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Special Collections

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Special Collections

Access Procedures (Special Collections)

Please note that:

  • all materials at the Special Collections are only for on-site use, and not for loan;
  • all space including Supervised Reading Room, discussion rooms, research desks, and microfilms areas are only for registered users using our materials;
  • due to our limited space and seating and based on the fair use policy, each timeslot for a Research Desk and a Microform Scanner is allocated max. two hours respectively on the same day for each user upon registration. No double booking is allowed for the same timeslot and each timeslot could only be extended once (max. four hours per day per user), subject to availabilities;
  • no same day order is possible for certain materials in special conditions (off-site storage, applications to access needed etc.). Please contact our staff for availability and retrieval arrangement BEFORE making any reservation;
  • any non-University affiliated (external, non-profit and corporate) researcher can purchase a Circle of Friends annual membership or a day pass to use our Special Collections https://lib.hku.hk/cof/

Using the Special Collections

  1. Identify the Materials – through Find@HKU https://lib.hku.hk/ or ArchivesSpace;
  2. Research Desk – please make a reservation via BookaSpace https://lib.hku.hk/general/e-form/book-a-space.html
  3. Arrival – please use your registered student / staff I.D. to enter the Special Collections. Registration will be automatically cancelled and released after 15 minutes for other bookings if no show
  4. No Show – Registered user who did not attend the appointment without cancellation will be denied making further reservation and entry for following 2 weeks
  5. Completion – Researchers must leave the Special Collections on time using your registered student / staff I.D. within your allocated timeslot through the security gate
  6. Discussion Rooms – bookings can be made at the Special Collections Service Counter, only for small groups (max. 6 people) using our on-site materials

Opening Hours

            Monday to Wednesday and Friday: 9a.m to 5:00p.m.

            Thursday: 1p.m. to 8:30p.m.

            Closed on Saturday, Sunday, University and Public Holidays

Location

            1/F Main Library (New Wing), The University of Hong Kong

Accessibility

            Some of our fragile, oversized materials (i..e manuscripts collections and rare books) are already digitised and available via Digital Repository https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/. We do not provide physical access to the already digitised fragile, oversized materials for general research purposes due to preservation, limited manpower as well as health and safety reasons.

            Researchers who have SEN needs, please contact our SEN Librarian for special arrangements.

Important Guidelines:

  • Store your bags and coats in the lockers before entering the Special Collections
  • Clean your hands with soap before handling any of our materials
  • Leave your suitcases, food and drinks outside of the Main Library
  • Use pencils only for writing inside the Special Collections
  • Seek permission before taking any photographs of our rare books and manuscripts collections and these materials can only be consulted inside the Supervised Reading Room
  • Do not use flash when you take photographs
  • Observe the Copyright Ordinance (Cap.528) if you need to scan/take photographs of any of our publications
  • Use only our overhead scanner for scanning, restricted to 30 mins per user
  • Register for access to restricted, copyrighted materials using the designated PC terminals, including microforms

Ordering closed-stack materials:

Prior to your visit to the Special Collections, you may order up to ten items of our off-site rare materials marked as 'Request at Special Collections Counter' on FIND@HKUL through Email (libspeco@hku.hk) after making an appointment. These rare materials include rare books, manuscripts collections, historic newspapers and historic Hong Kong materials and prefix HKP, HKC, SW, HKS Z & HK 895.181 A to Z. 

Please email your required materials (max. 10 items) to Special Collections (libspeco@hku.hk) at least 3 working days before your visit and;

If you require additional materials (max. 5 items) on the same day while you are at the Special Collections, you may request them at our counter

  Time of on-site Request Time available for pick-up     
Mon to Wed and Friday      Between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.        Same day 2:30 p.m.
Thursday Between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Same day 5:00 p.m.

 

Please contact us on libspec@hku.hk if you need further assistance