Collection Spotlight – Discovery
Come and explore our revamped pages for popular books and streaming videos! You will see five collections grouped under Collection Discovery: Collection Displays for books and DVDs, Popular Books, Kindle Collection, and Kanopy Streaming Videos. Each page displays attractive cover images to optimize browsing experience.
Collection Displays rotate by themes every two to three months, presenting carefully curated titles to highlight hidden gems in the collection. New topics are scheduled to match current issues and interests. Our recent displays of Popular Reading on AI, Food Culture and Green Living proved very popular and received high check-out rate. The other three collections are constantly refreshed with new arrivals displayed at the top. Keyword search “鄭保鴻” or “history” will pull up related hits to pick and choose.
With the arrival of streaming media and options for taking personal subscription plans, the Library is no longer actively buying new movies in DVD format. That said, Collection Display: Videos presents award winning movies for enjoyment at all times. If you need a DVD drive, the G/F service counter or LG1 Tech Item Kiosk has it for loan.
For a dizzying variety of streaming movies and documentaries on personal computers and mobile devices, Kanopy won’t disappoint.
Access path: Library home page ⭢ Collections & Resources ⭢ Guides to Resources ⭢ Collection Discovery.
A New Level of Convenience – the Library Material Pickup Station!
We are delighted to launch a Library Material Pickup Station, on LG1 outside the Learning Commons. This enhances your library experience by providing a secure and convenient way to collect requested items. You can now retrieve materials at any time convenient to you – 24/7!
The Library Material Pickup Station provides 83 individual lockers. To take full advantage of this service, simply make your request on the HKUST Library website as usual and wait for the notification that your items are ready for pickup. There are different ways to authenticate – including tapping, scanning your HKUST card, using the HKUST QR code in your phone app. Just follow the on-screen instructions to collect your requested materials.
When the locker door is opened, your requested items will be automatically checked out to your library account, and the due date will be displayed right on the screen. Don’t forget to securely close the locker door after collecting your items! The station also provides a return book drop. After authentication, you can return your loaned books easily.
We believe that this facility will provide greater flexibility and efficiency. Our goal is to create a seamless experience, allowing you to collect your wanted materials at your own pace regardless of library opening hours.
Please try it out! We hope you enjoy this personalized library experience.
Library Space & Facilities – LOTS of Summer Changes!
The Library’s facilities team has been quite busy while you have been away – we hope you like the changes!
Ground Floor Carpet
The first visible change is right at the gates on the ground floor – changed carpeting with a stunning visual design radiating out from the consolidated service counter and leading to fresh charcoal walkways all the way to the rear.
We also made a custom carpet strip along the entry and exit gates, providing improved guidance and a sharp look with a UST blue motif.
Ground Floor Tables
Farther back on the ground floor is the next change – an updated table design. We moved a dozen tables out of the Learning Commons to make room for another project. The tables are still nice, so we moved them up the ground floor, removing the remaining reference shelving and putting those books in with the main collection on LG3 and LG4. We think the new tables work quite well, creating a new study zone near the Research & Learning Support office.
iMac Upgrades
During the summer, we made a couple changes to Classroom A. This is our Macintosh room, and the computers were getting quite old. So we upgraded to brand new iMacs for your work and pleasure.
We also took this opportunity to make space for some of you to bring your own computer or tablet when attending library classes – called BYOD or Bring Your Own Device.
Hexagon / Honeycomb Carrels
The biggest effort has been in responding to your suggestions and complaints from the LibQUAL user survey as well as your feedback last year. Two consistent requests were for a shift to having more individual study space, and a desire for more quiet.
In response, we have converted the entire area on LG4 at the bottom of the void to 53 individual study carrels. We went with a colourful mix of red, gold, green, and blue carrels in a ‘hexagon’ or honeycomb arrangement. We changed the carpet too, giving a more engaging and dramatic visual effect. Previously, that area held several large reading tables and a collection of sofas. In addition to meeting the need for individual study, this should reduce incidents of noise travelling from LG4 to higher floors, especially LG3 and G/F.
The carrels are built with sound-absorbent fabric panels, wooden study surfaces, regular and USB power sockets, and task lighting. The lighting is easily adjustable, and has controls for adjusting both brightness and colour temperature.
We are still making some adjustments to the area, but we hope these new carrels will meet your needs. As for the tables which used to be there – after over thirty years of service, they were sent to the recyclers to become part of something new elsewhere in Hong Kong.
