The Legislative Council Library

Watson CHAN

Head, Research and Library Services

Legislative Council Secretariat

November 2003

Mission

• A specialized library serving the

information needs of the Legislative

Council, its committees, Members and other

related personnel involved/interested in

legislative work

Establishment - 1995

• Established in 1993 and operation commenced in 1995

• Initial establishment: 1 librarian and 1 supporting staff

• Library services restricted to Members only

• Services provided on a first-come-first-served basis

Establishment - today

• 3 librarians and 3 supporting staff to

provide library services

• 5 supporting staff to manage the LegCo

web site and the Research and Library

Information System (an electronic

document retrieval system)

Library users

• Members of the Legislative Council

• Members’ personal assistants

• Staff of the Legislative Council Secretariat

• Members of the public

Library services for Members, their assistants and Secretariat staff

• Access to Library collections

• Access to Library facilities

• Reference services

• Loan services

Access to Library collections

• Council collection

• Reference collection

• General collection

• Special collections

• News library

Access to Library facilities

• Reading room

• Audio-visual equipment

• Computers including access to the Internet

Reference services

• Timely and quality information and

reference services

• Focusing on core collection of Council

documents

Loan services

• Access to loan services of Library

collections

• Access to inter-library loan services

Library services for members of the public

• Access to records of the Council and open

committees meetings

• Access to collections on the Library

catalogue

• Reading room facilities

• Use of audio-visual equipment

Facts and figures (1)

Number of visits:

• 2000/01: 6000 visits

• 2002/03: over 9000 visits

Number of enquiries:

• 2000/01: slightly above 10 000

• 2002/03: over 13 000

Facts and figures (2)

Size of collection:

• 2000/01: 27 000 items

• 2002/03: 32 000 items

Circulation of library items:

• 2000/01: 3 800

• 2002/03: 12 500

Challenges (1)

Public accountability

• Promoting transparency of the work of the

Legislative Council

• Ensuring all necessary information are

made available to the wider public on a

timely fashion

Challenges (2)

Changing needs of users

• Services must be adapted to changing users’

needs and add genuine value

• Expectations and demands must be

balanced with resources available

• Skills must be kept up to date

Challenges (3)

Tight deadlines

• Increasing expectations for ready made

materials / timely information pack

Wider scope

• Increasing expectations for more in-depth

information and information beyond the

Library collection

Challenges (4)

Re-active versus pro-active work

• Re-active: responding to enquiries

• Pro-active: anticipating needs before they

become enquiries

Library staff - librarians (1)

Duties:

• Acquisition

• Cataloguing

• Circulation

• Reference

• Library system maintenance

Library staff - librarians (2)

Entry requirements

• Degree or post-graduate degree in library science

• Very good command of written and spoken Chinese and English

• Good knowledge of LC Classification, and preferably knowledge of LCSH, AACRII and USMARC, or equivalent

Library staff - librarians (3)

Entry requirements (cont’d)

• Experience in using Innopac for

cataloguing, acquisition, and other library

administrative purposes

• At least 6 years’ working experience in the

provision of library services

Library staff - librarians (4)

Attributes

• Ability of working independently and under

pressure

• High level of information literacy skills

• Very good analytical, communication and

supervisory skills

Library staff - librarians (5)

Staff development

• On-the-job training

• Sponsored job-related training

• Exchanges with legislative staff from other

jurisdictions

Library staff - supporting staff (1)

Duties:

• To assist in making acquisition

• To assist in cataloguing

• To assist in providing library counter

services

Library staff - supporting staff (2)

Entry requirements

• Grade E or above in five subjects, including

English Language (Syllabus B), Chinese

Language and Mathematics in the Hong

Kong Certificate of Education Examination,

or equivalent.

• Preferably with formal training in library

science

Library staff - supporting staff (3)

Entry requirements (cont’d)

• Good command of written and spoken

Chinese and English

• Preferably with 5 years' relevant experience

Library staff - supporting staff (4)

Attributes

• Good initiative

• Good communication and interpersonal

skills

• Self-motivated and responsible

Library staff - supporting staff (5)

Staff development

• On-the-job training

• Sponsored job-related training