Acquisition

In respect of acquisition of library materials, the HKPL will gradually increase its per capita collection to a quantity comparable to that as recommended by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), i.e. 2 to 3 items. 

The library materials acquired each year should comprise an appropriate mix of print, audiovisual and electronic resources in order to keep up with the emerging trends in information provision and usage patterns of library materials.  In building and updating the library stock, the quantity of library materials to be acquired will be governed by the following principles:

• the number, types and stock requirements of the libraries (including the needs of new and reprovisioned libraries);
• usage rates of library materials and changes in reading habits;
• publication and supply of different library materials (including e-books);
• financial resources of the Department, prices of library materials and exchange rate fluctuations;
• capacity for processing and storing the library stock and other materials; and
• demographic changes in Hong Kong (including population growth, age and district distribution, etc).

• Having regard to readers’ demand and actual circumstances, the HKPL will acquire additional copies of popular print and e-books to shorten readers’ waiting time.

• Replacement is not automatic. In the case of non-fiction, new editions or better alternative titles in print should be acquired.

• There are no hard and fast rules on the proportion of each subject to be acquired.  It will be adjusted appropriately based on the readers' demand and the number of new publications in the year that meet community needs.