FOCUS . Th University of Hong Kong Libraries.doc

FOCUS . The University of Hong Kong Libraries New Series. Vol. 5, No. 1, Jul 2005 Content: Message from the Librarian: What Do Library Staff Members Need Exhibitions Book Talks We Welcome and Value Your Views: 2005 Main Library Opening Hours Survey We Welcome and Value Your Views: 2005 Fung Ping Shan Library User Survey What’s New Spotlight on Treasures WebWise Library Updates Student’s Prayer Donation Obituary: Miss Helen Ho Selected Notable Acquisitions Library Visitors Message from the Librarian What Do Library Staff Members Need Typically I use this space to tell you about what we are doing to meet your needs, or otherwise touting our achievements. In this issue I would like to share a list of issues of concern to our staff and what we are or are not doing to address these worries. Recently we asked our Staff Relations Committee to survey its members about what issues do they want more information on. As I look the list over, it occurs to me that this list may not differ a great deal from those issues of concern to many people in Hong Kong. Here is the list with a few comments to enable you to understand why they are concerned: The University’s Human Relations Reform. Our staff members are nearly all parents in families or children still living at home helping make ends meet. They are concerned how the new policy might effect their salaries. Retirement age. Last night, we held a party in honour of four colleagues who must retire because we don’t have sufficient funds to hold onto our younger staff and extend these 60 year olds who have to step aside. Those not being honoured are concerned what will happen next year – particularly the 5 who will be 60 then. Contract staff extensions. During the last few years we could only give contract staff one year extensions. While staff members with “very good” evaluations are happy that we can now propose two year extensions, staff with families or school bills to pay are worried about the future. More