Library
Pao Yue-kong Library was established on August 1, 1972 to serve the then Hong Kong Polytechnic. Between 1973 and 1976, Library services were provided at two centres, one at the present University site at Hung Hom and one at the Quarry Bay Centre. The two centres were consolidated when they were moved to the present Library Building in 1976. On November 25, 1994, the Polytechnic assumed full university status and was renamed The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. On December 20, 1995, the University Library was officially named after the late Sir Yue-kong Pao in appreciation of a generous donation to the University by his family. Opened by Princess Alexandra on February 7, 1977, the Library Building is a six-storey purpose-designed building with an area of 16,662 square metres, providing approximately 3,623 study places. The Library also houses a 24-Hour Study Centre, group discussion rooms, a seminar room for library instruction classes, AV carrels and group rooms for use of audio-visual materials, study carrels for private study, and a special room for the visually disabled.
The Library comprises one of the largest collections of scientific, engineering and business materials in East Asia. Other areas of strength are information technology, computing, nursing, textiles and design. The present holdings exceed 2.2 million, to which more than 40,000 volumes are added annually. Over 4,100 active print serial titles are held in the Library. The Library also provides Internet access to over 32,610 unique full-text e-journal titles, almost 225,100 e-books, and a wide array of multi-media and e-learning programmes.
The Library also maintains several special collections and self-developed databases, including a comprehensive Standards Collection, the PolyU Examination Paper Database, the PolyU Course Scheme Database, the Senate Paper Database, a Digital Image Gallery, and a Slide Collection. In addition, a unique and heavily used collection of over 24,000 local Chinese and English language television programmes and the Hongkongiana Online database (an index to Hong Kong information found in periodicals published in Hong Kong) all constitute important resources for the study and research of Hong Kong.
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