FAQ - Locating Materials
How to find Library materials?
Use CityU LibraryFind. For details about the use of CityU LibraryFind, please refer to the
CityU LibraryFind Research Guide.
How to find books on a topic?
- Do a keyword search using CityU LibraryFind. Then refine your results by choosing Resource type – Books. This will enable you to find all the books in the library, including print books, e-books and book chapters.
- Alternatively, you may use Advanced Search in CityU LibraryFind. Enter your keyword(s) and choose Resource Type – Books.
- Most of the books are available for loan. A few collections contain items which may only be used in the Library. For their locations, please consult the Library Floor Plan. For locating a book on shelf, please refer to the Library Web page "How Library Materials are Shelved".
How to find a journal that I need?
- Do a keyword search in CityU LibraryFind using the Books & Media+ search scope. This search scope will exclude articles or chapters. Then refine your results by choosing Resource type – Journals. This will enable you to find all the journals in the library on your desired topics, including print journals and e-journals.
- Most journals are now in electronic format and can be accessible directly from the journal records in CityU LibraryFind. To access the e-journals, sign-in using your EID and AD/LAN password.
- All serials are classified by the Library of Congress (LC) Classification Scheme. In the Serials Collection Area, current unbound issues are shelved in the periodical racks. Bound volumes are housed in the Shatin Storage.
How to find journal or magazine articles on a particular topic?
- Do a keyword search in CityU LibraryFind using the Books, Media & Articles+ or Articles+ search scope. Then refine your results by choosing Resource type – Articles. If you want to locate articles from scholarly or peer-reviewed journals, refine your results by Availability – Peer-reviewed Journals.
- With CityU LibraryFind, you can find articles from most library-subscribed article databases. However, content of specialist databases, such as legal information from law databases, company and financial data from some business databases, are not included in this search platform. To find specialist content, use the Library databases.
I have a citation of an article in hand, how do I find the full text of the article?
- Search the article title in CityU LibraryFind using the Books, Media & Articles+ or Articles+ search scope. You will be able to find the title if the Library has the e-version of the article.
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If you fail to find the article, try to see whether the journal/periodical containing the article you need is available in any format from our Library by searching the journal title in CityU LibraryFind (refer to “How to find a journal that I need” above). Then check whether the Library has the issue/volume you are looking for. For e-journals, check the holding information in the View It box of the journal records. For print journals, check the holding information in the Get It box of the journal records.
- If it is available in print format, you may go to the Serials Collection Area and get the desired issue/volume of the periodical. If the desired issue/volume is located in the Shatin Storage, you may request the Library to make photocopy of the desired article.
- If the desired issue/volume is available in electronic format, at the full record of the e-journal, click on the "online access" link to access the e-journal and then navigate down to the desired article.
- In some cases, the periodical may be available in microform (microfilm or microfiche). Request these materials via CityU LibraryFind.
What databases or e-journals are available?
How to find newspaper articles?
- Do a keyword search in CityU LibraryFind using the Books, Media & Articles+ or Articles+ search scope. Then refine your results by choosing Resource type – Newspaper Articles.
- Current issues of Library-subscribed local and overseas newspapers are kept in the Leisure Corner near the Library Lounge of the Library.
- Back issues of Library-subscribed local and overseas newspapers are located in the Newspapers (Back issues) of the Library.
- Back issues of some newspapers are also available in microform which can be requested via the CityU LibraryFind.
- Many newspaper articles are now available online. For newspaper databases, refer to the "Databases by Type – News/Newspaper" page.
- For more help on finding newspapers articles, please refer to the Research Guide "News and Newspapers".
How long will the printed newspapers be kept in the Library?
- Search CityU LibraryFind for the title of the newspaper. Check the holding information in the Get It box of the newspaper record
- Local and overseas newspapers are kept for one month.
How to find company information/annual reports?
Please refer to the Research Guide "Company Information" for Library resources available both in print and electronic format, in addition to relevant websites that can help you find company information/annual reports.
How to find materials in Chinese?
Chinese materials are shelved together with other language materials in the Library Collection. Users may search Chinese materials in the CityU LibraryFind using any input method available at the PC. Handwriting systems are also available for use inside the Library.
