The 5th Sino-Foreign Joint Venture University Library Meeting was held at UIC on 3 April. The theme of the meeting was ‘Nurturing Knowledge Creation and Transfer’.
The Sino-Foreign Joint Venture University Library Alliance included UIC, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, New York University Shanghai, Wenzhou-Kean University, Duke Kunshan University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, and Shenzhen MSU-BIT University.
Group photo of all participants
The participants of this meeting were given a tour around UIC’s Learning Resource Centre (LRC) by Deputy College Librarian, Ms Fung Ying Cham.
Tour of the LRC
Ms Cham began by welcoming everyone and highlighting the purpose and importance of this meeting. She then introduced UIC’s Vice President (Academic Affairs), Prof Chen Zhi.
“Academic libraries are important cornerstones of a dynamic and connected university community,” said Prof Chen. He explained that the Sino-Foreign Joint Venture University Library Alliance is mandated to strengthen allies’ academic library services through deployment of emerging technologies, creative resources and sustainable development strategies.
Prof Chen Zhi says the Sino-Foreign joint Venture University Library Alliance is mandated to strengthen allies’ academic library services
Prof Chen also welcomed the libraries of Shenzhen MSU-BIT University and Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology as new participants.
Group photo of all the librarians that take part along with Prof Chen Zhi (centre)
Director of Shenzhen MSU-BIT University Library, Mr Zhu Qiang, was the first speaker of the meeting and he introduced the library in which he works. He talked about the lay-out and ‘Space assignment’ of the library as well as the support it offers to the students.
Mr Zhu Qiang
Up next was the Director of Library, Research and Learning Resources at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ms May Yan, who raised the topic of library branding. She mentioned that great consideration went into the design of the library building when it was being built, including the emotional connection and visual identity.
Ms May Yan
‘What is a library and what can we do? Our explorations of becoming a successful library’ was the topic for the Director of NYU Shanghai Library, Ms Zu Xiaojing’s presentation. She explained problems they have experienced and the solutions that worked for them, especially when dealing with a shortage of seating for the students and dealing with noises.
Ms Zu Xiaojing
Duke Kunshan University Librarian, Ms Helen Xu, gave her presentation about participating in the library building design. Her university is currently constructing a library, and she displayed the foundation and how it can support the students.
Ms Helen Xu
Ms Xu was followed by UIC’s Deputy College Librarian, Ms Fung Ying Cham, who gave the presentation ‘How LRC became an integral part of UIC's liberal arts education philosophy’. She introduced the UIC library and spoke in great detail about how it was important to have happy staff to provide the best service possible. “User-centred is an important part of how the library operates,” explained Ms Cham. Events like the book passing showed the significance of the UIC library.
Ms Fung Ying Cham
Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen librarian, Mr Zhang Jia, spoke about library space innovation. He began by talking about different libraries in China before listing the different technologies that are available to make operating a library more efficient. From security and smart tablets to automation systems, Mr Zhang spoke about the great benefits these technologies could bring to a library environment.
Mr Zhang Jia
‘Library liaisons by more than librarians’ was the topic that Founding Library Director for the Wenzhou-Kean University Library, Mr Charles J. Greenberg, presented. He went into depth about the history of librarians and how they have adapted over time. Mr Greenberg said, “Faculty expectation for library services are often shaped by their own experience.” He ended his talk using a Charles Darwin quote about adaption.
Mr Charles J. Greenberg
The final speaker for the morning was Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Deputy University Librarian for Operation and User Service, Ms Teng Chao. Her presentation was titled 'Adaption to the changes - From challenges to opportunities’. Ms Teng spoke of the progress of XJTLU’s library. She spoke about the importance of libraries adapting to present situations.
Ms Teng Chao
The afternoon session was divided between two venues at UIC, which had representatives from the different attending universities giving presentations about various topics regarding university libraries.
Various speakers during the afternoon session
Near the end, EBSCO representative Mr Eddie Tsai talked about various ebooks updates and trends to keep in mind for further development and ELSEVIER representative Mr Bob Zhang discussed backfilling content to further support in higher-level research outputs.
To conclude the forum, Ms Cham shared her closing remarks by extending her gratitude to everyone who contributed to this conference and thanked the LRC team for making this conference possible. “I’m confident that we all gained a better understanding of our profession and that we will continue to celebrate the diversity of knowledge represented in this room”.
Reporter: Samuel Burgess
Photographers: Ivy Liao, Marissa Furney, Serena Wang
Editors: Deen He, Marissa Furney, Étienne Fermie
(from MPRO)
