Discover HKBU
Libraries and knowledge creation in the digital age
30 May 2023
Enthusiasm is contagious and speaking to Christopher Chan, HKBU’s University Librarian and project lead of the Library Space Enhancement project, it is easy to see where his passion comes from. A History and Politics major, Chris’ love of books runs in the family. Chris’ mother was also a librarian at the ESF Jockey Club Sarah Roe School in Hong Kong for many years, and she now works at the National Library of Australia.
2023 marks Chris’ 15th year at HKBU and his eclectic interests and enthusiasm for knowledge sharing have served the University well over the years. His first role in 2008 was as an Information Services Librarian, which involved planning and delivering workshops to educate users on how best to use the library. In 2022, Chris was appointed University Librarian. He is currently overseeing the Library Space Enhancement project which aims to rightsize the collection at the Main Library (Au Shue Hung Memorial Library), improve accessibility to different floors for all users, and increase study space. As of 15 May, Levels 6 and 7 have been closed for renovation and will re-open with new and improved study space in 2024.
“With the rightsizing exercise, a book will be a candidate for deselection if it hasn’t been touched for 10 years, although other factors will also be considered. The library is far in excess of its designed capacity and our goal is to deselect 250,000 out of our 800,000 volumes. Rightsizing is not just about discarding books. It is about having a collection size that is right for HKBU today and one that supports the University’s transdisciplinary approach to learning and teaching,” says Chris.
While print usage has dropped, it has been more than compensated by an increased demand for e-resources. To facilitate knowledge creation and sharing at HKBU, the library will step up its development of e-resources and its support for open access. Outlined in 2003’s Berlin Declaration on Open Access, this approach advocates for research outputs to be distributed online, free of access charges and other barriers.
“HKBU has been a leader in exploring transformative open access agreements. We have been supportive and forward looking in helping our researchers publish their work open access for free with esteemed publishers like Cambridge University Press. By removing paywalls, it increases the number of downloads by readers and the impact of the research, which makes it a win-win situation for every party involved,” Chris continues.
Defining a library as simply a physical space to store books is outdated. For Chris, the library is more than a repository of knowledge, as it also provides students a quiet space away from the hustle and bustle of their academic life. And when asked what the role of librarians in the modern age is, Chris shares the words of a revered thought leader and professor in librarianship, whose work is exceptionally relevant today:
“The mission of librarians is to improve society through facilitating knowledge creation in their communities.”
(R. David Lankes, The Atlas of New Librarianship)
Chris also dispelled some “myths” about librarians. “To be a successful librarian in 2023, being quiet and introverted will not work. You need to proactively connect with others and build relationships. Often professors would refer their students looking for research materials to speak to me directly at the library. I still recall a Year 1 Social Science student, a particularly good user of the library, who went on to become an associate professor in her field at a prestigious university in the US. It’s gratifying to know that you played a role in nurturing the next generation.”
So what is in the librarian’s current book list? “I enjoy a little bit of everything! For non-fiction, I’m reading Prisoners of Geography. For science-fiction, I’m reading The Player of Games and The Three-Body Problem.”