2022-23 HFCC Library Newsletter Issue 1

byAngieShing5B

Forthepasttwoyears,thecallousvirushasperpetuallyplaguedour lives. As the pandemic persists, melancholy pervades. During this gruelling time, many of us seek books as consolation. Despite bringingaboutamyriadoftribulations,thepandemichasexpedited thedevelopmentofvariousE-readingplatforms,enablingreadingto transcendtheconstraintsofthepandemic. Today, notwithstanding the ubiquitous virus, the world is forging ahead from the pandemic, and books remain our solace. The convenienceofthemanyE-readingplatformsavailablehasirrefutably fortifiedourhabitsofreading.AsthecelebratedauthorStephenKing putsit,‘Booksareauniquelyportablemagic’.We,theeditorsofthe LibraryNewsletter,cordiallyinviteyoutojoinus onthewondrousjourneyofreadingthrough thisyear’sE-publication.Withourenthralling

schoolmatesthepassionforreading content,wehopetofosteramongour andpromptexplorationsofthepristine up,andembarkonyourreading voyagebydivingintothisissue!

domainsofE-reading.Solet’sbuckle

HFCC Library

Do you know when was our school library established? How does our library look in each generation?

Here are some details about different generations of the HFCC library. Let’s take a look together!

The First Stage

The Second Stage

Welcome to the 2nd stage of our HFCC Library! As you can see in this picture, this library is more modern. Readers were welcomed and greeted by a bunch of new books once they entered thelibrary.

Multiplebookshelveswereplacedinthelibrary.Booksweredivided into different sections. Everything was organised and tidy! Therewas a fiction corner in the left hand corner of the library, with acabinet for students to place their backpacks. There were also a fewbean bags provided in the fiction corner for students to relax on andreadtheirfavouritebooks,feelingcozyandhomely!

The Third Stage

Wow!

Renovation during thepandemic period musthave been music to students’ears.

Upon entering the library, thebook recommendation area immediately catches students’attention with the great books suggestedbyteachers.Nexttothe door, a shelf displaying magazinesandnewbookscanbefound.

Besides providing valuable bookresources, the new library alsooffers book disinfection service with the addition of a book sterilizer, with instructions written on a display stand abovethe machine. Also, a digitaltelevision has been installed near theservicecounter.

There are some quotationsabout reading on the girdersof the library, which are allfrom brilliant writers and celebritiesaroundtheworld.

Compared to the previous one, this library is designed with a modernEuropean architectural style. Everything looks so smooth and the placelooks so bright! The curves used in this architectural style creates acomfortable setting for all schoolmates to self-study and to dive deep intheseaofknowledge!

Teachers’ comments on the New Library

Ms Gladys Woo:

I really like the logo outside the library, as well as the new seats and couches in the library, they must be very cosy to sit on. The quotes relating to reading are also pretty interesting, and the one I relish the most is Stephen King’s ‘Books are portable magic’. Also, I found a very interesting title in the library called ‘Infographic Guide to Literature’. From this book, I found many stories about Shakespeare and other poets. I was fascinated by it! I would like to recommend this book to you all. Lastly, I suggest the library purchase more literature books so that students can enjoy them!

Mr Thomas Li:

I think the best part of the library is the overall atmosphere and the logo outside the library. I also like the green and wooden colour of the furniture, which echoes the tree-like logo of the library. The large TV screen is also very nice. If there’s any author sharing, or bookshraing by students, that would be a great place to host the event.

Library prefects’ comments

Reading areas

The Reading Area provides students with comfortable and aesthetic seats.

Self study area

The bright and quiet environment creates a suitable atmosphere for self-study.

UV steriliser

The UV steriliser guarantees all the books are clean and safe for students to read.

Book recommendations corner

It makes the library resemble a bookshop!!!

Here are four wonderful libraries around the world that will definitely allow you to immerse yourself in a sea of books!

D.C.

The Largest –Library of Congress

Do you know how big the largest library on earth is? 20 STANDARD FOOTBALL PITCHES! The Library of Congress, located in Washington, D.C., actually consists of three buildings honourably named after the three prominent US presidents who contributed to the constructionofthelibrary.

