CUHK Library E-newsletter

Old Library

"Human chain"

Seeking volunteers

Chung Chi College was founded in 1951 and the Chung Chi College Library was originally located at St.John’s Cathedral Library on Hong Kong Island. In 1956 Chung Chi College and the Library moved to their permanent site at Ma Lui Shui. In 1965 the planning for a new Library began and the current Chung Chi College Elisabeth Luce Moore Library was opened in 1971 with the generous support of the Henry Luce Foundation through the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. The Library was officially dedicated on 29 October 1971 by Mr. Henry Luce’s sister, Mrs. Elisabeth Luce Moore, after whom the Library was named. An iconic “human chain” of staff members and students was formed on 30 September and 1 October 1971 to move books from the old library to the new library.

Opening of Elisabeth Luce Moore Library in 1971
(Photo Courtesy of Chung Chi College)

Old Chung Chi College Library

Old library entrance and service counter

Mrs Elisabeth Luce Moore speaking at College 20th Anniversary Founders Day Thanksgiving Service
(Photo Courtesy of Chung Chi College)

1970s CCL

Study carrels

As the University grew Chung Chi College Elisabeth Luce Moore Library added an additional floor (current 2/F) in 1991, and the space was temporarily occupied by the Department of Architecture and the Centre for Environmental Studies. From October 1994, the 2/F of the Chung Chi College Elisabeth Luce Moore Library was available for the Library to use, providing extra reading areas and shelving for the Instructional Material Collection, relocated to the Library from the Faculty of Education. The collection comprised teaching materials for all secondary and primary schools’ subjects in Hong Kong and continues to this day. The Library proved very popular and in 2005 underwent a major renovation. The whole Library was fully refurbished to provide an interactive and independent study environment. There were informal seating areas with comfortable chairs for study and leisure reading. Group study rooms were provided for students to work together. Two Information Commons, where students could work on class assignments were added on the 1/F and 2/F. A new late Reading Room which opened 24/7, with a separate entrance, was created on the G/F for study when the main body of the Library closes. More recently between 2017 and 2019 major floor-by-floor refurbishment projects were completed to increase the study space and provide more shelving for the collections. In September 2017, the G/F was renovated to become a new Learning Cluster with new reading tables, chairs and sofas. The 1/F was remodeled to utilize study space and provide more shelving.

In September 2019 all the Library’s music collections, including audio-visual material, scores, music books and journal were brought together on the 2/F as a Music Library. Soundproof music and listening rooms were built, and a display case allows the Library to exhibit musical instruments from the Rulan Chao Pian which was donated to the Library in 2006. Renovation has not stopped as next year there will be work to improve disabled access to the Library and a new lift. One of the busiest libraries on campus, the Chung Chi Elisabeth Luce Moore Library will continue to serve the information and research needs of CUHK faculty and students for many years to come.

Chung Chi College Library

Music Hub

Reading Area

Newly renovated library entrance