Q. Does the Library have e-versions of textbooks for my courses?

We understand that e-books are extremely convenient and that it would be great to have textbooks made available electronically.

However, textbook publishers have been very conservative about moving to digital versions, as they traditionally profit from multiple sales of print textbooks to libraries and students. In other words, there often is no e-book version of expensive textbooks used as course references, because the publishers want to sell more printed copies.

To help you access the books you need, you may consider taking advantage of the following Library services available to our post-graduate members:

• HKALL. Borrow a book from another University Library through the Hong Kong Academic Library Link (HKALL) service. If we do not carry a book, or if the book you want is on loan to someone else, you can check to see if another Hong Kong university library has the book. You can then request the book online, and pick it up from HKBU within 3 to 4 working days. More here: http://library.hkbu.edu.hk/about/hkall.html

• JULAC card. Enter other Hong Kong university libraries to access their e-books and e-resources on site (plus browse and borrow their books) with a JULAC Library card. Read more and apply now here: http://library.hkbu.edu.hk/about/otherserv_JULAC_card.html

The University Bookstore also carry textbooks for courses offered at HKBU.