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 ebooks where possible. Where e-version is not available, we fall back on print. Let’s zoom into the 2,380 print volumes; half of them are Chinese language titles. For the other half, the majority are western titles that are only published in print, mainly from small publishers, or textbooks whose e-version can only be licensed to individuals for personal use or with very high subscription price. We also buy popular reading in print. We believe good thrillers or suspense novels, for instance, are compelling page turners, and people would enjoy having a paper book in hand.   Do stop by the New Arrivals corner on Library G/F to check out our latest print books.

Since opening in March 2024, Library LG5 space has become one of the favorite spots for students. Starting this September, the space will serve dual purposes: as a classroom and study space. To balance the two different needs, it will be a classroom during the day until 3 PM, and then open for study after 3 until the Library closes. While classes are in session on LG5, the space will be used by the class participants only. Other library users should enter the Library via G/F or LG1 entrance. Your understanding and cooperation will be greatly appreciated as we maintain a positive learning environment, ensuring LG5 remains a vibrant hub for all. Eunice Wong Manager (Learning Support) lbeunice@ust.hk  

Welcome to the HKUST Library! Whether you're returning from a sun-soaked summer filled with internships and travel, or you're a newcomer ready to embark on your university adventure, you will find the Library a welcoming place for you to start the new term. As you enter the library from the ground floor (G/F) entrance, you'll see a wall adorned with welcoming messages in various languages. Drop by, grab a sticky note, and add your own thoughts - whether it's your feelings about our library, an encouraging message for fellow students, or cheers for the new term!   Curious about what the library offers? Register here to join our "Becoming a Learning Maze Runner" undergraduate orientation program! We'll guide you through the twists and turns of our resources and services. It's like a treasure hunt, but instead of gold, you'll find knowledge - and maybe some new study buddies too! For our postgraduate students, we've got a similar program in both Zoom and face-to-face formats and you can register here! Whether you're a freshman still finding your way around campus, a senior aiming to make your final year count, or anyone in between looking to excel academically, you will find help and resources in the Library.

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 variety of apps for different platforms.  I use the app on my office PC, on my iPad and on an AppleTV at home. To check it out, you can view our catalog record, or go directly to the Kanopy website. Kanopy is constantly adding new films.  If you want to explore titles in our catalog instead of from the Kanopy's site or apps, you can browse them – over 20,000 film records have been added to PowerSearch!  Of course, Kanopy's website and apps will be the most up-to-date – title lists are always changing. Lots of current films are available, along with many, many awesome older classic films – I love black and white Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant films especially.  World Cinema is well represented - for example, one of my favourites is Akira Kurosawa, whose film Ran is available.

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 to Soldiers, and some are science fiction, like He, She, and It. Here's a poem she wrote that may help to inspire you: For the Young Who Want To, from her poetry collection, Circles on the Water (1982),. We have it  in the book collection (PS3566.I4 A6 1982). It starts off: "Talent is what they say you have after the novel is published and favorably reviewed. Beforehand what you have is a tedious delusion, a hobby like knitting." This poem is encouraging young people (or beginners of any age)  to keep at it, despite the discouraging atmosphere for the arts (or the life of the mind in general. So, I think it can apply to science or any  creative endeavorl. She has another great poem in that collection, called To be of Use, in which she described people who wholeheartedly enter into work, good work.  That poem ends with: "The work of the world is common as mud. Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.