What should I do if the book I am looking for is not on the shelf?
You may check the following first:
- Are you looking for a book in the wrong collection (e.g. looking for a course reserve book or a reference book in the Circulation Collection)? You may need to check the Available at of the book in CityU LibraryFind or view the Get It box in the full record for location information.
- Is the title "Available"? Check its "STATUS" in the Get It box in CityU LibraryFind. If the item is "On loan until with a date" or “HKALL Loan. Off campus till with a date”, it means the title has been checked out by someone else. You may click on "Request book/journal" to request a checked-out item.
- If the item is "At Bindery" or "Under Repair", it means that the item is not available for loan.
- If the item is "On hold shelf", it means that the item has been requested by another user. The Library is holding it for the requester to pick up. The item is not available for loan to other patrons but you may click on "Request book/journal" to request the item.
- If the item is being ordered or processed, it is not available for loan. Please allow some time for the ordering and/or cataloguing process(es).
- Sometimes, items may be mis-shelved or being used by other users, especially the sought-after items. It is advisable that you look up the item at a later time or enquire at the appropriate service counter.
How to request a book, a media resource, a bound volume journal or a journal article from the Shatin Storage?
Book or media resource request:
- When you find that the book or the media resource you are looking for is located in Shatin Storage, at the record display screen in CityU LibraryFind, click on "Request book/journal" in the Get It box (Sign-in is required).
- An email notice will be sent to you when the book or the media resource is available for you to pick up at the Smart Pickup Lockers.
Bound volume journal or journal article request:
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When you find that the bound volume journal or article that you are looking for is located in Shatin Storage, at the record display screen in CityU LibraryFind, first sign in, select the appropriate volume from the Description menu under the Get It box, and then click on "Request book/journal" or "Request article" as appropriate. Alternatively, you may click on "Request a specific volume" or "Request a special article" next to REQUEST OPTIONS. Then fill out the requested information as appropriate on the form.
- For bound volume request, the whole bound volume will be delivered to the Library for you to pick up.
- For article request, you have to accept the Copyright Declaration stipulated on the form. Articles will usually be delivered online. However, the Library will charge you at HK$0.3 per page for print articles. Payment should be settled upon receipt of the article at the Circulation Counter of the Library.
- An email notice will be sent to you when the bound volume journal or the journal article is available.
Where can I get lecturers' notes and other course materials?
Teachers may put private copies of their books or their personal notes in the Library for student use. These are kept in the Closed Access Collection. To borrow the materials, please approach staff on duty at the Circulation Counter. You may also search for the course reserve materials in CityU LibraryFind by course name or by instructor's name.
Where can I find CityU past examination papers?
CityU past examination papers from 1996/97 onwards are available in CityU LibraryFind.
Where can I find local university prospectus and calenders?
Local university prospectuses and calendars are kept in the Reference Collection.
How to obtain materials which are not available in CityU Library?
Interlibrary Loan Services (ILL)
- Interlibrary Loan Services are provided to academic and equivalent administrative staff, research staff, postgraduate and final year degree students as well as executive officers of different departments for obtaining materials not held by the Library.
- Eligible users are advised to use our online Interlibrary Loan System - ILLiad to submit their requests. To logon to ILLiad, you need to enter your EID and your AD password.
- For users who need to submit printed forms, the Interlibrary Loan Request Form can be downloaded online or obtainable from the Circulation Counter. Completed request forms should be returned to the Interlibrary Loan Services Office via the Circulation Counter.
- For more details, please refer to the web page on Frequently Asked Questions on Interlibrary Loan Services.
Hong Kong Academic Library Link (HKALL) Service
CityU staff and students of courses leading to CityU awarded degrees can access the library resources of all University Grant Committee (UGC) funded libraries via the HKALL service.
Where do I return Interlibrary Loans materials?
All materials borrowed via Interlibrary Loan Services must be returned to the Circulation Counter. Please do not return any ILL items via the bookdrops.
How to access the CityU LibraryFind from home?
