Ask a Librarian FAQs
Reference Services
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I am not a registered reader of the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL). Can I use the reference library services and collections?
Reference materials kept on shelves are accessible to all library users. For access to reference materials held in on-site reserve stacks, you have to enquire the counter staff.
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Why reference materials cannot be loaned?
Owing to the unique role and functions of reference libraries, reference materials may only be used inside the reference libraries, with the purpose of providing the general public with immediate access to up-to-date information during the library opening hours. To this end, an adequate reference collection needs to be in place. In addition, reference libraries serve to preserve publications which are essential for the study of local history and research into specific areas. Reference libraries also house rare books, flimsy items, expensive and valuable sets, and special reference collections deposited by other organisations, which are not suitable for circulation.
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Given that reference materials cannot be loaned, can I photocopy them at the libraries?
Self-service photocopiers are available for public use in all reference libraries and district libraries. Any person who makes copies of any library material must comply with the Copyright Ordinance (Cap 528). Generally speaking, unauthorised copying of copyright works is not allowed except for certain exceptions as stipulated in the Copyright Ordinance. Subject to conditions, fair dealing for research and private study, criticism, review and news reporting is permitted under the Ordinance. For details, please refer to the relevant provisions of the Copyright Ordinance. Nevertheless, library users should be cautious about the amount of copying made to avoid possible infringement of copyright. For example, copying a large portion of a book may constitute an infringement. An extract of the relevant parts of the Copyright Ordinance is posted in the vicinity of the photocopiers in all libraries.
Extract of the Copyright Ordinance
23. Infringement of copyright by copying (1) The copying of the work is an act restricted by the copyright in every description of copyright work; and references in this Part to copying and copies are construed as follows. (2) Copying of a work means reproducing the work in any material form. This includes storing the work in any medium by electronic means. (3) In relation to an artistic work copying includes the making of a copy in 3 dimensions of a 2-dimensional work and the making of a copy in 2 dimensions of a 3-dimensional work. (4) Copying in relation to a film, television broadcast or cable programme includes making a photograph of the whole or any substantial part of any image forming part of the film, broadcast or cable programme. (5) Copying in relation to the typographical arrangement of a published edition means making a facsimile copy of the arrangement. (6) Copying in relation to any description of work includes the making of copies which are transient or are incidental to some other use of the work. [cf. 1988 c. 48 s. 17 U.K.] 38. Research and private study (1) Fair dealing with a work for the purposes of research or private study does not infringe any copyright in the work or, in the case of a published edition, in the typographical arrangement. (Amended 15 of 2007 s.12) (2) Copying by a person other than the researcher or student himself is not fair dealing if-
(a) in the case of a librarian, or a person acting on behalf of a librarian, he does anything which regulations under section 49 would not permit to be done under section 47 or 48 (articles or parts of published works: restriction on multiple copies of same material); or (b) in any other case, the person doing the copying knows or has reason to believe that it will result in copies of substantially the same material being provided to more than one person at substantially the same time and for substantially the same purpose. (3) In determining whether any dealing with a work is fair dealing under subsection (1), the court shall take into account all the circumstances of the case and, in particular-
(a) the purpose and nature of the dealing, including whether the dealing is for a non-profit-making purpose and whether the dealing is of a commercial nature; (b) the nature of the work; (c) the amount and substantiality of the portion dealt with in relation to the work as a whole; and (d) the effect of the dealing on the potential market for or value of the work.” (Replaced 15 of 2007 s.12) [cf. 1988 c. 48 s. 29 U.K.] -
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How can I search for library materials via the HKPL homepage?
You may search for library materials via the Library Catalogue on the HKPL website by using the search options of title, title keyword, author, author keyword, subject, subject keyword and series.
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Which classification schemes are used in the HKPL? How do they work?
The HKPL adopts the "Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme" and LIU Guojun’s "A System of Book Classification for Chinese Libraries" respectively for classification of English and Chinese books. To browse or locate books on the library bookshelves, you may refer to the classification tables below for reference.
