Library Heatmap
Library Temperature Heatmap is an innovative tool showing temperature in different areas of the Library. This initiative helps you identify areas that are more comfortable for you to study. The beta version was rolled out in September 2024.
In the recent LibQUAL+ survey, many remarked about cold areas in the Library. As the Campus Management Office has installed sensors throughout the building, we sought to extract temperature data from those sensors to improve library services.
The Library Systems team collaborated with a student worker, Jessie Lou (Year 3, BSc in Data Science and Technology). They explored techniques related to recognizing coordinates and visualization, enabling an online platform displaying temperature distribution on our floor plan according to the data retrieved from the sensors’ API.
Challenges Faced
The journey was not without challenges. One of the primary hurdles is accurately locating coordinates to display the temperature on our floor plan using Python libraries. Ultimately, we drew inspiration from heatmap.js to generate the heatmap by rendering circles and changing color based on the distance from the center.
Future Developments
While the sensors cover most of the Library, we hope to expand the temperature sensors to the new LG5 study space. Please explore the temperature heatmap, and contact us at lbsystem@ust.hk with any inquiries or suggestions!
Library Temperature Heatmap (Beta): https://lbapps.hkust.edu.hk/heatmap/
This project was part of the Library’s Digital Scholarship CoLab program. For more details, visit the Digital Scholarship DS CoLab website: https://library.hkust.edu.hk/ds/project/s001/
Collection Spotlight : BBC Literary Adaptations in Video
Explore this treasure trove of BBC productions of famous literary works spanning the 1980’s to 2010’s. From Dickens to Shakespeare, Chekhov to Arthur Miller, Jane Austen to Agatha Christie, a dizzying breadth of well-loved classics, all in one place. Alice in Wonderland, Crime and Punishment, Pride and Prejudice, Middlemarch, Tale of Two Cities, Miss Marple series, to name a few to whet your appetite.
Maggie Smith, the British acting legend who passed away recently, appeared as the eccentric Betsey Trotwood in the 1999 production of David Copperfield, and guess who played the young David? It’s Daniel Radcliffe at the age of ten before he shot to fame in the Harry Potter blockbuster series. Here is a rare chance to see the young actor without his iconic Potter-esque glasses. Interestingly, Radcliffe and Smith co-starred again in the Harry Potter films with the latter as Professor McGonagall.
Of the various TV and movie adaptations of Pride and Prejudice, the 1995 BBC production with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle playing the Darcy/Bennet couple is arguably the best. For this, Ehle won the 1996 BAFTA Best Actress award.
If you fancy a taste of Shakespeare with a modern twist, try the 2016 adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Middlemarch transports you to the picturesque market town of Stamford, England where time stands still. Stamford is a popular shooting location for period dramas. To retrace the footsteps of the fictional characters, consider a BBC drama trail.
BBC Literary Adaptations in Video delivers hours of quality diversions for anyone who enjoys great storytelling. Also explore BBC Video Collection and BBC Landmark Video Collection with enriching documentaries on history, culture, and our natural world.
Access: Library home page ⭢ Databases ⭢ by Subject ⭢ Streaming Audios and Videos
AI in the Classroom: Librarians Partner with ENVR 3220
How can students use AI tools effectively and ethically in their course work?
This fall, two librarians, Samson Choi and Aster Zhao, joined Professor Laurence Delina in a deep collaboration for ENVR 3220 “Energy Sources and Usage” to help student learn how to use library and AI tools to enhance their research process. This ranged from question formulation to searching and evaluating, generating new knowledge, and citing properly. The project is funded by CEI’s Education and Generative AI (Edge AI) initiative.
In this new project, the librarians met students in their classroom three times during Week 2-4 and worked with them on using AI tools to assist their course projects.
In the first week, they guided students in crafting effective research questions by helping them design a bot for mind-mapping and research question formulation. To do this, students learned basic prompt engineering techniques and how to write effective prompts for bot design.