Go to the Library Home Page, enter your search in the "CityU LibraryFind" search box. Alternatively, access CityU LibraryFind directly via this URL: http://cityu.edu.hk/lib/cityulibraryfind/
Can I access the web-based Library-subscribed electronic resources at home?
Yes, all CityU staff and students can access most of the web-based Library-subscribed electronic resources at home via Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Please consult the Library web page "Remote Access to Library Electronic Resources".
Locating Law Materials
Can I remove the pages from the Law Section's
loose leaf binders for photocopying?
No. You must bring the binders to the Law & Reference Help Desk and ask the staff to
remove the pages for you.
Can I use Lexis HK or Westlaw?
The databases are for designated groups of users, as listed below.
| Database |
Eligible user |
| Lexis HK |
- CityU teaching staff
- CityU School of Law students
- CityU students who are taking law courses
|
| Westlaw |
- CityU School of Law staff
- CityU School of Law students
|
Users who do not belong to those groups may want to consider the following legal resources:
- Hong Kong e-Legislation (HKeL) - an electronic database of the legislation of Hong Kong by the Department of Justice, HKSAR
- Judgments and Legal Reference – database with unreported judgments by the Judiciary Branch, HKSAR
- HKLII - a free Internet facility providing the public with legal information relating to Hong Kong
- HeinOnline – a database with a comprehensive collection of legal periodicals
How to find a Hong Kong Ordinance?
To look up an Ordinance, you may use the print set of the Laws of Hong Kong, which is located in the Quick Reference Area of the Law Section. Start by using the Index Volume of the set. Alternatively, you can use the databases, Hong Kong e-Legislation (HKeL), Lexis HK or Westlaw Asia.
How to find a Hong Kong case with its case name, for example, Chu Hon Wah v. Cho Herman [2004]?
You may consult a case citator: Consolidated Index to All Reported Hong Kong Decisions or Hong Kong Case Citator. With the citation given, you then use an abbreviation list to look up the full title of the law report and then search it in the library catalogue. Next turn to the respective law report to read the case. Hong Kong law reports, case citators and abbreviation lists can be found in the Quick Reference Area of the Law Section (Stack B). The following databases also carry full text of Hong Kong judgments and cases: Judgments and Legal Reference, Lexis HK and Westlaw Asia.
My lecturer gives me the abbreviation of a law report,
e.g. WLR, and I have no idea what it means. How can I find out what the abbreviation
stands for?
You can refer to Index to Legal Citations and Abbreviations / Donald Raistrick,
1993 or other abbreviation guides to identify the name of the law report. The Index will tell
you that WLR is the abbreviation for the Weekly Law Report. You may also find this online
abbreviation list useful, Cardiff Index to Legal Abbreviations(URL: http://www.legalabbrevs.cardiff.ac.uk/)
How can I locate a UK case with its case name, for example, Hewitt v. Lewis [1986]?
You can refer to the case citator or a case table, for example, The Digest: Consolidated Table of Cases, to find the citation of the case. Then use the abbreviation guides to identify the title of the law report. Next look up the law report title in the Library Catalogue and go to the respective location in the Law Section to use the law report if available. You can also take the case name to the databases, Lexis HK and Westlaw Asia, and search it there. When using the databases, first choose the appropriate field and enter the case name accordingly.
How can I find the text of UK Act?
Use the Halsbury's Statutes of England and Wales, refer to the Consolidated Index volume first. Full text of UK Acts are also available from the UK Office of Public Sector Information web site - Acts of the UK Parliament, Lexis HK and Westlaw Asia.
How can I get journal articles on a certain legal subject?
You may find the following databases useful. Law databases: Lexis HK, Westlaw Asia, Westlaw Next and HeinOnline. Non-law databases: Academic Search Premier, Cambridge Journals Online, Oxford Academic Journals, Social Sciences Citation Index, Scopus.
How are law periodicals shelved?
Law periodicals are shelved in two separate places. Current issues are located on the right side when you walk into the Law Section while back issues are kept in the Law Section electronic compact shelves. In either place, the journals are shelved by alphabetical order of the title. So once you find a law periodical from the Online Library Catalogue, you just move to the respective location. It is not necessary to jot down the call number.
