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HKALL is a libraries user initiated book delivery system and is an example of deep collaboration between institutions. It will provide students and staff members with quick and easy access to more than seven million volumes.
The HKALL system will automatically create a master index or catalogue from which readers can request materials which have been checked out or not purchased by their libraries but are available in other libraries. The system will automatically check the availability of the requested title and notify the reader when the book can be picked up and when it is about to become overdue. It will also balance the number of books borrowed and lent by each library. Little staff intervention will be required and a daily delivery courier service will be employed.
Dr Tony Ferguson, Librarian of the University of Hong Kong Libraries, said, "The HKALL system will provide students and staff at the eight UGC supported institutions with access to a united collection comparable to that found at the best academic libraries in the world."
The $10 million fund, supported by the UGC Restructuring and Collaboration Fund (RCF), will be used to purchase a central server, software and hardware for local systems, and for the maintenance of the HKALL system for five years, as well as funding the costs of staffing for six months for the starting up.
The RCF Specialist Group that studied the proposal of the system submitted by HKU on behalf of all participating institutions, found the joint collaboration highly worthwhile and a commendable initiative. The Group commented that it contained many of the essential elements of the kind of collaborative project that the Group would like to see.
The Group is also confident that the system will be able to generate long-term efficiency gains after an initial one-off investment, and that there is further potential in the project as the experience gained may be very useful in fostering a longer-term plan on further collaboration among the libraries.
For media enquiries, please contact Miss Carmen Tsang of HKU Libraries at 2859 2211.
UGC Awards $10 Million to support the Hong Kong Academic Library Link System
31 May 2005
Hong Kong Academic Library Link (HKALL), a joint collaboration project coordinated by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to provide better and quicker services to library users of the eight University Grants Committee (UGC) funded institutions, has been awarded $10 million by the Committee for the system’s establishment and maintenance.
HKALL is a libraries user initiated book delivery system and is an example of deep collaboration between institutions. It will provide students and staff members with quick and easy access to more than seven million volumes.
The HKALL system will automatically create a master index or catalogue from which readers can request materials which have been checked out or not purchased by their libraries but are available in other libraries. The system will automatically check the availability of the requested title and notify the reader when the book can be picked up and when it is about to become overdue. It will also balance the number of books borrowed and lent by each library. Little staff intervention will be required and a daily delivery courier service will be employed.
Dr Tony Ferguson, Librarian of the University of Hong Kong Libraries, said, "The HKALL system will provide students and staff at the eight UGC supported institutions with access to a united collection comparable to that found at the best academic libraries in the world."
The $10 million fund, supported by the UGC Restructuring and Collaboration Fund (RCF), will be used to purchase a central server, software and hardware for local systems, and for the maintenance of the HKALL system for five years, as well as funding the costs of staffing for six months for the starting up.
The RCF Specialist Group that studied the proposal of the system submitted by HKU on behalf of all participating institutions, found the joint collaboration highly worthwhile and a commendable initiative. The Group commented that it contained many of the essential elements of the kind of collaborative project that the Group would like to see.
The Group is also confident that the system will be able to generate long-term efficiency gains after an initial one-off investment, and that there is further potential in the project as the experience gained may be very useful in fostering a longer-term plan on further collaboration among the libraries.
For media enquiries, please contact Miss Carmen Tsang of HKU Libraries at 2859 2211.
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