| Issue No. 83 | February 2012 | http://library.ust.hk/ |
- Table of Contents
- Learning Commons Opens for Spring Term
- Collection Movements of 2011 Finished
- LANG 1001 BI and Collaboration with the Language Center
- Book Talk - Consumptionomics: Asia's Role in Reshaping Capitalism and Saving the Planet
- Library ToolBox Available @ LMES
- Library Survey Results Released!
- Books for Common Core Courses
Learning Commons Opens for Spring Term
Learning Commons (LC) at LG1 of the Library is opening in Spring Term. It is going to be the popular hub where students use working space and facilities, attend library and media workshops, and find learning services and activities.
Open Study Area
Over 250 seats and more than 60 tables of different sizes provide study space for individual and small group study.
Group Study Rooms
Seventeen study rooms let students carry out group discussion for projects. Among them, 12 rooms are equipped with LCDs for laptop connection; 5 rooms provide interactive projectors and computers.
E-learning Classrooms
The 2 classrooms have 42 Windows PCs and 32 iMacs respectively. Many workshops on information literacy and media literacy will be conducted here. When the venues are not reserved for classes, the computers are available for walk-in use.
Tutorial Spaces
The 3 Tutorial Spaces are suitable for consultation sessions and tutorials, and may be combined into one venue for a small class or seminar.
Creative Media Zone
Operated by Publishing Technology Center (PTC), the zone comprises a multi-function Media Production Studio, 4 AV Editing Suites and a Graphics Workshop. Here you can find professional advice and help on media creation, editing and production. The PTC service counter at the Graphics Workshop provides help and service in reserving and using the facilities in the zone.
Refreshment Zone
With sofas and coffee tables by a set of windows offering spectacular sea views, the Refreshment Zone is a pleasant and relaxing area for taking a break from work and study. Vending machines of drinks and light snacks are available.
LC Information Desk
Need help using LC facilities? The LC Information Desk will be operated by Library staff and student helpers to provide information and assistance.
For more details about the LC, visit our website at: http://library.ust.hk/lc
Collection Movements of 2011 Finished
The past year saw an enormous amount of collection movements in the Library. As reported in Library Notes 79 (February 2011) and Library Notes 82 (November 2011), 83,000 infrequently used volumes were moved to storage to prepare space for the Learning Commons; the remaining bound periodicals moved to LG4 and all the rest of the books on LG3 and LG4 were redistributed during summer. This meant that every volume in the Library was handled at least twice!
Over the summer and autumn, the University constructed a new storage facility for the seldom used books and periodicals (known as the On Call Collection). The shelving units and volumes moved there over November and December, which meant that the On Call Collection was temporarily unavailable.
We are pleased to announce that the On Call Collection is now available for request. We also thank all of you, students, staff, and faculty, for your patience with all the changes in collection locations over the past year. You will be happy to know that we anticipate no more big moves in the next few years.
LANG 1001 BI and Collaboration with the Language Center
The HKUST Library is challenged with integrating information literacy into the new 334 curriculum. Information literacy concepts, skills and values are not well covered in breadth and depth in disconnected, standalone instruction sessions; instead, instruction will be more effective if it is integrated with course content, assignments or projects.
Therefore, we collaborated with the Language Center to pilot a multi-year, multi-session program for 1st and 2nd year students of the four schools in fall 2011 and spring 2012 to build up students' information literacy competencies.
In fall 2011, 52 library instruction sessions were given to over 700 1st year science and engineering students studying LANG 1001. Through discussion, hands-on searching practice and in-class exercises, they learnt to understand the characteristics of different types of information sources (journal, magazine and news articles), search databases for relevant information sources on their research topics and create in-text references and bibliographies in American Psychological Association (APA) style. A total of 347 students filled in the class evaluation form. The overall class rating is 80% with written comments such as: "Having interaction is good", "It is useful for my LANG 1001 project", "Handout is a good conclusion, help me to cite information a lot."
In spring 2012, instruction sessions will be given to 2nd year students studying LANG 2070 English Communication for Global China Studies I (~40 students), LANG 2030 Technical Communication I (~250 students) and LABU 2052 Business Case Analyses II (~900 students). They will be introduced to subject specific literature and search tools and how best to use these search tools for finding relevant information.
Feedback regarding the contents and arrangement of these sessions will be collected from students and Language Center instructors for review and further improvement. Experiences learnt from this pilot collaboration will be very useful for the large scale implementation of information literacy instruction to students under the 4-year curriculum starting fall 2012.
Book Talk - Consumptionomics: Asia's Role in Reshaping Capitalism and Saving the Planet
How can the planet survive if everyone in Asia consumes like people in the West? Since the world-wide financial crisis first became news in 2008, many economists have urged people in Asia to increase their consumption to help save (or revive) the global economy. However, unrestrained consumption can lead to negative consequences.
