, giving full-text access to 105 titles in over 2,000 volumes. Added many new e-reference titles (from popular culture to nanoscience).
• eBooks – Thousands of titles were added, with 1,340 Chinese eBooks from Airiti in the pipeline. 2 usage-driven eBook acquisition schemes began, with purchases triggered when use of a book exceeds a set limit.
• Streaming Videos – Critically acclaimed Phoenix TV series, 世紀大講堂 and 開卷八分鐘, Engineering Case Studies, Asian Films in Video and Filmakers Library Supplement strengthened support for engineering and general education.
• Journal Archives and Subscriptions – After analyzing turn-away statistics, the library added four core journal archives: Institute of Physics journal archive (1874- 2002), Springer Mathematics and Statistics Online Journal archive, 3 new JSTOR collections and Shanghai Library’s Mingguo Journals Full-Text Database (1911-1949).

Responding to new reading habits, the Library acquired ten Kindles. We pre-loaded each with 20 popular Ebooks. Within the first hour of announcing the service, all ten were checked-out. They are very popular: (117 checkouts and 174 holds in the first 14 weeks).

Of the Kindle users surveyed, 97% were satisfied or very satisfied with the experience and 89% were satisfied with the variety of titles. With the Provost’s support, the Library has purchased 10 more Kindles and is adding more titles, especially Chinese ones.

The long-anticipated arrival of the double cohort of first year UGs brought challenges and excitement. Following a successful pilot collaboration with the Center for Language Education (CLE) in 2011/12, integrating information literacy instruction into 1st and 2nd year language courses continued and grew. Librarians from Reference and Technical Services taught 84 sessions to 2,870 1st year LANG 1001/1002 students.

In addition, Searching Research Literature Effectively and Academic Integrity & Intellectual Property were offered as a trial run for next year’s Professional Development Course series for RPGs. Overall, library staff gave328 library sessions to 8,321 staff & students (which included other classes for CLE programs, course-related instruction, and open workshops).

To supplement face-to-face instruction and enhance student learning, many course guides were created, often embedded with interactive e-learning objects, such as What is a Citation? and How to Cite in APA Style. Online quizzes were also incorporated into LANG 1001 and 1002 course sites on LMES, helping reinforce learning and test understanding.

In order to enhance our ability to provide excellent information literacy programs and teaching; HKUST Library hosted the first ACRL Immersion Program in Asia, also attended by colleagues from other institutions.

In 2012-13, the Library E-Learning Team created more than 30 e-learning objects to help library users learn conveniently and engagingly. They include short videos on navigating databases, using equipment, and library services such as how to use QR codes to check study room schedules and reserve rooms, and some interactive tutorials and games. Most of the objects are embedded in library guides for courses, databases, and subjects. All of them were mounted on the Library E-Learning page.

In the past year, we also executed several e-learning projects. Notably, we used Wowza software to migrate old video content onto a new Media Streaming Server; we developed an E-learning system platform to host Library-developed e-learning objects; and introduced a Kindle-based e-book circulation capability.

We developed a survey module for Library class attendee feedback and evaluation. Work is continuing on enhancements, including the ability to take attendance, the sharing of RPG attendance data for the Professional Development Course Systems, enhanced statistical reporting, and a publicly accessible view of available Library classes.

Dr. Ko Pui-shuen donated $3 million to the University Archives and Special Collections which funded two projects. The first is to build a gallery to display its rare, beautiful, and ancient items, as well as HKUST’s archival documents. A space next to the Archives and Special Collections reading room is being renovated. Opening in September, it will be named the “Hong Kong Chiu Chow Chamber of Commerce Ko Pui Shuen Gallery (香港潮州商會高佩璇展閱廳)”.

The second project is to digitize the archival materials, maps, and rare books of the collection. This entailed bringing in a special large format scanner to handle items up to 36 inches wide. As of June 2013, 340 antique maps and 700 HKUST posters were scanned. We are now scanning many rare books, and estimate that by 2015, 250,000 pages of text will be available online.

We developed a new digitization platform to go with the addition of large-scale content digitization of Archives and Special Collections materials: The Rare & Special e-Zone).

Launched in August, this in-house developed platform has a feature-rich search and retrieval interface, a user-friendly content management system, and powerful book, map and thesis viewers for users to navigate the digital objects available.

We put extensive effort into evaluating digitization technologies, selecting appropriate scanning hardware and a companion vendor. Through an optimized workflow organized and managed by Archives and Special Collections staff, 188 antique maps, 135 maps of China, 753 HKUST posters and 100 architectural drawings have been digitized so far. We also migrated over 4,750 HKUST Theses from their previous platform to the e-Zone, and are in the process of scanning rare books on history of science, travelogues of China and thread-bound books.

2012/13 was a year of growth and reflection for the Learning Commons. It transited to 7×24 operation in phases, went through an assessment to evaluate services, supported the heart-warming exam-week Snack Breaks, and became a popular spot that many university units proudly show to visitors.

As an integral part of the Library, the Learning Commons was designed with the ability to provide service when the Library is closed. Its overnight hours and being open during public holidays has truly pleased the university community.

The spring 2013 assessment project (using focus groups, surveys and other tools) found that 90% of its users rated the Learning Commons as “Important” or “Very important”.

The Learning Commons has drawn interest among university guests. It has become one of the most popular stopping points for university visitors. Since opening the LC, the number of Library tours increased over 350%, and the number of visitors increased over 500%.