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