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United College Wu Chung Library (UCL) one of the founding College libraries at CUHK is celebrating the 50th anniversary on CUHK campus on 3 January 2022. After transforming to one of the boutique humanities-based libraries on upper campus in 2018, the Library now houses the Philosophy collection, major Chinese monograph series collection and of course General Education collection. Fifty years’ journey was never easy, but with everyone’s support, we made it happen. To celebrate this significant occasion, the Library has held the United College Wu Chung Library 50th Anniversary Display: Photos, Publications and Oracle Bones from 3 – 31 January 2022 to reminisce about its developments over the years and to showcase its unique collections.
Construction Site of United College and Wu Chung Library
(Photo Courtesy of University Archives, CUHK)
Library in 1970s (front view)
United College was founded in 1956 and the United College Library was originally located at Caine Road on Hong Kong Island. After the Library moved to Bonham Road in 1962, the collections expanded rapidly. On 3 January 1972, the Library moved into the present campus in Shatin and was named after Mr. Wu Chung who made a generous donation to the College’s endowment fund.
The Library always plays an essential and indispensable role in supporting teaching and learning. The “Hong Kong Collection” was established to gather resources on Hong Kong studies in 1972. It contains a wide range of materials that include books, journals, pamphlets etc. on Hong Kong, which was relocated to the University Library in 2001. With the advent of computer technology in 1980s, Tien Chi Microcomputer Laboratory was established in 1985 on the G/F of the Library to provide computer facilities for students. The Electronic Resources Centre (ERC) located on the 1/F was opened on 20 October 1995. American Studies Library was moved to the G/F of the United College Library in August 1995 for public use. In 2015 summer, American Studies Library collection has been fully integrated into CUHK Library’s main collection for serendipity and easy access.
In 2001, the Library was renovated as the United College Wu Chung Multimedia Library to house the primary collection of materials in non-print formats, covering a wide range of subjects. In 2005, the 1/F balcony of the Library was converted into a court garden. In the same year, the Independent Learning Centre (ILC) was moved into the 1/F of the Library for language teaching and learning activities.
After a major renovation in the summer of 2018, the United College Library has been revitalized from a multimedia library to one of the two humanities-based libraries on the upper campus. To reflect this change, the library has reverted from the United College Wu Chung Multimedia Library to its original name as the United College Wu Chung Library after relocating the multimedia collection to other CUHK libraries according to the subject designation of each item. The Library now offers a wide range of new and enhanced services and facilities and is a vibrant venue catering for the various need of students. The United College Wu Chung Library will thrive to support the information and research needs of CUHK faculty and students for the years ahead.
United College Wu Chung Library