ABSTRACT

"Learning Commons" has become a popular concept when today's libraries consider reorganizing their spatial layouts. The Run Run Shaw Library of the City University of Hong Kong (CityU Library) has taken the adventurous challenge to be one of the first libraries in Hong Kong to establish a Learning Commons when she gets the chance to renovate her 17-year old building. With a substantial period of study of the major rationale and concepts behind ‘Learning Commons’ as well as taking references from other libraries outside Hong Kong, the CityU Library began the Library Renovation project in 2006/07.

Learning Commons is situational and thus has different meanings when it is applied to different environment. This presentation will give a detailed description of the Renovation Project of the CityU Library including the concepts of Learning Commons adopted, the strategic study and planning of the Library space, the communication with users and stakeholders, the preparation works, the actual construction as well as the difficulties encountered. It will also present the result, that is, the benefits that this Learning Commons has brought to the CityU staff and students.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Hsianghoo Steve Ching

Hsianghoo Steve Ching is University Librarian at City University of Hong Kong. He is also the Adjunct Professor of Department of Economics and Finance. Before accepting the appointment at CityU in 2004, he was Director of University Libraries and Professor of Business School at Feng Chia University in Taiwan. He received both his MBA and Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA. His recent research focus is on the academic library consortia management and administration, strategic management for e-learning and digital publishing, and economic analysis of library services.

In 2001, he was instrumental in foreseeing the completion of the total renovation of the old library into a state-of-the-art building, showcasing electronic resources and equipment along with traditional collections. In 2003, he was greatly involved in the formation and establishment of the Chinese Information Literacy Association. The Association helps facilitate the best practices of information literacy by integrating the curriculum from regional to national communities and to all other levels of the educational system as well. He also served as the Chairperson for the National Committee of Distance Education Evaluation, nominated by the Minister of Education in Taiwan. In April 2001, he initiated to form TEBNET, Taiwan eBook Network, the first ebook consortium in Taiwan. In December 2005, he founded and established Super eBook Consortium - Cicada with the aim of enhancing the English-language collection among 48 university libraries in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In terms of the number of libraries and the number of titles, the Consortium is one of the largest eBook consortia in the world. The Consortium successfully acquired over 50,000 volumes of professional and academic English-language ebooks in various disciplines in a cost-effective coordinated acquisition model.

Teresa To

Teresa To is the Senior Assistant Librarian at Run Run Shaw Library, City University of Hong Kong (CityU). Her current responsibility is to manage the Technical Services Unit and oversee the Library's spatial reorganization project. Prior to joining CityU, her career in libraries included positions at the Whitlam Library, Sydney, Australia and some other special libraries in Australia and Hong Kong. She joined the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in 1994 to set up the Architecture Library which was the first and only Academic Architecture Library in Hong Kong. She had then become the Branch Librarian of the New Asia College Library since 2001. During her term at CUHK, Teresa was instrumental in initiating some subject-based databases. She had also managed a number of library renovation projects including the Additions, Alteration and Improvement (AA&I) work funded by UGC. Teresa received her Bachelor of Applied Science in Information from the University of Technology Sydney and her Master of Librarianship from the University of New South Wales.