Did you know that the little hill beside the North Gate bus stop has a name? It is called the Fung Shui Ridge! Do you know what its name, "Fung Shui", means? Fung Shui (風水) is the traditional Chinese practice of arranging buildings and spaces. Even thousands of years ago, people understood the importance of the environment on their lives, and sought to improve their living spaces. On a small scale, moving some furniture away from the door or not putting your dining table directly across the toilet is easily doable. But constructing whole mountains to block out cold winds is impossible outside fables. The solution, then, is to simply build around and according to nature. And from these beliefs and actions came Fung Shui, as both a field of study and a way of life. A stranger to Fung Shui may dismiss it as mystical and unscientific.

You may already know that our library subscribes to scite.ai, a popular AI research tool for searching literature. Are you using it to its full capabilities?

April 1st, a day synonymous with humor and mischief, also marks the birth of one of literature’s most profound voices - Milan Kundera (1929 - 2023). His debut novel, The Joke, perfectly aligns with the spirit of his birthday, demonstrating how a harmless prank transforms into life-altering consequences. The weaving of comedy and tragedy defines his literary legacy.

Student helpers provide valuable assistance to the Library by supporting our staff behind the scenes and at various service points to keep everything running smoothly. Last week, we celebrated their efforts at the Student Helper Appreciation Party, with 25 students joining us. The highlight? The Outstanding Student Helper Awards ceremony, where 10 exceptional helpers were honored for their tireless devotion, remarkable talents, and passion to do more. The awardees received e-certificates and coupons as tokens of appreciation. Everyone enjoyed tasty refreshments and mingled with library staff in a relaxed atmosphere.