On February 22nd, at 6pm, Mr. Chandran Nair will give a talk on his recent book, Consumptionomics: Asia's Role in Reshaping Capitalism and Saving the Planet (HC415.C6 N357 2011 - also available in e-copy http://ustlib.ust.hk/record=b1136242), which asks the question and offers some answers. Mr. Nair is the founder and CEO of the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT), as well as an adjunct associate professor in the MBA program here at HKUST.
This is the eighth in an occasional series of BookTalks (http://library.ust.hk/info/booktalk/) given at HKUST. At each BookTalk, we invite an author to share with us the book he or she has written, or sometimes their experiences and beliefs about books and reading in general.
Library ToolBox Available @ LMES
Do you often find too much information online to deal with?. Do you have trouble selecting appropriate information tools, searching relevant and authoritative information, and conducting effective search strategies? Do you rely on Google and Yahoo only? They are great tools with good contents, yet there is much credible information available only in proprietary or fee-based sources, such as IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, CAJ, etc.
To help students select appropriate sources and use relevant information for assignments and research papers, the Library has collaborated with CELT and ITSC to embed information sources into LMES, your online learning management system, in spring 2012.
Library ToolBox is a new feature in LMES. It presents a menu of useful library resources on Facts and Figures, Databases, Library Services, and Research Guides. It also allows users to access Citation Manager, Library Catalog, PowerSearch for finding journal articles, and to send questions to a librarian. Default resources such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks and databases are pre-set for different schools and departments. Instructors and TAs have the editing privileges to add or remove resources and make multiple selections of resources across different disciplines.
Students can have immediate access to a particular database or research guide on and off campus without leaving LMES. To enhance e-learning, LMES becomes an integrated platform for course materials, reserve books and articles as well as curriculum-related information sources.
Library Survey Results Released!
Thanks to our colleagues and students who participated in the Library Services Quality Survey, which was conducted from 1 November to 8 December 2011. There were 4,481 valid surveys completed; a response rate of about 32%. In addition, 2,224 comments were received; about 1 out of 2 respondents gave their qualitative remarks at the end of the Survey. We greatly appreciate their valuable feedback.
The winners of 3 iPads and 47 HKUST Library thumb drives have collected their prizes. Congratulations!
Key Findings
The Survey was a joint project of UGC-funded libraries to allow comparative analysis of data among local libraries. LibQUAL+, a survey instrument developed by the Association of Research Libraries, was used to measure and assess users' perception in 3 service dimensions:
Affect of Service: customer services provided by library staff
Information Control: library collections and access to resources
Library as Place: library spaces, facilities, and environment
The Survey asked respondents to give their ratings for 22 core questions on 3 scales: the desired level of service they would like to receive, the minimum they are willing to accept, and the perceived level of service they are provided. Based on the ratings from all the respondents, an "Adequacy Mean Score" and a "Superiority Mean Score" were computed to reflect users' level of satisfaction.
The following table summarizes the mean scores of HKUST library and JULAC participating libraries in terms of service adequacy and service superiority.
| Service Dimension | Adequacy Mean Score | Superiority Mean Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HKUST | JULAC | HKUST | JULAC | |
| Affect of Service | 1.26 | 1.14 | -0.46 | -0.53 |
| Information Control | 1.07 | 0.93 | -0.65 | -0.75 |
| Library as Place | 0.99 | 0.82 | -0.83 | -0.94 |
| Overall | 1.12 | 0.99 | -0.62 | -0.71 |
The higher the "Adequacy Mean Score", the better the library is performing; the smaller the negative "Superiority Mean Score", the closer to the superiority level the library is. HKUST Library has received good scores for the 3 service dimensions, and they are significantly better than the JULAC group scores.
Library Response and Actions
From the initial analysis of survey ratings and comments, the Library has devised some actions to enhance our service quality. Highlights are:
A. Information Control
- The Library will acquire books in new subjects, especially in HSS, to support common core curriculum.
- We will try to shift to e-version of high-demand Reserve books, which supports 24/7 access to multiple concurrent users.
- The Library is exploring ways to increase the visibility and promote leisure reading. We have also expedited the acquisitions of bestsellers, general fiction and other genres.
- Due to budgetary reasons, the Library has always been very selective in adding new journals and databases. New subscriptions can only be added when additional funds are available, or when low-demand subscriptions are cancelled.
- We are gradually replacing our dated collection of VHS, LD and audiocassettes by DVDs. We have also been acquiring more media items to support our new music programs.
