CUHK Library E-newsletter

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Library Buildings and Equipment Section visit to China

In April 2025, CUHK Library played host to the IFLA Library Buildings and Equipment Section. The Section collects and disseminates knowledge about library design, construction and equipment, and facilitates exchange of experiences between librarians and architects.

The Section shares knowledge about library building projects at regular seminars, IFLA Congress Open Sessions, in publications and regular social media posts. IFLA recognises library building excellence through the annual IFLA/Baker & Taylor Public Library of the Year Award (PLOTY), which celebrates new public libraries and is presented to a library that best combines open, functional architecture with creative IT solutions, and takes into account both digital developments and local culture. The winner of the PLOTY Award 2024 is Beijing Library in Tongzhou, Beijing. Shortlisted entries from 2023 to 2024 include Shanghai East Library and Shenzhen Library North. In recognition of the impressive development of libraries in China, the Section visited Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai for its mid-year meeting.

IFLA Library Buildings and Equipment Section members at the CUHK Library in April 2025

Over the past 15 years, Hong Kong’s research libraries have undergone significant transformations, embracing technological advancements and innovative practices to enhance their services. Institutions in the city have been at the forefront of this evolution, implementing automated systems and digital services that streamline operations and improve user experience. The Joint University Librarians Advisory Committee (JULAC) has fostered collaboration among academic libraries, leading to shared resources and collective advancements. Library designers and experts can learn from Hong Kong’s emphasis on technology integration, collaborative frameworks, and adaptive strategies to meet the changing needs of users. The IFLA Section visited a number of research libraries and public libraries in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. Another highlight on the visit was the CUHK Art Museum’s new Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion. A joint seminar was held at the University of Hong Kong Library on 11 April 2025. Another seminar was organised in Beijing in partnership with the Library Society of China, where officiating guests included the Minister for Culture and Tourism and the Mayor of Beijing.

CUHK Library Showcases Open Science Initiatives at Joint University Librarians Advisory Committee (JULAC) Forum 2024

Ms. Jenny Lam, Open Science Librarian, and Ms. Sue Fung, Outreach and Engagement Librarian, representing CUHK Library to present at the JULAC Forum on 6 December 2024. Their presentation, titled Advancing Open Science Initiatives in the Digital Era: Challenges and Opportunities Experienced by CUHK Library, highlighted the library's ongoing commitment to promoting open scholarship and fostering a collaborative research environment.

From left: Ms. Jenny Lam, Open Science Librarian and Ms. Sue Fung, Outreach and Engagement Librarian from CUHK Library

Central to CUHK’s mission is the dissemination of knowledge across a wide range of disciplines, serving not only the citizens of Hong Kong but also the global community. The CUHK Library plays a pivotal role in creating an open, inclusive, and fair research landscape, aligning with the values of the academic community.

In line with our Strategic Plan, the CUHK Library has launched several open science initiatives since 2023. These initiatives include:

Open Science Webinars in partnership with Scientific Knowledge Services and University College London (UCL), offering valuable insights into open science practices.
Open Books Hong Kong, a collaborative effort with the libraries and university presses of CUHK, CityU, and HKU , aimed at providing more Chinese-language open access resources and promoting global knowledge sharing.
Diamond Open Access Megajournal Project, currently in the planning stage. This innovative project draws inspiration from successful models such as UCL Open: Environment and aims to create a bilingual platform for sharing research in the Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities.

The presentation at the JULAC Forum not only showcased these initiatives but also opened a dialogue on the challenges and opportunities faced in advancing open science within the digital landscape.

The CUHK Library remains dedicated to fostering a culture of open scholarship, ensuring that our resources and research are accessible to all.

For more details, you can watch the presentation at https://www.julac.org/?event=2024-julac-libraries-forum-6-december-2024.

CUHK Library Annual Report 2023/24 is ready

We are excited to share the highlights of our achievements and initiatives over the past year.

Access the report for completed details.

Join us in celebrating our journey and looking forward to another year of innovation and excellence!

CUHK as the new host for Pacific Rim Research Libraries Alliance (PRRLA)

CUHK Library is honored to announce our appointment as the new host for the Pacific Rim Research Libraries Alliance (PRRLA) Secretariat for the term 2025-2027. The Secretariat is chaired by Mr. Benjamin Meunier, University Librarian of CUHK.

Since its inception in 1997, PRRLA has been dedicated to enhancing the visibility and accessibility of distinctive digital collections from member libraries around the Pacific Rim. The alliance, comprising 41 member institutions, focuses on cooperative projects that promote the discoverability of valuable research and teaching resources. CUHK's new role as the Secretariat will involve leading these initiatives and supporting the alliance's mission to expand access to digital content globally.

CUHK has taken over from the University of Melbourne, which served as the Secretariat from 2022 to 2024. As the new host, CUHK is committed to strengthening the Alliance, building on the work of its predecessors. PRRLA plans to introduce a series of innovative webinars and "Meet-and-Greet" sessions to foster engagement among members. Key initiatives will include the ongoing digitization and metadata creation for distinctive collections on Pacific Rim Libraries, research award for library staff – Karl Lo Award, and the organization of the annual PRRLA conference.

The 2025 PRRLA Annual Meeting will be hosted by Tohoku University in Japan from 29 to 31 October. This meeting will provide a platform for members to connect, share insights, and renew their commitment to the alliance's goals. The program committee, chaired by Ms. Hatsumi Sato from Tohoku University, has issued a call for papers on the theme of Preserving Culture, Driving Discovery: PRRLA Libraries in the Age of Digital and AI Innovations. For further information, please refer to PRRLA Website.

PRRLA 2023 Annual Meeting was held at Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China

CUHK Library is proud to serve as the new host for PRRLA over the next three years. The Library looks forward to working with all member institutions to achieve shared goals and drive innovation in the research library sector. Together, CUHK Library will continue to build a vibrant and interconnected network of research libraries that support scholarly excellence and global knowledge sharing.