北島特藏的成立，有賴香港中文大學中國文化研究所特聘研究員杜博妮教授慷慨捐贈1,486項物件給圖書館，其中包括北島、顧城、楊煉及其他當代作家的手稿、書信、剪報、單行本、期刊及其他與當代文學有關的物件。這次捐贈的物件已成為圖書館珍貴的當代文學藏品。

The Bei Dao Archive is set up with the generous donation by Prof. Bonnie S. McDougall, Fellow of the Institute of Chinese Studies of CUHK. Prof. McDougall donated 1,486 pieces of materials including manuscripts, correspondences, newspaper clippings, books, journals and other related materials on Bei Dao, Gu Cheng, Yang Lian and his contemporaries to the Library. This valuable donation forms a very important part of the library collection on contemporary Chinese literature.