B. Affect of Service
- Many of our users praised Library staff's good attitude and helpfulness while some suggested improvements. We will continue to emphasize the importance of good customer service, and work to be friendly and approachable.
- Library staff patrol several times a day and will continue efforts to maintain a quiet study environment and monitor the seating. We will try to make it clearer that LG3 is the "Quiet Study Floor", and the rest allow some discussion. We will also work to improve awareness of cell-phone zones on all floors.
- We will continue to improve the searching capability of the Classic Catalog and SmartCAT. Library instruction classes may be arranged to show users how to use the two catalogs.
- The Library will continue to explore the availability of desired information discovery tools to improve the search and access to e-resources, articles, etc.
- More wireless connection tests will be conducted to identify those areas that have weak wireless connection and do improvements.
- We will explore whether there are enough needs for self-check machines to check out books.
- The Library will investigate whether the catalog can include HKALL books in patrons' borrowing history.
- The Library is considering circulating e-readers with pre-loaded content to facilitate e-learning.
- We are re-designing the Library website to enhance its functionality and presentation, and make finding information easier.
- We released the mobile version of the Library homepage in December and will add more content to it as more library applications are mobilized.
- We will study the feasibility of enhancing the room booking system to provide users with more privacy protection.
- The Library has proposed to the University a series of in-depth workshops to support RPGs' research work. These will enhance their practical skills as researchers and deepen their knowledge of scholarly practice.
- We will consider offering more classes on specific subjects such as job hunting when planning for the instruction program for the coming terms.
- The Library will explore ways to enrich our e-learning provisions on using Library services and resources, such as developing e-learning objects (e.g., video, interactive flash) on research skills and using Library resources, adding e-learning contents to LMES, etc.
C. Library as Place
- We apologize for the noise generated during the construction of the new extension and the Learning Commons (LC). Most of this noise will cease before the start of the Spring Term when the construction of the LC is completed. For building-generated noise, we will monitor those cases and encourage users to report such issues to Library staff, who will follow-up with appropriate actions.
- The Library strives to maintain a temperature which balances the comfort of our users with our needs for preservation of the Library collection. We have worked with FMO closely to maintain an acceptable temperature between 22-24 degrees Celsius, and newer areas with individual controls. We will continue to monitor closely and coordinate action with FMO. Users are encouraged to report particularly cold areas to Library staff, who will work to get conditions improved.
- We have adjusted the height between the reading chairs and the new round carrels on LG4. The working surface of all ten round carrel units has been raised from 690mm to 740mm to match the height of the rectangular reading tables. All chairs in the LC will be adjustable height task chairs, instead of fixed height reading chairs.
- The new Learning Commons (LC) will address many of the user comments. It will open longer hours than the Library (LC closes at 11 pm in weekends and 6 am during exams). It will also add ~70 computers, 2 networked copiers and a few more OPAC carrels. There will be almost 20 additional bookable group rooms available, plus other learning spaces. Fan tables can be used for both individual and group study. Study rooms will have 40" LCDs or interactive projector (with PC). The Refreshment Zone will allow food and drinks. The LC entrance on LG1 will provide an additional entrance to the Library.
- The Library will continue to add more power sockets to meet user needs. We have requested to convert the power supply for LG4 table lamps to include local power switches and power sockets for those tables. We will further explore options for providing power for more locations on LG3 and LG4 of the older building, where under floor trunking is not available. All non-movable furniture in the LC will have surface-mounted power outlets. Additional wall outlets will be available in the LC.
- Information Commons (IC) Help Desk staff will work on more consistent enforcement in terms of noise control and proper use of computers (e.g. special stations with scanners and AVG stations). We will revise the current cleaning practice and schedule to upkeep the hygiene of keyboard/mouse. We will also explore producing instructional videos to show users how to use IC copiers.
Further Information
For more details about the Survey results, please visit: http://library.ust.hk/libqual/Services-Survey-2011.html
Books for Common Core Courses
With over 170 new common core courses in the pipeline, the scope of collection development will have to be adjusted accordingly. Books in new subject areas will be added. The Library will also acquire appropriate copies of textbooks that are stocked by the University Bookstore. Teachers are welcome to discuss their collection needs with our subject librarians (http://library.ust.hk/serv/contact.html) who are book selectors amongst other roles, or contact Ms. Catherine Kwok, our Collection Development and Services Manager (email: lbckwok@ust.hk).
Requests for purchase of titles can be made by:
- E-mailing your purchase list to LBACQ@ust.hk, stating the course code and course title, and clearly indicating which items are assigned for Reserve.
- Completing the Suggest a Purchase Form at http://library.ust.hk/cgi-auth/req-book.pl
Since many of our books are ordered from overseas, please allow at least two months processing time.