We also installed 36 hexagon carrels into the back portion of the Learning Commons, replacing a similar number of table seats. For the first time, the 24/7 LC includes some individual study options – and they will help this area be less noisy – a double bonus at your request!
Learning Commons Entrance
With support from the Campus Management Office, the clouded glass in all the entry doors of the Learning Commons was replaced with clear glass. This makes the LC much more inviting and visually engaging.
More Study Rooms
new group study LG3-09
new group study LG3-07
Another frequent request is for more group study rooms. We managed to clear out two more storage areas to create a couple good-sized group study rooms for you on LG3. LG3-09 is much like LG4-09 below, but for LG3-07 we decided to try some movable furniture rather than a table bolted to the floor.
Charging Bicycles
Finally, we installed two exercise bicycles in the Garden Lobby way in the back on the ground floor. They include adjustable height reading desks, and both USB-A and USB-C charging ports which can charge your devices while you pedal.
The Library has something for everyone, including a variety of study options from rocking chairs to exercise bike. We look forward to your visit – whether to study or work out or take a break with friends. So welcome back, or welcome for the first time!
LG5 Space – Classroom by Day, Study Room by Night
The Library LG5 floor is again reserved for classes every day until 5pm. Students entering for class should use the LG5 doors – at the back of the hallway next to McDonald’s. The staircase from the Library’s LG4 will be closed.
After classes are over, we will switch the LG5 Space into study mode, i.e. opening the stairwell from LG4 and locking the LG5 entrance doors. The LG5 Space will be closed on weekends.
Lost and Found in Hong Kong: The Unsung Chinese Heroes at D-Day
In 2015, a diary titled “1944” was discovered by chance inside a building just about to be demolished in Hong Kong.
It was written during World War II, when the diarist participated in the largest amphibious invasion ever recorded: D-Day, also known as the Normandy Landings. In vivid style, he documented a little-known piece of history — Chinese servicemen fought not only in Asia, but also in European battles.
After the war, the diarist made his way to Hong Kong, assigned to a military operation that brought much-needed aid to the local population; he eventually chose to settle here and stowed his memories in a quiet corner of the city.
The diary appears to be the only known primary source on Chinese participation in D-Day. It reveals numerous first-hand stories about the realities of war, countless depictions of excitement, frustration, envy, and even romance.
For the past two years, the curatorial team has been retracing his footsteps and achieving substantial breakthroughs. On the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, let us delve into the past by getting to know his colleagues, feeling the triumphs and tribulations of his journey, and understanding the crossroads he had to face throughout his life.
We warmly invite you to explore this remarkable exhibition, on display until 6 November. Discover untold narratives and rare artefacts through guided tours led by our curators, who will provide deeper insight into these extraordinary histories. For tour schedules and registration details, please stay tuned to the University Event Calendar or exhibition website (https://library.hkust.edu.hk/exhibitions/d-day/).
Diary section with translation
Upcoming iTalks
演唱會黃牛問題行內剖析及解決方案
Analysis of the scalping issue in concerts and proposed solutions
With the recent opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong has welcomed a series of blockbuster concerts, drawing music fans from across the region. However, securing tickets remains a challenge, as scalpers resell them at exorbitant prices, yet demand persists.
Industry expert Mr. Mike Ko will analyze the current situation, its root causes, and practical solutions on 25 September Thursday at 12pm (registration link https://lbcube.hkust.edu.hk/ce/event/10783).
Mr. Mike Ko, a Hong Kong University of Science and Technology alumnus (BEng Computer Engineering, 2003), founded Timable.com in 2012. Frequently featured in media, he offers valuable perspectives on Hong Kong’s concert industry and the persistent problem of ticket scalping.
The Science of Baby-Making
Despite completing secondary school biology, many adults have only a very basic knowledge of human reproduction. In the 21st century, advancements in science offer more insights, treatments, and choices for conceiving and bearing children.
Join us on 21 October Tuesday at 12:00 pm for an engaging talk by Dr. Aftab Amin from HKUST’s Division of Life Sciences. He will explore genetics, inheritance, fertility issues, IVF, and more, making this topic accessible whether you’re planning a family or simply curious. The talk will also include a 10 minute VR demo of the human reproductive system.
Dr. Amin, a PhD holder in Molecular Medicine from HKUST, is an innovative educator and researcher. His teaching, enhanced by Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and AI, has earned him prestigious awards, including the Educational Technology Innovation GOLD Award (2024) and the Thetos Early Career Distinguished Teaching Award (2024-25).
Don’t miss these fascinating talks at the Library!
last modified 01 September 2025