The University of Hong Kong Libraries is an important part of the educational facilities provided to you by the University. It consists of the Main Library and six specialist branch libraries, namely the Fung Ping Shan Library, Yu Chun Keung Medical Library, Dental Library, Education Library, Lui Che Woo Law Library and the Music Library. Besides offering a congenial environment for study and research, the Libraries also provides a wide range of information resources including a comprehensive print collection and a rapidly expanding electronic collection available through authenticated access.
Students should produce their Student Registration Cards as proof of identity at the entrance to gain admission to the Libraries. To prevent unlawful use by another person, loss of the Student Registration Card must be reported as soon as possible to the Academic Services Office. Students have to fill in an “Application form for replacement” and present it to the Registration Counter of the Main Library where staff will immediately suspend the borrowing privilege of the lost card. Once a replacement card is issued to a student by the Registry, he/she may resume the use of library services by completing the registration of the new card at the Registration Counter of the Main Library. Students should be aware that all library correspondences including recall, overdue, pickup and coming due reminders will be sent to the email address provided by the Information Technology Services of the University of Hong Kong. It is the responsibility for the student to check this email address and his/her circulation record frequently. Students should also note that they must notify the Academic Services Office immediately of any change of home or correspondence address by the HKU Portal. Please also pay attention to the Library Regulations http://lib.hku.hk/general/services/regulations.html as breach of any regulation(s) may result in temporary or permanent exclusion from the use of the Libraries and its electronic resources.
Postgraduates may borrow up to 180 volumes and six audio-visual items. They can also charge out periodicals which are not available for loan to undergraduates. More details of the loan quota and loan period for each kind of materials are available on http://lib.hku.hk/general/borrowing.html#4.
Inter-library loan (ILL) services are available to postgraduate students wishing to obtain materials not in stock at the Libraries. Requests may be made for the loan of books or photocopies of periodical articles from local and overseas libraries. In an effort to support research needs, the Libraries subsidize all current HKU postgraduates in procuring materials through the ILL service. Hong Kong Academic Library Link (HKALL) is another interlibrary loan service for students to request books from all academic libraries funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC).
Postgraduate students are also eligible to apply for JULAC (Joint University Libraries Advisory Committee) Cards which will enable them to use and borrow from the libraries of local UGC-funded tertiary institutions. Books borrowed from these local libraries may also be returned to the Lending Services Counter on 2/F Main Library for despatch to the lending libraries. To allow time for despatch, these books must be returned at least two working days before the due date. It should however be noted that students using other libraries are bound by the regulations of such libraries and will be required to pay fines for overdue books at the rate set by the libraries concerned. Application for the JULAC Cards can be made online from Libraries Homepage > e-forms > Library cards application > JULAC Card Application Form.
By means of the interbranch document delivery service, books residing in HKU Libraries or borrowed via ILL services including HKALL can be picked up at a selected location within the Libraries. Please consult http://lib.hku.hk/cdd/ibs_books.html if you are interested in such services. For more information about the above services, please contact the Lending Services Division by phone 3917-2202 or email libcir@hku.hk.
Of special mention is the learning commons style facility on Level 3 in the Main Library, which consists of five zones. The Study Zone supports reflective self-study and is open overnight year round. The discussion rooms equipped with learning technologies in the Collaboration Zone provides an ideal place for group projects. The Technology Zone, with the computers and software applications, offers a one-stop shop place for students to search for scholarly information and produce their student assignments. The Multi-purpose Zone features flexible furniture and can easily be transformed from a study area to a seminar room. The Breakout Zone offers a place for relaxation. In the middle of Level 3 is the Information Counter which provides face-to- face support in the use of the facilities and search of information. Users can also seek assistance by phone at 3917-2203, email at libis@hku.hk or WhatsApp 5441-5441. You may book a space or discussion room at Level 3 and branch libraries via http://lib.hku.hk/general/e-form/book-a-space.html or apply for a single study room by following the procedures on https://lib.hku.hk/mainlib/studyplace.html.
To facilitate navigation amidst the myriad information resources, students are most encouraged to attend the Postgraduate Library Workshop. Through the workshop, students will learn about the library facilities and services as well as the search tools and skills in support of their research and study. Workshops are arranged before the commencement of the academic year and fills up very quickly. So, check out the latest schedule at http://lib.hku.hk/general/instruction/. Registration begins in early August.
Research Consultation Service is a personalized advisory service offered to postgraduate students and Faculty members. If you are embarking upon a research topic, you may wish to make an appointment with one of our librarians who will go through the essential information resources and skills on the topic. For more details about this service or to make an appointment, please visit http://lib.hku.hk/mainlib/reference/research_consult.html.