Founded in 1800, it features more than 173 million items from historical phone books and city directories to ancient manuscripts to digital talking books.

The collection also includes the 1507 world map, known as ‘America’s Birth Certificate’, as it is the first document on which the name ‘America’appears. There are a total of 470 languages (!) in there. You can also find different themed resource centers like the Law Library and the Folk Culture LibraryintheAmericanFolklifeCenter.

Why do they have so many collections from different countries? In fact, the library has set up several overseas offices in India, Egypt, Pakistan and 60 more countries to acquire cultural materials.

Indeed, the librarians have worked hard restoring its collection as most of the original collection was burnt by the British during the Warof1812.Recently,ithasalsocreatedadigitallibrary (https://www.loc.gov/collections/world-digital-library/about-this-collection/) Youcanfindmanyinterestinghistorical documentsinit!

For example, if you search ‘Hong Kong’, you can find a music score sheetcreatedin1916!

The Smallest – Little Free Library

Wow!Whatisthisadorableyellowrobot-like creature?It’snotaninstallationart,butthe world’ssmallestlibrary–LittleFreeLibrary.It wasajointprojectofPENWorldVoicesFestival andTheArchitecturalLeagueofNewYork, establishedinMay2013.Thisstructurewasmade outofrecycledmaterials,namelyaplasticwater tankandawoodenframe,advocatingtheideaof ‘takeabook,returnabook’andeco-friendliness atthesametime.

Imagineseeingthiseye-catchingconstructiononabustlingstreetaftera wearyschoolday,wouldyoubecaptivatedtogoandseekforrelaxationas youimmerseyourselfintheseaofbooks?Isurelywould.Theaimofthis projectwastohelpcity-dwellerstakeabreakfromthehecticpaceoflifein themetropolisbychillingoutwithbooks.Also,itaimedtogiveeveryone accesstoreadingmaterialseveniftheyliveinareaswhichwerenotserved bypubliclibraries.

Itsnamereallytoldthetruth–itwasreallylittle. TheLittleFreeLibrary couldonlyhousearound40books!Plus,thelibraryhadspaceforonlyone readeratatime.Well…twopeoplecouldstillsqueezeinbuttheywouldnot beabletomovearound.Flippingoverpageswouldbecameaclashofelbow pokes!Imaginehowcrampeditwas!

Unfortunately,LittleFreeLibrarywasonviewthroughSeptember1,2013, anditonlylastedforfourmonths.Whatapity!

The Oldest — Al-Qarawiyyin library

Entering the reading room in the mosque, you can find several huge arched carved windows on the two sides, with arrays of wooden reading desks. The extravagant chandelier gently lights up the room, telling the story of this library built in 859AD, 1163 years ago in Fez, Morocco.

ReadingRoom

Exteriorofthelibrary

InsidetheAl-QarawiyyinUniversity,thelibraryhasbeenservingasa centreofIslamicknowledgeoverthecenturies.Themostprized manuscriptsareindeedkeptbehindanirondoor,whichisonly accessiblebythecuratorofthelibrary.Doyouknowwhat’stheoldest andrarestmanuscriptamongthecollections?Aninth-centuryQuran! Yet,itcanstillbereadinthelibrary!

However, the library’s foundation has been slowly damaged over the years due to the seeping of rainwater into Al-Qarawiyyin’s floorboards. The architects described it as ‘a river running underneath the floors’. Thus, a massive renovationprojectwascarriedoutafewyearsago,andithas been opened up to the public since then. There is also a lab thathelpspreservethemanuscriptsthroughscientificmeans.

As an old Moroccan proverb goes, ‘A wise man without a book is like a workman with no tools.’ Thanks to Fatima Al-Fihri,awealthyyoungArabwoman,wegettotravel back in time and enjoy reading more than 4,000 rare books and ancientArabicmanuscriptsdatingbacktothe9thcentury.

AplankofwoodthatissaidtobeFatima al-Fihri'sdiploma,founderofAl-Qarawiyyin.

