TNAG-0340-FCO40-376-Aid-to-Hong-Kong-from-UK-1972 — Page 117

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7.

The standard reading space allocation is

25 sq.ft. net per place; 1600 reading spaces, therefore, amounts to 40,000 sq.ft. net and to this must be added a balance allowance of 40% of the net area.

The gross area required, including allowance for a bindery is, therefore, 56,000 sq.ft. The minimum stock of books required for a Polytechnic with approximately 8000 full time students would be approximately 150,000 volumes. But in view of the 20,000 part time students it is intended to cater for, a larger stock will be required. A stock of at least 300,000 volumes should be the ultimate aim, but, in view of the practical limits imposed by the rate at which books and periodicals can be ordered, received, catalogued and racked, the initial aim is the acquisition of 100,000 volumes over 3 to 4 years. Standard shelf areas in libraries are 60 sq.ft. net per 1000 books. Approximately 18,000 sq.ft. will, therefore, be required for a library of 300,000 books.

8.

Building costs in Hong Kong are at present approximately $80 per sq.ft. Based on 56,000 sq.ft. gross for reading spaces plus 18,000 sq.ft. for books, a building of 74,000 sq.ft. would cost about $5.9 million. Profession- al fees average 9% of the building cost, and furniture and equipment 30% of the building cost. Total costs for the building will, therefore, be:

Building (76,000 sqft gross)

Professional fees

Furniture and equipment

$ mn

5.92

.53

1.77

Total

8.22

9.

The Comparative Index to Periodical Prices produced by the Library Association shows that the average price of (UK published) engineering and technical books in 1971 was Z3.75 and 3.0 for business management books. It appears, therefore, that a minimum estimate of HK$50 per book is necessary. Thus: 100,000 volumes at $50 per book on average gives expenditure of HK$5 million over the 3 to 4 year period referred to above to achieve the initial aim. In addition to this, a further HK$100,000 per annum minimum will be required for the acquisition of technical journals. The procurement of books in parallel with the construction of the library building will be necessary, probably at the rate of 15,000 in the first year, to 30,000 in the second year and conceivably an additional 60,000 in the third and fourth years combined.

10.