OUR SERVICES

We provide the following main services to our library users:

• Information services
• User education services
• Reference and Government Document Collections
• Indexing and newspaper clippings services
• Reading space and computing facilities in the Reference area
• Faculty study rooms and Group discussion room

INFORMATION SERVICES

The Reference Department provides users with in-depth reference, research and referral services centered on the Library System's collections. We are committed to providing users with prompt, clear and accurate responses to inquiries that may be placed in person, by telephone, or via the Internet. We treat all users equitably and courteously, with respect for privacy. We communicate with you in clear, straightforward language and we are pleased to serve in English, Cantonese, or Putonghua.

Our targets for responding to inquiries placed in person or by telephone:

• Waiting time will not exceed 5 minutes.
• Requests for simple, factual information will be answered immediately on request.
• Information requests requiring extended analysis and research will be answered within two working days.

• Requests will be answered or acknowledged within two working days.

USER EDUCATION

Reference Librarians are committed to providing clear, informative, computer assisted user education programs to users. Course evaluation will be conducted at the end of each course.

Our targets:

• We shall offer orientation programs for new students and teaching staff at the beginning of the academic years.
• We shall provide instructional programs to teach users the most current information retrieval skills.
• We shall maintain updated guides on research skills and subject pathfinders on-line.
• Programs for a particular subject area or a specific assignment will be available on request.

REFERENCE AND GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT COLLECTIONS

Reference Department maintains more than 42,000 volumes of reference books and around 14,000 volumes of government documents.

Our targets:

• We shall collect, update and preserve the collections in an expanding array of formats.
• We shall review our collections to ensure currency.
• We shall endeavour to re-shelve all materials within one working day.
• We shall check the accuracy of the arrangement of the materials annually.

INDEXING AND NEWSPAPER CLIPPING SERVICES

Reference Department maintains three indexing and newspaper clipping services:

• HKInChiP database indexes over 150 Chinese and bilingual journals published in Hong Kong.
• Vertical File provides newspaper clippings on over 260 areas of current issues.

• HKInChiP: Records will be added to the database within 10 working days of receipt of the journals.
• Vertical File: Newspaper clippings will be added to the files within 3 working days of receipt of the newspapers.

READING SPACE & COMPUTING FACILITIES IN THE REFERENCE AREA

• We are committed to providing a pleasant environment for users.
• We shall endeavour to keep all computer equipment in working order. If a piece of equipment fails, we shall seek to repair it as soon as possible.
• We shall endeavour to ensure that consumables for computer equipment are always available during the working day.

FACULTY STUDY ROOMS

• We are committed to providing pleasant environment for users.
• Application of faculty study rooms will be processed within one working day.
• Waiting time for faculty study rooms will not exceed 2 weeks.