Classification Table for English Books
F FICTION - Alphabetically by Author 000 COMPUTER SCIENCE, 500 SCIENCE INFORMATION & GENERAL WORKS 510 Mathematics 010 Bibliographies 520 Astronomy 020 Library & Information Sciences 530 Physics 030 Encyclopedias & Books of Facts 540 Chemistry 040 General Collected Essays 550 Earth Sciences 050 General Serial Publications 560 Paleontology 060 Associations, Organizations 570 Anthropology & Biology & Museums 580 Plants 070 News Media, Journalism & Publishing 590 Animals 080 General Collections 090 Manuscripts & Rare Works 100 PHILOSOPHY & PSYCHOLOGY 600 TECHNOLOGY 110 Metaphysics 610 Medicine & Health 120 Epistemology 620 Engineering 130 Parapsychology & Occultism 630 Agriculture 140 Philosophical Schools of Thoughts 640 Home & Family Management 150 Psychology 650 Management & Auxiliary Services 160 Logic 660 Chemical Engineering 170 Ethics 670 Manufactures 180 Ancient & Medieval Philosophy; 680 Manufactures Eastern Philosophy 690 Building Construction 190 Modern Western Philosophy 200 RELIGION 700 ARTS & RECREATION 210 Philosophy & Theory of Religion 710 Landscape & Civic Art 220 Bible 720 Architecture 230 Christianity & Christian Theology 730 Sculpture; Ceramics; Metalwork 240 Christian Devotional & 740 Drawing; Decorative Arts Practical Theology 750 Painting 250 Christian Pastoral Theology 760 Graphic Arts; Printmaking 260 Christian Social & 770 Photography Ecclesiastical Theology 780 Music 270 History of Christianity & 790 Recreation; Sports; Performing Arts Christian Church 280 Christian Denominations & Sects 290 Other Religions 300 SOCIAL SCIENCES 800 LITERATURE & RHETORIC 310 Statistics 820 English & American 320 Political Science 830 German & Related Literatures 330 Economics 840 French & Related Literatures 340 Law 850 Italian, Romanian & 350 Public Administration & Military Science Related Literatures 360 Social Problems, Social Services 860 Spanish, Portuguese & Associations 870 Latin & other Italic Literatures 370 Education 880 Classical & Modern Greek 380 Commerce, Communications & 890 Other Literatures Transportation 390 Customs, Etiquette & Folklore 400 LANGUAGE 900 HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY & RELATED 410 Linguistics DISCIPLINES 420 English & Old English Languages 910 Geography, Travel & Maps 430 German & Related Languages 920 Biography; Genealogy; Insignia 440 French & Related Languages 930 Ancient History 450 Italian, Romanian & 940 History of Europe Related Languages 950 History of Asia & Far East 460 Spanish, Portuguese 951 History of Hong Kong 470 Latin & Other Italic 960 History of Africa 480 Classical & Modern Greek 970 History of North America 490 Other Languages 980 History of South America 990 History of Other Areas Classification Table for Chinese Books
000 總類 500 社會科學 010 目錄學 510 統計 020 圖書館學 520 教育 030 國學 530 禮俗 040 普通類書 540 社會學 050 普通雜誌 550 經濟 060 普通社會出版物 560 財政 070 普通論叢 570 政治 080 普通叢書 580 法律 090 群經 590 軍事 100 哲學總論 600 中國史地 110 思想史 610 中國通史 120 中國哲學 620 斷代史 130 東方哲學 629.38 香港歷史 140 西方哲學 630 文化史 150 論理學 640 外交史 160 形而上學、玄學 650 史料 170 心理學 660 地理 180 美學 670 中國方志 190 倫理學 673.8
680
690
693.8香港地方志
中國類志
中國遊記
香港遊記200 宗教總論 700 世界史地、傳記 210 比較宗教學 710 史地 220 佛教 720 海洋 230 道教 730 亞洲 250 回教 740 歐洲 270 其他各教 750 美洲 280 神話 760 非洲 290 術數 770 澳洲及其他 780 傳記 790 考古學 300 自然科學 800 語言學、文學 310 數學 810 文學 320 天文學 820 中國文學 330 物理學 830 總集 340 化學 840 別集 350 地質學 850 中國特種文學 360 生物學 857 小說 370 植物學 860 東方文學 380 動物學 870 西方文學 390 人類學 880 翻譯詩詞戲劇 889 翻譯小說 890 新聞學 400 應用科學 900 美術、遊藝 410 醫學 910 音樂 420 家事 920 建築 430 農業 930 雕刻 440 工程 940 書畫 460 應用化學、化學工藝 950 攝影 470 製造 990 遊藝 480 各種營業 490 營業方法
Reference Collections
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Where can I find annual reports of listed companies in Hong Kong?
They are available in the Hong Kong Exchanges Collection of the Central Reference Library of the Hong Kong Central Library, and respective Reference Libraries of City Hall Public Library and Sha Tin Public Library. The Central Reference Library has the largest holding of annual reports.
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Where can I find the Laws and Gazette of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)?
Full sets of the bilingual Laws of the HKSAR are kept in the Central Reference Library of the Hong Kong Central Library, and respective Reference Libraries of City Hall Public Library, Kowloon Public Library, Sha Tin Public Library, Tsuen Wan Public Library, Tuen Mun Public Library and Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library. These sets of laws are updated annually.
The latest version of the Laws of the HKSAR is also accessible at Hong Kong e-Legislation on the homepage of the Department of Justice.
Printed copies of the HKSAR Government Gazette are also available at the above reference libraries. The Central Reference Library has the continuous holding from 1853 to the current issue, while other reference libraries have varied holdings starting from the 1990s. You may contact individual reference libraries for details of their holdings.
