Rolling Through the Decades: A 30-Year Tribute to Our Compact Shelving

Library Stories

Building

People

As HKUST celebrates its 35th anniversary, the Library reflects on a story that began alongside the founding of our University. It is a story of innovation, partnership, enduring care, and the quiet dedication that has supported our academic mission for over three decades.

A High-Tech Solution for a Growing Library

In the early 1990s, as a brand-new university, our collection of books and journals grew at a staggering pace. We faced a modern dilemma: how to expand our holdings without compromising the Library’s sleek, open design?

The answer was the Spacesaver Compact Shelving system. Installed in 1994, it was the largest installation of its kind in Asia at the time. It was, quite literally, state-of-the-art.

The IMR Partnership: A Legacy of Care

Because our supplier was overseas, we made the unconventional choice to maintain the system in-house. We found an incredible partner in the Instrument Maintenance and Repair Services Unit (IMR), now renamed as "Maintenance and Repair Unit (MRU)", part of the MDMF, to help us with in-house maintenance and repair.

IMR’s technicians didn't just read the manuals; they mastered them. When original parts became obsolete, they didn't give up. They scoured the markets of Ap Liu Street and the digital aisles of Taobao for rare components to keep the gears turning. Their craftsmanship has allowed our system to pass the rigorous WR2 electronic safety tests every five years, far exceeding the typical 20-year lifespan of such technology.

Sustainability & Success

Over the years, we have expanded and optimized. In 2018, we even repurposed second-hand shelving from a sister UGC institution—a sustainable move that gave old units a "second life" and saved the University millions of dollars. These redirected funds have allowed us to invest in new equipment and services for our students.

A Tribute to Our Community

Ultimately, this story isn’t about machines; it’s about people. We owe our sincere thanks to:

Library Management, for their vision and foresight;
Library Staff, for their care and diligence in daily operations;
The MRU/MDMF Team, for their creative problem-solving and dedication;
Our Library Users, for treating the system with respect and consideration.

As HKUST celebrates 35 years, these shelves stand as a symbol of our "can-do" spirit. Because of this teamwork, our Library continues to move forward—smoothly and proudly—after 30+ remarkable years.

Building the Compact Shelving- Base and Railings

Building the compact shelving - showing the robust bases and railings.

Compact shelving that has served the HKUST Library faithfully for more than 30 years.

Clara Kwan
Head (Administrative Services)
lbclara@ust.hk

Edited By

Clara Kwan, Head (Administrative Services), lbclara@ust.hk

Published

16 Mar 2026