Discovering Rare and Special Collections at the New HKUST Library Digital Collections
We are pleased to introduce the newly launched HKUST Library Digital Collections platform. This modernized portal replaces the former Rare and Special e-Zone, featuring key enhancements such as faster image and book viewing, better rendering on mobile devices, interactive timeline browsing, and support for searching in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese. These changes deliver a more user-friendly and intuitive exploration experience. You can now seamlessly navigate digital materials from our University Archives and Special Collections—including antique maps, rare books, historical photographs, HKUST artwork, posters, and more.
Faster and Smoother Image and Book Viewing Experience
The platform utilizes modern image delivery to load content progressively. Previews are displayed almost instantly while the full-resolution view fills in quietly in the background, so you no longer have to wait for large images to load. Zooming, panning, and flipping through books and manuscripts feel smooth and continuous.
Better Mobile Experience with Responsive Design
Designed with mobile users in mind, the interface adapts seamlessly to any screen size. You will never need to pinch-to-zoom or scroll horizontally on your devices. Text stays easy to read, images scale smoothly, and navigation remains comfortably within your thumb’s reach. You get an experience purpose-built for you, not just a scaled-down desktop site.
Browsing Objects with Timeline View
Collection objects can now be viewed on an interactive timeline that aligns them chronologically. You can easily contextualize items by zooming in or out and panning across decades and centuries. Seeing which historical records, figures, and events belonged to the same era is now possible at a single glance.
We invite you to visit the new site and discover our rich digital collections with these enhanced features!
Gary Wong
Librarian (Systems & Digital Services)
lbgary@ust.hk
