The Library seeks to offer efficient and high-quality services and to provide relevant and updated print and electronic resources to support the teaching, learning and research activities in the University.
We are committed to:
- Render library services efficiently and courteously,
- Extend the range of services effectively,
- Explore the possibility of applying new information technologies boldly,
- Develop a cordial relationship with library users sincerely, and
- Provide an ideal environment for study and research wholeheartedly.
The Saint Francis University (SFU) Library originated as the Caritas Francis Hsu College (CFHC) Library, which was founded in 1985 and located at 11 Caine Road, Central, Hong Kong. It initially housed a collection of approximately 10,000 volumes.
A branch library was set up on the Oxford Road campus in Kowloon Tong as part of the development of the College.
The College was relocated to 2 Caine Road, Central, Hong Kong and the College Library was enlarged, covering approximately 10,000 square feet with the addition of a meeting room, an audio-visual room and a language corner.
The Caritas Francis Hus College (CFHC) formed an alliance with the Caritas Bianchi College of Careers (CBCC), leading to the amalgamation of the two college libraries into a unified facility located at the Tseung Kwan O campus. Covering a total area of approximately 16,000 square feet and featuring a collection of about 70,000 volumes, this combined library was later renamed the Library in Memory of Lam Sing Kam in appreciation of his generous benefaction.
Following the transformation of the College into the Caritas Institute of Higher Education, the Library was subsequently renamed as the Library of Caritas Institute of Higher Education and Caritas Bianchi College of Careers (CIHE and CBCC Library). [Officially known as the Library In Memory of Lam Sing Kam].
The Library received a massive donation of over 2,000 volumes of traditional stitch-bound Chinese books from the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum (SBF). This immense collection was originally entrusted by the Blessed Father Gabriele Allegra.
The Saint Francis University (SFU) (formerly known as “Caritas Institute of Higher Education (CIHE)”), the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) (formerly known as “The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK)”), the Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU), the Hong Kong Chu Hai College (HKCHC) (formerly known as “Chu Hai College of Higher Education (CHCHE”), and the Tung Wah College (TWC) undertook the SAR Government-funded E-Library Project, which culminated in the creation of a Collection Sharing and Information Discovery System (CSIDS)* that could facilitate the continuous expansion of the digital collections of the member libraries.
*Renamed as Collaborative Scheme on Information and Discovery Services (CSIDS).
The new campus of the Caritas Institute of Higher Education (CIHE) officially opened with a new Library wing known as The Florence and Lipton Chuang Learning Commons (“the Learning Commons”), the main features of which include e-learning rooms, individual study spaces, group discussion areas as well as the Young’s Corner in memory of the former Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, the Most Reverend Michael Yeung Ming-Cheung, which has a combined floor area of over 32,000 square feet and a collection of about 120,000 volumes of books and related materials.
The Caritas Institute of Higher Education (CIHE) and Caritas Bianchi College of Careers (CBCC) Library was renamed the Saint Francis University (SFU) Library after the formal establishment of SFU. Through the strenuous efforts of the library team over the years, the holdings have grown significantly into a sizable collection with more than 6.5 million items of physical and digital resources.