In the second and third weeks, students learned to do literature searching using appropriate databases and AI tools, and to evaluate the credibility of the materials they found. Through hands-on activities, the students recognized both the potential and limitations of using AI in research. Finally, the librarians emphasized how to cite AI generated content appropriately. The students participated well, showing a lively engagement with how the tools and methods they learned could benefit their academic work and beyond.
What was the most important thing they learned? When asked in the feedback survey, students shared:
• “All the AI tools that I have never heard of. I wish I knew these in the first year to University!!”
• “From this workshop, I have learnt about different AI tools, for example, Scite, Elicit to generate some useful resources and articles for our essays. This will be easier for us to find required information.”
• “Instead of being a user of Generative AI, we can learn from AI by building a prompt and model.”
• “I learnt how to create prompts and generate images, as well as how to cite those images.”
Did You Lose Something?
Well over 5,000 staff and faculty members visit the Library on most days. Many items get left behind, in study rooms, carrels, study pods, or restrooms. Here are the total number of items found over the past three years:
• 2023-2024: 2,344 items
• 2022-2023: 2,569 items
• 2021-2022: 1,854 items
Looking at the data, the highest number of items lost is in the fall term – presumably by spring some of you remember to take your stuff home.
Over the years, the types of items left behind have changed. USB drives, Octopus cards, wallets, keys, umbrellas, and water bottles used to be very common. Now, we find more mobile phones, earphones, charging cables, and adapters. Clothing, stuffed toys, glasses and accessories also remain frequent items found.
If your lost item is easily identifiable with your name on it – such as HKID card, student card, or personalized Octopus card – Library staff will try to contact you via email. Other items are categorized and stored for a month or two waiting for someone to claim them. After that, valuables are sent to the Security Office, while less valuable items are disposed of.
So if you’ve misplaced something, try to recall where you last had it and ask our staff at the Service Counter on G/F. The sooner you check, the better your chances of finding it!
Say Hello to Dustin : The Cleaning Robot!
This Fall, our facilities team introduced a fun, high-tech addition to our cleaning crew: Dustin 2.0! Named by a student and brought in by our cleaning team, this charming robot now zooms around the Academic Concourse and the Library, keeping everything spick and span.
Since mid-September, Dustin has been hard at work every Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., gliding smoothly across the G/F. To match the Library’s peaceful vibe, he has intentionally slowed down his speed and vacuuming power, making him a gentle presence in our space.
Working in the Library for 2 hours already takes up 40% of his energy. To maintain his stellar performance, Dustin needs to recharge for 2-3hours per day. Equipped with advanced sensors, he skillfully navigates around tables, chairs, and busy students, dodging obstacles like a pro! His efficiency is thanks to the cleaning contractor, who meticulously plans his route to ensure he glides effortlessly through the Library.
Dustin 2.0 has quickly become a unique part of the Library experience, adding a sprinkle of futuristic fun to our daily lives. Students often find him amusing, some describing him as sleek and cute, bringing a delightful touch of novelty to our atmosphere. So, next time you see him zooming by, don’t forget to give him a wave!
Altering Nature: Exploring Life in Computational Art
We are excited to announce our current exhibition, “Altering Nature: Exploring Life in Computational Art”, running from Oct 30 to Dec 24 at the Library G/F Gallery.
The exhibition poses essential questions: What is life, and what does it mean to be intelligent? How can we empathetically perceive the perspectives of both human and non-human living beings? How do creators understand nature and utilize different media to alter artificial life forms? By answering these questions, this exhibition invites visitors to explore and discuss the potential forms of coexistence between organic and artificial life.
Altering Nature features 10 artworks that combine cutting-edge approaches such as AI-generated content and data visualization with traditional Artificial Life (ALife) methods, including genetic algorithms and agent-based systems.
