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 spread Christianity in China. He was born in Macerata, a small town in central Italy with a population of just under thirteen thousand. At the age of 20, Ricci was admitted to the Roman College, a Jesuit university renowned for its expertise in natural philosophy. Hmm, what exactly was natural philosophy? Mathematics, astronomy, music, geography, and more technical disciplines like mechanics and architecture. For example, how to craft a globe?

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 education to the impact of AI on business, medicine and beyond, this collection is now on display at the G/F of the Library, ready for you to explore. Selecting the Books: A Fun Challenge Curating this display was both fun and challenging. We started with a giant list of over 6,000 AI-related books published after 2020, aiming to narrow it down to the best mix of popular, accessible, and informative reads—not too technical, not overly academic. As the subject librarian responsible for book selection, I spent quite some time digging into bestseller lists, reviews and recommendations from Amazon and other trusted sources. It wasn’t just about picking the top-rated books, but to represent a variety of perspectives and topics. Whether you are a tech newbie, a business leader, or interested in AI ethics, we wanted to make sure there’s something here for you. Setting Up the Display: A Team Effort Bringing this display to life was truly a collaborative effort, with colleagues from multiple teams in the library to make it happen. It all started with our Collection Development team, who compiled a comprehensive list of AI-related books from our collection for me to select the most relevant ones to feature.

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 an Italian name in the English-speaking world? It’s an attribution to the mapmaker, Matteo Ricci (1552-1610). He was an Italian missionary of the Society of Jesus and one of the first Jesuits to arrive in Ming China. At the imperial court of Emperor Wanli 萬曆, he served as an expert in astronomy, geography, and mathematics. His map is the first world map based on European cartography but positioned China at the center of the world. However, Ricci did not create this map alone. He closely collaborated with Chinese scholars and artisans, including Li Zhizao 李之藻 (1565-1630), a scholar-official from Hangzhou.

Part 1 discussed how students can fight monsters of anxiety about grades & GPA by laughing and learning with the Wisdom Stone Game. But, some carry around other fears. Since childhood, we’ve become familiar with the idea or cliché of corpses and skeletons coming to life. Others may fear living creatures like spiders or snakes. We get “spooked out” by such things, except when they are silly or pretty. There’s a long tradition of dealing with these fears by confronting or even celebrating them. Here’s an example: Danse Macabre, composed by Camille Saint-Saëns, performed by Lydia Ayers, Andrew Horner, and Stella So. Danse Macabre, also called the Dance of Death, is an allegorical concept said to encapsulate the unconscious fear of death.1 The popularity of the Danse Macabre art such as poetry, music and drama, can be traced back to the 13th century, when Europeans became obsessed with death inspired by the Black Death and the Hundred Years’ War.2 This video of a puppet show, available on DataSpace@HKUST, is part of a collection of the music, and puppet productions of the late Dr. Lydia Ayers, a former professor at HKUST, given by her widower, Dr. Andrew Horner, a professor of Computer Science here.

Halloween is a time when stories with mystery and imagination come alive. When we were young and had limited understanding of the world, we might struggle to differentiate between fantasy and reality. Thus, our fears were mostly related to imaginary creatures, mythical scenarios or the dark. The older I get, the more I realize that thrilling mysteries are not based solely on our imaginations, but on things close enough to “haunt” our memories and connected deeply to our personal fears. This is why the HKUST campus legends mostly relate to studies. We take our exam results and learning outcomes seriously: they become the root of our anxiety. I can relate it because I graduated from HKUST too. Remember how people in the Harry Potter series banished their boggarts, which took the form of their worst fear? They shouted “Riddikulus!”.  Thus, we can defeat fear by humor and laughter. If our boggarts are anxiety about our grades and GPA, let’s turn it into something fun and interesting, so it can never dominate our spirits.

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 a variety of titles, from cultural heritage books and engaging memoirs to helpful travel guides, all featuring stunning photos and stories that truly capture the spirit of Hong Kong. You can explore both print books and e-books. If you love holding a book in your hands, come to the Library and check them out! Prefer to read online? No problem! You can dive into the e-books anytime, anywhere.

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 of my all-time favorites: Begin Again: A touching story about finding new directions and creativity, with a great soundtrack. If you like this film, don’t miss “Once” by the same director, John Carney. Though its visuals might not be the best, the story is genuine and deeply moving! La La Land: Dive into the bright world of dreams and love in this beautiful musical. The music really impressed me when I saw it in theaters! Love Story: A classic film that tells a touching tale of love overcoming obstacles.

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 displayed on formal occasions like congregations, and HKUST is no exception. Ours is unique in two ways. It is longer than traditional ceremonial maces, measuring over 1.5 meters and weighing in at over 15 kg (35 pounds) ─ as heavy as a small child! And it sports a sleek and modern design that features our university’s emblem, much unlike the ornate designs used by monarchies or other older universities.     Left: A close highlight of the HKUST mace, HKUST Library Right: Chancellor’s mace, figure of Louis XIV, of Saint-Louis at the Palais du Tau, G. Garitan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons   Where did maces come from? Why do they appear in university ceremonies?

Summer induces the vibrancy of awareness. While we are gazing at the fiery blue sky, in the next breath, our faces are already dotted with raindrops from the gloom of dark clouds. There is nothing more absurd than that – uncontrollable, ever-changing, bizarre randomness. Absurdity is what you try to understand, yet far beyond your understanding. “The right understanding of any matter and a misunderstanding of the same matter do not wholly exclude each other.” In the summer of 1914, Franz Kafka began to write The Trial, yet left the ending of the story incomplete and unknown before his death. The trial of Josef K. never ends. Absurdity. Summer is associated with Kafka. On June 3, 1924, Kafka died in a sanatorium in Austria, just one month before his 41st birthday.