Overview
The Li Ka Shing Library is the center for the academic and professional knowledge resources and services that support the research and learning needs of the SMU community. Come visit the library and its innovative spaces or use the digital library, PYXIS.
Centrally located on the City Campus, the library building offers a range of learning spaces - including open areas for individual or collaborative use, quiet individual carrels, book-able project rooms for 4-6 students equipped with LCD panels and a cafe within the library for study breaks. The entry level features a collaborative study area and a collection of lifestyle reading materials and videos. The entire building is wireless and designed for your individual use, and there are also a number of dedicated computers, some with specialised financial software. A library classroom for hands on training and other faculty research services, such as Integrated Information Technology Services (IITS) and Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) are also in the building. The emphasis is on access and dissemination, service and cooperation rather than on building large collections.
Library collection includes over 50,000 printed volumes, 40,000 electronic books and more than 1,500 audio-video materials. Library provides access to over 60,000 electronic journals and subscribes to over 130 electronic databases.
The library staff includes individuals with diverse backgrounds. Library staff have specialized degrees in library and information science from the poly to masters level and also degrees in subject areas key to SMU such as accounting, economics, law and social sciences. They bring experience from other institutions of higher learning both inside and outside of Singapore, from multinational corporations, research institutes, NGOs and government agencies. They all have two things in common: intellectual curiosity and their commitment to provide excellent customer focused services for the SMU community.
The library serves as a place for a variety of campus activities including hosting cultural talks for the community, providing a venue for book launches and seminars and supporting the campus blood drive. Library also hosts information and training sessions on developments in the library profession for the local and international library community.
A feature article on the official opening of the Li Ka Shing Library appears in the March 2006 issue of Access, an Asian newspaper for the library and information community.
The Li Ka Shing library is member of:
- American Library Association (ALA)
- Educause
- International Association of Scientific and Technological University Libraries (IATUL)
- International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
- Library Association of Singapore (LAS)
- Pacific Rim Digital Library Alliance (PRDLA)
- Special Libraries Association (SLA)
