As the year closes, it is an opportune moment to reflect with humility on the year passed, and to look forward with hope to the year coming. I would like to attempt a brief review and preview about the Library's work. 2024 In 2024, the Library team worked very hard to update and upgrade services on all fronts. Here are a few examples. We opened the LG5 learning space in Spring; hosted the signature special collections exhibition of antique maps; organized a variety of talks by interesting speakers, including a Chinese Opera demonstration in collaboration with Xiqu Centre of westK; boosted streaming content in the collections such as Kanopy. On learning and research support, we created many new workshops that cover AI tools for academic use; and we enabled HKUST authors to publish their research papers Open Access via agreements with publishers. These are only some of the prominent outcomes of the Library team's collective efforts. Each of these posed unique challenges to us, and we overcame many with perseverance, agility, and creativity. 2025 What new things will you find in and from the Library in 2025? Many library services will naturally roll along the same tracks, but it doesn't mean they are not new!
The Library's Access Services staff are proud to give good support to teaching activities in Library space. A recent example is the Sustainable Design Thinking Certificate Program 2024 that took place on LG4 and LG5 in the Library. It was an interesting program that spanned over 7 days in June with a range of activities. This was the first major teaching program using the LG5 space – and it gave us quite a few challenges. First, we needed to make special access control arrangements for the participants. With prior registration, they could access LG5 space via HKUST's QR Code App. We also issued temporary library cards to participants from Guangzhou so they could enter the Library conveniently. The prototyping sessions were scheduled on Saturday and Sunday. Since 3D printing was essential for the sessions, our team ensured an experienced staff member would be on hand to provide smooth service through the weekend. Technical problems can happen anytime! And before the day of the closing ceremony, there was trouble with the audio system for the online meeting component. Library team members managed to help on the computer set-up, so that the communication between Guangzhou and Clear Water Bay campuses worked smoothly.