Previous issues of the HKSAR Government Gazette since 19 May 2000 are available for searching online. In addition, the Government Gazette from 1842 to 1941 is also available for searching and viewing at the Hong Kong Government Reports Online (1842 to 1941) on the website of The University of Hong Kong Libraries.
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Where can I find the international standards issued by standards bodies, such as ASTM, BSI, IEC and ISO?
If you want to access or purchase the originals or photocopies of the international standards, you may contact the Product Standards Information Bureau of the Innovation and Technology Commission.
e-Resources
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How to access e-resources via the Internet?
Registered readers of the HKPL, i.e. library card holders or readers who have applied for using their Smart ID cards to use library services, can access e-resources of the HKPL via the Internet.
To gain access to e-resources, you are required to login your library account by entering your library card number and password. If you have applied for using your smart ID card for library services, you may enter your HKID card number in the library account field. Please enter all letters and digits without the bracket, e.g. a1234567 for HKID card number A123456(7). The default password will be the last 4 digits of the reader’s registered phone number.
For further enquiry on your password, please contact the duty staff of any public library during the opening hours.
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How to use e-resources inside the library?
You can use the workstations in public libraries to gain direct access to e-resources via the HKPL’s thematic webpage on e-resources or the Multimedia Information System (MMIS).
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What e-resources are available currently?
The HKPL provides e-books in Chinese and English languages as well as e-databases on different subjects for readers. User guides are available on respective webpages.
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What e-resources for children are available?
The following e-resources for children are accessible at workstations in libraries or via the Internet:
Apabi Chinese eBooks (Children's Collection)
FunPark
Newtonkids Digital Museum
Kiss Holiday
Gale In Context: Elementary
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What e-resources on STEAM are available?
The following e-resources on STEAM are accessible at workstations in libraries or via the Internet:
Gale OneFile: Culinary Arts
Gale in Context: ScienceMusic Periodicals Database
Newtonkids Digital Museum
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Is the use of e-resources restricted to particular locations?
Members of the public can gain access to e-resources by means of workstations in libraries. For registered readers, all e-books and some e-databases are also accessible via the Internet.
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Where can I read e-books?
Readers can gain free access to e-books by the following means:
- Members of the public can gain access by using the workstations in public libraries.
- Registered readers can gain access via the e-books webpage of the HKPL. -
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How many e-book items can be checked out at a time? How long can these items be kept?
The loan quota and periods vary among e-book collections. For details, please refer to the Overview of e-Book Collections.
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Where can I read e-magazines?
Readers can gain access to e-magazines in the e-databases “Kono Libraries”, “Dragonsource Qikan Reading Service”, “OverDrive Magazines” and “Flipster” of the HKPL via the Internet.
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What is My EBSCOhost account? How to create such an account?
My EBSCOhost account is used for downloading e-books from “eBooks on EBSCOhost” or e-magazines from “Flipster”. To create such an account, please follow the steps in the user guide to “eBooks on EBSCOhost”.
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What is an Ebook Central account? How to create such an account?
An Ebook Central account is used for downloading e-books from “ProQuest Ebook Central”. To create such an account, please follow the steps in the user guide to “ProQuest Ebook Central”.
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What is Adobe Digital Editions and why do I need it?
Adobe Digital Editions is a free e-book reading and management software. With Adobe Digital Editions, you can download e-books from “eBooks on EBSCOhost” or “ProQuest Ebook Central” to your personal computer for reading. For details, please refer to the user guides below:
“eBooks on EBSCOhost” User Guide
“ProQuest Ebook Central” User Guide -
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What is Adobe Digital Editions App and how to use it?
Adobe Digital Editions App is a free e-book reader application. With Adobe Digital Editions App, registered readers of the HKPL can download e-books from “eBooks on EBSCOhost” and “ProQuest Ebook Central” to their mobile devices. For details, please refer to the user guides below:
“eBooks on EBSCOhost” User Guide
“ProQuest Ebook Central” User Guide -
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Which e-resources have mobile apps?
Registered readers of the HKPL can install mobile apps on their mobile devices (tablets or smart phones) to access the following e-resources.
e-Resource
Mobile App
Smart Phone
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Adobe Digital Editions
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EBSCO Audiobooks
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Flipster
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FunPark童書夢工廠
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HyRead 3
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Nowbook Digital Library
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Kono Libraries
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Naxos Music Library
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Naxos Music Library Jazz
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Libby
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Libby
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Adobe Digital Editions
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HyRead 3
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Nowbook Digital Library
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How can people with visual impairment gain access to e-books?
People with visual impairment can listen to audio e-books in “Naxos Spoken Word Library”, or gain access to all English e-books through the Internet workstations that are installed with the Cantonese and English voice synthesiser software in static libraries.
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How can I seek help when I encounter problems in using e-resources?
If problems are encountered in using e-resources, please refer to the user guides on the webpage. You may also contact the duty librarian of the Reference and Information Enquiry Centre at 2921 0222 during the opening hours of the Hong Kong Central Library.
