What's Up on the Ground Floor this September? You may have noticed something unusual just inside the G/F gates of the Library. What is it? A display of a digital humanities project for you to interact (play) with. What's the story? In spring semester 2025, 5 UG students worked with library staff as one of the DS CoLab projects to bring a 520 year-old map from the Library's collection to life. They used augmented reality (AR) technology to create an engaging and interactive visual way to explore the cultures and histories that went into the creation of "Secunda etas mundi", The Second Stage of the World, from Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle (1493).  This map is a fascinating piece from the library’s Special Collections. It shows “The Second Age of the World” (out of 6), the stage between Noah’s Flood and the birth of Abraham. These ages were a periodization of world history (common in Christian Europe for about 1,000 years), first formulated by the North African Christian theologian, Augustine of Hippo (354-430 CE). A remarkable example of late medieval cartography, it combines knowledge from the Greek geographer Claudius Ptolemy with visual references from religion and mythology from Europe and the lands surrounding the Mediterranean.

Did you know that Canton (Guangzhou) and Hong Kong, twin cities where Cantonese is the lingua franca, have much more in common beyond language? Modern art and visual culture born in the two cities share a legacy deeply rooted in the history of Modern China. M Museum’s recent exhibition “Canton Modern: Art and Visual Culture 1900s-1970s” showcases over 200 artworks – many on public display for the first time – from this lesser-known history. Sha Fei, a featured artist in this exhibition whose works are on loan from our Library’s Special Collections, is regarded as one of the most influential Chinese photographers of the 20th century. Born and educated in Guangzhou, Sha Fei, originally named Situ Chuan, came from an extended family that was well known for its artistically talented members, including a film director and two painters. Initially aspired to be a fine art photographer, Sha Fei turned his lens towards the working class and later, scenes of war during the 1930s-40s. This transformation was driven by a shared artistic vision among Cantonese artists highlighted in the M exhibition: the belief that art could influence people and transform society.       Two of Sha Fei’s works on display at M , photos taken by the author.       As a photojournalist, Sha Fei produced more than a thousand photo records of the Sino-Japanese War. Thanks to a generous donation from Sha Fei’s daughter, Ms Wang Yan, who reached us through Professor David Cheng Chang at the Division of Humanities, our Library now holds a collection of Sha Fei’s wartime photographs: Sha Fei Photographic Collection.

I am thrilled to share my experience about my first project in the library: the Library Material Pickup Station. It feels like a significant milestone in my career. As an alumnus of HKUST, it feels surreal to be back as a worker in the library, which I once relied on so much. When I first joined the library, I felt both familiar and strange. Stepping in as a staff member was a different experience, diving into a new role made the familiar feel almost foreign. After 3 months of training, I got to know the library’s operations and was finally assigned to a project to implement the Library Material Pickup Station. Taking on this responsibility has been quite exhilarating. Throughout the project, my colleagues and I brainstormed many ideas and planned out every detail to ensure the Library Material Pickup Station runs smoothly. The most memorable moment during this project was when we discovered an issue with the default settings of the station. If users had even 1 dollar in overdue fines, they were not allowed to pick up any books from the station.

I really remember watching the first Harry Potter film (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) with my schoolmates in the classroom during primary school. After the movie, I was extremely amazed and thrilled as Harry Potter introduced me to a magical Wizarding World that I had never imagined. This experience sparked my lasting passion for reading the Harry Potter series. Subsequently, I often went to the public library with my mom and younger sister primarily because of the Harry Potter series. My younger sister and I were very excited whenever new Harry Potter books came out. But the books were very popular, so we had to wait a long time to borrow them from the library. Time flies! The entire Harry Potter book series was completed in 2007, and the last movie came out in 2011. I still enjoy reading and watching Harry Potter every now and then. Each time, they take me back to that magical world and bring back wonderful memories.

As summer vacation begins, are you feeling weary of textbooks and academic papers? The Library is more than a place for group discussion, dissertation writing, or exam preparation. On G/F, a selection of popular books on display is beckoning, inviting you to unwind with a good read. These popular reads offer fresh perspectives on history, culture, and the arts. For instance, The Course of History: Ten Meals That Changed the World takes you on a journey through historical events, all seen through the lens of memorable dinners. Menus and recipes included! If you’re intrigued by ancient Greece, A Thing of Beauty: Travels in Mythical and Modern Greece will transport you to this sun-drenched tourist haven where the past meets the present. For a fun twist on literary classics, check out 莎士比亞超圖解 : 解構17齣經典劇作, 上一堂最好玩的莎翁課 ! Its comic-style illustrations let you surf through Shakespeare's renowned works, making intricate plots and complex character relationships effortlessly enjoyable. Don’t miss 玩具醫生 : 那些玩具教我們的事, where a local “toy doctor” shares stories of repairing toys from diverse backgrounds over the past nineteen years.