Stories from the Library – what's new and what's happening
The Semester is Ending! In the midst of all the end-of-semester work, we sometimes need to relax with a good read or interesting video. Or, we like to imagine or even plan our relaxation and fun for after we’ve sat our last exam in December, or handed in the last section of grades (if we’re…
You might have heard the Italian name Ricci – perhaps Ricci Hall, one of the oldest residential halls at HKU. But do you know who Matteo Ricci was? The man who made this Italian name famous in China. Who was Matteo Ricci? Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) was one of the first Jesuit missionaries who tried to…
As ChatGPT celebrates its second birthday, we thought it was a good time to showcase our comprehensive collection of AI-related books that capture this transformative moment in history. Introducing our new book display: “Popular Readings on AI”—a curated selection of around 380 books, available in both print and e-format. From the latest in technology and…
Did you know this is one of the most glamorous items in our Special Collections? Known as 坤輿萬國全圖, in elegant classical Chinese, literally meaning Map of the Ten Thousand Countries of the Earth, it also has a nickname in English – Ricci Map. Why Ricci in English? Why does this map, titled in Chinese, carry…
Hi everyone! Have you checked out our “Discover Hong Kong” Book Display on the ground floor of the Library? It’s filled with fantastic books about our vibrant city, and I think you’ll enjoy it! Whether you’re a local, an exchange student, staff, or a faculty member, there’s something for everyone in this display. You’ll find…
Hi everyone! Our Library has a wide range of romance films, and I have chosen over 70 amazing titles for you to enjoy. While streaming is popular, there’s something really special about watching DVDs that I think you will appreciate. Plus, we have DVD drives available for loan if you need one! Here are some…
If you have ever been to one of the congregation ceremonies at HKUST, you might be wondering ─ what is that long stick the procession leader is carrying? A staff of some sort, perhaps, but what is it for? Despite its unconventional appearance, this is the University’s ceremonial mace. Most universities have a ceremonial mace…
Interested to know how many volumes of print books were added to the Library collection in the last academic year? Just 2,380 volumes. I say “just” because this is less than one tenth of the number of ebooks added within the same period. The Library has adopted e-preferred policy for some years, meaning we buy…
Kanopy is a streaming video database the Library subscribes to for you. I knew about it before, but I never really explored it until recently. There’s a lot more there than I thought, and it’s also much easier to use than I thought! Access to Kanopy is available from a web browser, or from a…
Another good read (author I’m fond of) is Marge Piercy. Like Ursula LeGuin, she also writes both poetry and prose. I came to her poetry, after enjoying her novels. Most of her novels are set in the contemporary world when they were published, such as, Small Changes, but some in the historic past, like Gone…