China

TheLoneliest–SeashoreLibrary

Seashore Library, located in Beidaihe, China, was built in 2015. Inspired by the painting ‘ Baleen’, the architects bestowed the building with a subtle, cold and simple vibe as the exterior of the library is solely made of concrete. Despite being located in a crowded and lively beach resort, the Seashore Library remains unshakableandlonely,sittingbytheseashore.

Interior

The interior is a whole new different world. With beams of sunlights cast into the huge reading room through circular openings on the arched ceilings and sea breezes entering it, the librarygivesreadersafeelingofwarmthandcoziness.

Andrew Wyeth - Baleen, 1982 Exterior of the Seashore Library

ReadingRoom

‘Thereadingspaceasanauditorium,withtheseasideview astheongoingplay’-descriptionbyoneofthearchitects. Itisguaranteedthateveryreadercanenjoythesceneryofthe shimmeringseawiththeladder-shapeddesign.TheSeashore Libraryalsoincludesameditationspaceandanactivityroom. Thesimplicityoftheseroomsaimsatinspiringcontemplation insilenceandevokingthespiritualityoftheintegrationofman andnatureasnaturalwindandlightstreamintoit. ReadingintheSeashoreLibrary,youcoulddefinitely detachyourselffromthethoughtsinyourheadandwinddown.

Fun fact

HK’s automated library: Self-service Library Station

Haveyoueverthoughtthatborrowingbookscanbeasconvenientas buyingdrinksfromvendingmachines?Indeed,therearesuch facilitiesaroundHongKong!Doyouknowthatthereareautomated librariesinHongKong?Soundshigh-tech,right? TheHongKongPublicLibrariesoftheLeisureandCultural ServicesDepartmenthaslaunchedapilotschemetosetupthree Self-serviceLibraryStations,oneeachonHongKongIsland(Island EastSportsCentreSitting-outArea),Kowloon(HongKongCultural Centre)andtheNewTerritories(TsuenNamRoad,TaiWai).

TsuenNamRoad,TaiWai HongKongCulturalCentre

IslandEastSportsCentreSitting-outArea

Thesestationsprovideround-the-clockservices,including check-in,check-out,paymentandpickupofreservedlibrary materials.About300ChineseandEnglishbooksare available!.Go

themifyou’reinterested!!!

Book sharing by Ms Vanessa Jim

Book sharing by Mr Ken Wong

By Library Prefects

AngelaLi5A

BookTitle:TheSilentPatient

Author:AlexMichaelides

The Silent Patient isapsychologicalthrilleraboutawomannamedAliciawhohas murderedherhusband,andbecomescompletelysilentthroughherpsychological treatment.Alicia’srefusaltotalk,ortogiveanykindofexplanation,turnsa domestictragedyintosomethingmoreprofound,amysterythatcapturesthepublic imaginationandcastsAliciaintonotoriety.Herdoctor,Theo,isacriminal psychotherapistwhohaswaitedalongtimefortheopportunitytoworkwithAlicia. Hisdeterminationtogethertotalkandunravelthemysteryofwhysheshother husband,beginsasasearchforthetruthwhichturnsintoathreatthatconsumes him.

Thisbookdealswithmurder,betrayal,guilt,psychologicaltreatmentandtwisted obsessions,whichIrecommendtothosewhoareinterestedinpsychology.

The Silent Patient explorestheeffectsofmaritalbetrayalandpsychological disorders.Itisquick,engagingandthrillingwithamajorplottwist.It’sworth takingamomenttoappreciatetheintelligenceandcomplexityoftheplotthat makesthebooksorichlyentertaining.Itincludesmultipletimelinesand storytellingmediums.Whenreadersexperiencethestory’smind-boggling conclusion,theywillfinallyappreciatethestructuralcomplexityofthis psychologicalthriller.

The Silent Patient isanoutstandingdebutcrimenovelthatforgesitsownpath, deliveringintelligentcharacterstudyandmasterfulplotting,allwrappedupin hypnoticwritingfromwhichyouwon’twanttotearyourselfaway.

MsCaraCheng (Principal)

MsKennyChan MsVanessaJim MrKenWong MsGladysWoo MrThomasLi MsKaryChan MsPeggyFan