Through diverse themes such as climate change, ecological crises, toxic food, and the possibilities of transformation and becoming “the other,” the artists explore and represent the concept of “Altering Nature.”
This exhibition is organized and funded by the Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas (EMIA) and the Division of Arts and Machine Creativity (AMC) at HKUST, as well as the Computational Media and Arts Thrust (CMA) at HKUST (GZ). It offers new insights into the relationship between biology and computational art. Join us at the gallery to see this exciting art and tech exhibition.
Exhibition page: https://library.hkust.edu.hk/exhibitions/computational-art/.
Energy Kiosk: On-Campus Mobile Power Bank Rental Service
Energy Kiosk, a winner of the 2023 Sustainable Smart Campus Student Competition, is a campus-wide shared power bank system. Users can check out a portable batteries from a kiosk, charge their devices, and return it to any other kiosk. This reduces waste and provides a convenient way for you to recharge!
You can find the kiosks in the following locations:
• Library G/F: Opposite the entrance
• LSKBB G/F: At the front door of Classroom G003
• LG5: Pillar opposite the LG5 Multi-function Room
• Concourse: Near LTJ
For a visual guide on locating the kiosks and borrowing a power bank,
check out this IG reel: https://www.instagram.com/ssc_hkust/reel/C_nryqHBKH1/
October iTalks
Two inspiring iTalks were held in October, showcasing remarkable journeys and insights.
On October 7, Mr. Pili Hu, a Google GenAI Specialist, shared his remarkable journey of overcoming chronic disease through endurance exercise. Mr. Hu emphasized the human body’s natural affinity for running and the incredible physiological adaptations that support it.
In addition to his personal achievements, Mr. Hu founded the Institute of Endurance Science and Technology, an online community aimed at fostering interest in endurance science and culture.
The event attracted 45 students and staff members, who reflected on key takeaways, including:
• Humans can run further than many animals.
• 超跑步可以对抗慢性病。
• The benefits of meditation while running.
• Strategies for integrating running into daily life.
On October 17, Mr. Marcus Leung-Shea, an HKUST MBA alumnus and Acting Director of the Sustainability/Net-Zero Office, spoke on “Entrepreneurial Hacks for a Sustainable Future.” He illustrated how to develop clever, innovative solutions to sustainability challenges through his entrepreneurial experiences, interactive exercises, and initiatives from the HKUST Sustainable Smart Campus as a Living Lab.
With a willingness to explore creative solutions, sustainability challenges can be tackled one invention at a time.
Participants shared their feedback on the highlights of the talk:
• Marcus was very engaging.
• The interactive format was filled with inspiring cases.
• I really enjoyed it!
• I learned how students have contributed to
• achieving a sustainable campus.
• The concepts of entrepreneurship and the interactive activities were truly inspiring.
Improving Our Study Environment
We have received complaints about loud chatter and students playing games, particularly in the Learning Commons. A positive study environment benefits all students and enhances our academic experience, so it is essential that we all do our part. Although the Learning Commons serves as a versatile hub that supports both collaborative group work and individual study, it should not favor one at the expense of the other.
To help maintain a serene study space, we have increased patrols and added signage to remind everyone of library etiquette. Security personnel will also ensure that appropriate occupancy and behavior are maintained.
1. Keep Voices Low
Please remember to keep voices low and avoid casual chats or loud excitement; the Library is a space for study, not social gatherings. Your respect for others helps everyone succeed!
2. Enjoy Snacks in Refreshment Zone Only
Enjoy light snacks, but please do so only in the refreshment zone. Let’s work together to keep our study areas crumb-free and pleasant for everyone.
3. Don’t Occupy Seats with Personal Items
To ensure everyone has access to seating, please do not occupy chairs with personal belongings. Seat hogging is rude. If you need to go out for a while, use our self-service lockers to keep your items safe.
By following these guidelines, we can all contribute to a more conducive learning environment. Thank you for your cooperation and support!
last modified 01 November 2024