0003230
G.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL
2
5.
The two largest libraries are the University libraries. The Chinese University of Hong Kong has a little over 400,000 bound volumes. It has a Science Faculty which includes a small but growing electronics department but no engineering or technology. The older University of Hong Kong has about 400,000 bound volumes including the Medical library and Law library. HKU has three engineering departments and an architecture department as well as a Science Faculty and it also spends a great deal more annually on periodicals than CUHK (roughly $750,000 as against about $100,000).
6.
The two Universities maintain regular and formal liaison on book and periodical buying policies in order to reduce to a minimum unnecessary overlapping, but a certain amount of overlap is essential if student needs are to be met. As far as the Polytechnic is concerned its closest affinities will clearly be with the HKU library. The Librarian at HKU, Mr. H.A. Rydings, MBE, MA, ALA, has said he regards close co-operation with the Polytechnic Librarian (when appointed) over buying policies as essential in both their interests.
7.
There are practical limits to the rate at which books or periodicals can be ordered, received, catalogued and racked. The library staff at HKU currently amounts to 19 senior staff (including the Librarian), 41 library assistants and 43 minor staff in its bindery. This enables them to take on about HK$1m (nearly £70,000) of new books a year and about HK$0.75m (roughly £50,000) of periodicals. It would probably take the Polytechnic at least two years before it could build up to this rate, assuming it had a building. Staffing problems forlibrary work are not too bad at the moment and Mr. Rydings has information on both local and overseas people who might be available for a new library.
8.
Probably the maximum rate at which the Polytechnic Library, once instituted, could expand would be from purchases of books and periodicals totalling about HK$400,000 (roughly £27,000) in its first year, to double that in the second year and conceivably double that again over the third and fourth years taken together. This would amount to :
1st year 2nd year
3rd year) 4th year)
Total
HK$400,000
HK$800,000
...
HK$1,600,000
HK$2,800,000
(£27,000 approx.)
(£54,000 approx.)
(£108,000 approx.)
(£193,000 approx.)
9.
This would be difficult but not impossible. The building costs (including fees, furniture and equipment) entailed by this would be of the order of HK$6.5m (roughly £450,000) and annual staff costs by the fourth year of the order of HK$1.5m (a little over £100,000).
/If ...
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.