Open Access (OA) refers to the free online availability of scientific and scholarly knowledge. While authors often pay Article Processing Charges (APCs) to make their publications accessible in paywalled journals, there are alternative options available.

In recent years, the PolyU Library has established Transformative Agreements (TAs) with various publishers. These agreements offer full or partial waivers of APCs. To enhance PolyU members’ understanding of OA and TAs, this workshop will cover the following topics:

• Introduction to Open Access
• Exploration of Open Access options
• Explanation of Transformative Agreements
• Application process for APC waivers, using the American Chemical Society (ACS) as a case study

Register Now!

Date: 12 Mar 2025 (Wed)
Time: 10.30 am – 11.20 am
Speaker: Ms Jane Yun, Asia Pacific Sales Operation Manager, ACS Publications
Moderator: Dr Wendy Wong, Section Head (Scholarly Communication) of the Library
Platform: Zoom 

For enquiries, please contact us at our various service points here. For learning and research support, get in touch with your Faculty Librarian.

Pao Yue-kong Library
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Dear PolyU Readers,

We are excited to announce a special contest as part of our READ@PolyU reading programme, centred around our common book 2024/25, Klara and the Sun. We invite you to explore the themes of artificial intelligence and companionship that lie at the heart of the novel.

In Klara and the Sun, we follow an artificial friend, Klara, who navigates the complexities of human emotions and relationships. This contest encourages you to reflect on your own ideas about AI and friendship. If you had the chance, what kind of AI friend would you create, and how would it change your life?

How to Participate:

1. Design Your AI Friend: Write a 50-word description of your AI friend's unique qualities and role in your life.
2. Visualize Your AI Friend: Study image prompting and use GenAI tools to visualize the image of your ideal AI companion. Let your imagination run wild!
3. Eligibility: This challenge is open to all PolyU students. Each participant should submit one entry only.

Submission:

1. Share on Social Media: Post the AI friend’s image and its description on your Facebook or Instagram with the title "READ@PolyU Challenge: Design Your AI Companion" and hashtags: #polyureads and #PolyULibrary.
2. Email Your Submission: Send a screenshot of your post, the image, the full 50-word description of your AI friend, the final prompt and AI tool that you have used to lbread@polyu.edu.hk with your name and student ID.

Important Dates:

• Submission Period: From today until 14 March 2025.

Prizes:

Submissions will be evaluated based on creativity, originality, and thoughtfulness.

All winners receive an award certificate and the opportunity to be featured on our social media platforms, along with book coupons:

• Gold Award (x1): $500 book coupon
• Silver Award (x2): $200 book coupon
• Bronze Award (x5): $100 book coupon

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to showcase your creativity for a chance to win amazing prizes!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at lbread@polyu.edu.hk.

Our Library has subscribed to new Chinese databases, including 民國圖書數據庫 (Early Twentieth Century Books in China) and 紅色文獻數據庫 (China Revolution Literature Database), which provide comprehensive resources on modern Chinese history from 1911 to 1949. For more details, please refer to the Chinese description below.

圖書館訂購了以下有關中國歷史研究的資料庫，讓讀者進一步了解中國於1911-1949的歷史發展軌跡： 

Book Exhibition:

From Nature to Innovation: Exploring Scientific Discoveries in Ancient China
天工開物 觸手可及－探索中國古代科學技術
Venue: The Forum, 6/F South Wing, Library
Time: Until 30 June 2025

Tiangong Kaiwu (Exploitation of the Works of Nature), authored by Song Yingxing (1587 – c.1666) during the Ming Dynasty, is a comprehensive work on agriculture and technology which manifests the innovative brilliance of ancient China. The term ‘Tiangong Kaiwu’ conveys the idea of humanity harnessing the nature to develop new things.

In fact, ancient Chinese scientists developed new technologies in various disciplines, playing a significant role in the civilization advancement not only in China but also in the entire world.

This book exhibition showcases Chinese and English titles on the history of ancient Chinese scientific discoveries, along with Tiangong Kaiwu. We hope you’ll find inspiration from the wisdom of our ancestors and carry on their legacy to create a brighter future.

《天工開物》乃明代宋應星(1587－約1666)所撰一部綜合性的科學技術著作。「天工」指自然之力，而「開物」指人的作為，兩者結合意思為人類利用自然力量開發新的事物。《天工開物》詳盡描述農業和手工業生產的各項技術，突顯了古代中國創新的智慧。

事實上，古代中國的科學家在各個領域開發新技術，不僅對中華文明起到了重要的推動作用，也對世界文明的演進產生了深遠的影響。

本次書籍展覽除了介紹《天工開物》之外，還挑選了多種關於中國古代科學技術的讀物。希望大家通過這展覽，加深對先祖智慧的認識，並且能繼往開來，努力創新，建設更美好的未來。