TNAG-0534-FCO40-629-UK-aid-to-Hong-Kong-Polytechnic-and-technical-institutions-1975 — Page 39

##

2.

1.

BRITISH GOVERNMENT GRANT

Hong Kong Polytechnic Library & Learning Resources Centre

Annex B

Library Expansion Programme

The UFGC has approved capital expenditure for a Library and Learning Resources complex which is expected to be ready for occupation during 1976. The available parts of the building will at that time contain shelving to accommodate 400,000 volumes and seating for approximately 2,000 persons. Parts of the building temporarily allocated to other Polytechnic departments will be taken over as required for student seating to reach an ultimate capacity of 3,000 seats. The confirmed Folytechnic library policy is to have on the shelves by December 1976: book stock in the region of 100,000 volumes. As at the 30th June 1974, the Polytechnic library has acquired Some 11.400 new volumes and taken over about 14,900 volumes of old Technical College stock. In addition, a further 10,000 volumes are at present on order. It can thus be seen that between July 1974 and December 1976 approximately 63,700 volumes must be ordered, received and catalogued. The funds will come from two sources :

a. British Government aid;

b. Polytechnic block grant from UPGC.

Selection and Ordering Procedures

The library is divided into two main divisions, Technical Services and Readers' Services, The Technical Services Division has the responsibility for ordering, accessioning and cataloguing, and, if necessary, binding library materials. The Readers' Services Division has the responsibility for providing information services and library materials to the Polytechnic community. There is also an Audio-visual Services Division.

Acquiring books for a library is not simply a matter of placing an order with any book supplier. Certain suppliers are likely to excel in supplying books in particular disciplines or with particular problems and therefore con more speedily supply the required items. In addition, the percentage of orders filled is extremely vital as follow up procedures are time consuming and disruptive to teaching programmes. There is considerable pressure on the orders department from academic staff and students alike to supply materials in the quickest possible manner. With our present system, it is possible to place an urgent order with the correct supplier in Britain and have that particular book supplied, cata- logued and on the shelves within 10 days. However, in the normal course of events it would take anything from 3 to 6 months, without the additional imposition of obtaining prior approval.

Book selection is a highly specialised task. The library accepts many recommendations from its 245 academic staff, but by and large, the greater percentage of orders are generated from library subject bibliographers through exhaustive searching from selection tools such as Choice, New Technical Books, British National Bibliography, Aslib Booklist, Times Higher Educational Supplement, Times Educational Supplement, Times Literary Supplement, Bookseller, British Book News and Library Journal. The books are chosen for their suitability for use within the library with regard to level of subject material, relevance to course curriculum etc. The main areas of acquisition are Accountancy, Management, Business

2/.....

}