After 12 years' service at CUHK, and over 40 years in academic libraries in UK and in Hong Kong, I will be retiring back to a quiet village in Suffolk UK at the end of November 2012.  My family and I came out to Hong Kong in 1988 for two years, and we stayed for 24.  Though my wife and I have sometimes wondered what we were doing living 6,000 miles away from where we were born, no-one in Hong Kong has ever said to us, "what are you doing here?"  This testifies not only to Hong Kong's exciting vibrancy, but also to the willingness of Hong Kong people to embrace internationalism and to welcome any person from anywhere who is willing to work and help Hong Kong, in any way however small, to secure a strong future.

I have had the privilege to end my career on a real high – being the University Librarian of CUHK.  The CUHK community is of course an intellectually challenging and complex environment to work in, but it is I believe unique in its caring and friendly attitude to all on campus.  It has been a pleasure to be a part of the continuing growth of the University and the seven libraries of the Library System up to the culmination of many years planning for the new 4-year curriculum.  When I arrived in 2000, the University Library System already had a deep history of sound development and a strong commitment to service.  Since then, with the clear support of the senior management and the staff and student community, the introduction of, to name just a few projects, over 4 million e-books, the Learning Garden and Learning Commons, our brand new Main Library Extension, our new Architecture Library, as well as roving help services and special zones for research students, testify to a strong commitment to the future of libraries on our wonderful campus.

I wish to place on record my thanks to all the Library staff for their very hard work day-in day-out over the last 12 years, as well as to the members of the Library Users Group and other community groups and individuals for believing in the Library and its crucial services.  You have all made my time here pleasurably challenging.  I wish the University and the Library every success in the future.

With sincere best wishes,
Colin Storey,
University Librarian (Retired!).