The University Archives and Special Collections was empowered by a donation of $3 million from Dr Ko Pui-shuen, which is funding two projects.  One is to build a gallery for displaying the antique maps, original classic works of science and technology and the archival documents of the University.  A space next to the Archives and Special Collections reading room is being renovated.

 

 

The gallery, to be opened in September, will be named "Hong Kong Chiu Chow Chamber of Commerce Ko Pui Shuen Gallery (香港潮州商會高佩璇展閱廳)" to honor the donor.  Equipped with movable display panels, flexible furniture, PC booth, LED display and projectors, this new gallery space also facilitates talks and exchange activities on the study and research of topics related to our collections.  With the opening of the gallery, the hidden gems of the Special Collections become available through regular thematic exhibitions to bring them out of storage.

 

 

The second project is to digitize the archival materials, maps, and rare books of the collections.  A large format scanner for documents and maps up to 36 inches wide was brought in.  The scanning of 340 maps of the Special Collections and 700 HKUST posters was completed in June.  High resolution images of these materials are available for online viewing via the Library’s digitization platform – Rare & Special e-Zone (http://lbezone.ust.hk/). Launched in August, this in-house developed platform includes a search interface and powerful viewers for users to navigate the digital objects of this project.  Another book scanner was set up in July.  Atlases, travelogs and rare books in the history of science are being digitized.  Full text of classic works by Copernicus, Galileo and Newton will be available for online viewing very soon.  Selective thread-bound books will be included as well.  An estimated 250,000 pages of text will be scanned and available online by 2015.