Faculty of Information Management Universiti Teknologi Mara: Group Assignment

FACULTY OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
(IM110)
ORGANIZATION OF INFORMATION
(IMD213)
GROUP ASSIGNMENT:
WEBSITE LIBRARIES
PREPARED BY:
FATEN SYAHIRA BT MOHD SOBRI

(2020830504)
IMAN TASNEEM BT MAT LAZIM

(2020849318)
NUR ALYSSA NADHIRAH BT
AHMAD ROSSAIMI
(2020607738)
MUHAMMAD QAIS HAIQAL DANIELL

BIN MOHD FIRDAUS
(2020607146)
PREPARED FOR:
MADAM AMIRA IDAYU BT MOHD SHUKRY
SUBMISSION DATE:
16 JANUARY 2022
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Assalamualaikum w.b.t,
All praises to Allah S.W.T for giving us extraordinary strength in completing

this assignment. We are very grateful to the following who have contributed to the
success of our group assignment. We would like to thank you for all their valuable help
and support in my preparation by finishing our research and study on this topic.
First and foremost, our utmost appreciation to our lecturer, Madam Amira
Idayu Bt Mohd Shukry who had guided us and helped us out in a sense of providing
some useful information or can be classified as the outline of the topic.
Lastly, we really appreciate our classmates who also spent their time helping
us in building ideas and that despite the distance, they have thoroughly found and
shared the information we needed.
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TABLE OF CONTENT
NO. CONTENT PAGE
1 LIBRARY A: HONG KONG CENTRAL LIBRARY
1.1 Overview, History or Background information

1.2 Collections/Materials in the library
1.3 Retrieval tools used in the library
1.4 Physical arrangement of library material 1-23
1.5 Staffing in the library
1.6 Limitations
1.7 Impact of Info. Center Collections
1.8 Conclusion
2 LIBRARY B: NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

2.4 Physical arrangement of library material 24-36
2.6 Limitations
2.8 Conclusion
3 LIBRARY C: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MALAYSIA
3.1 Overview, History or Background information 37-49

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3.4 Physical arrangement of library material
3.6 Limitations
3.8 Conclusion
5. COMPARISON 50-51
6. CONCLUSION 52
7. REFERENCES 53
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1.0 LIBRARY A: HONG KONG PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Figure 1.1 : The Main Entrance of Hong Kong Central Library.
The Hong Kong Central Library is the biggest public library in Hong Kong
and was established in 2001. Under the purview of the Leisure and Cultural Services
Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic
of China commonly known as the Hong Kong Government (HKSARG), it is the largest
library in Hong Kong public libraries system in terms of floor areas, library services
and with the most comprehensive collection, the flagship library of Hong Kong Public
Libraries (HKPL), and the headquarters of the Hong Kong Public Library, serving as
the territory's National Library. It is located in Causeway Bay at the intersection of
Moreton Terrace and Causeway Road. The library was established to meet the
UNESCO Public Library Manifesto which affirms the public library as a living force for
education, culture, and information, as well as an essential agent for the promotion of
peace and spiritual well-being through the minds of men and women. Later on, the
Leisure and Cultural Services Department is in charge of providing public library
services in Hong Kong. It aims to provide public library services to meet the
community's need for knowledge, information, and research, to encourage life-long
learning, continuous education, and profitable leisure time use, and to promote local
literary arts.
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The Hong Kong Public Libraries aims to serve the public in the following
ways: as an information center where information and the latest development on all
subject disciplines are freely and readily available to the public, as a tool for self-
education and continuing education through resource-based learning, as a center for
the promotion of literary arts and literary research in Hong Kong to cultivate public
interest in creative writing and literary research, to encourage and promote literary
writing, preserve Hong Kong literature, and promote cultural exchange, as a source of
enjoyment for the profitable use of leisure where library materials may be borrowed
for home use and as a source for the enrichment of everyday living where members
of the public may learn about current affairs, hobbies, and leisure pursuits. Since its
opening, the Hong Kong Central Library has been welcomed by the public. It has the
highest attendance and borrowing rates among Hong Kong public libraries.
The Hong Kong Central Library provides a network of 70 static libraries and
12 mobile libraries that are linked by an integrated automated library system to provide
people from all walks of life with easy access to a diverse range of library collections.
The Hong Kong Central Library gives readers free access to all the library's collections,
which are broadly classified. Generally, there are printed materials and non-printed
materials. For printed items include books, newspapers, periodicals, maps, music
scores, and any other print materials. For non-printed items are audio-visual materials,
electronic resources, microforms, and any other non-print materials. Specifically, the
materials and collections provided based on main focus are Adult Lending Collection,
Young Adult Collection, Children's Collection, Reference Collection, Multimedia
Information, Newspapers & Periodicals, Documents Collection, Hong Kong Literature
Collection, Map and Photo Collections and Arts Collection.
First and foremost, Adult Lending Collection is in the Adult Lending Library
which is located on the third floor of the Hong Kong Central Library. With the provision
of a free and diversified collection including over 580 000 items of Chinese and English
reading materials, English large print books, music scores and over 70 000 audio
compact discs and CD-ROMs. The Adult Lending Library meets the community’s need
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for knowledge and information, supports the public in using leisure time for self-
learning and contributes to the promotion of local literary writing and arts.
Next, Young Adult Collection. The Young Adult Library has prepared some
Project Guides for secondary school students. The purpose of the Project Guides is
to demonstrate how to make good use of library resources to accomplish their school
projects. The library particularly selects some hot topics to compile the Project Guides.
Most of them tie in with the various Modules of the Liberal Studies of the New Senior
Secondary curriculum. Through the simple outline of the Project Guides, they hope to
assist secondary school students to use the Call Number and Keywords to search the
library books, audio-visual materials, magazines, newspaper clippings, e-Books, e-
Databases and web resources. The Project Guides are for demonstration purposes
only. One or two examples are suggested for each category of materials for reference.
There is no complete bibliography is provided in the Project Guides. In addition, the
Young Adult Library provides a diversified and healthy collection, including over
80,000 volumes of Chinese and English books, over 100 periodicals, numerous
newspaper clippings on issues related to teenagers, and audiobooks.
Next, Children's Collection. The Children's Library stocks more than

260,000 volumes in its lending and reference sections, including Picture books, Story
Books, CDs, and CD-ROMs together with over 100 periodical titles. Parents are free
to sit and look through books with their children, enjoying the fun of reading with their
kids. In order to encourage adventures and explorations into new worlds of knowledge,
the Children's Library will regularly produce subject bibliographies such as "Parent-
Child Reading Booklist" and "Resource List for Children" to introduce its diversified
collection to meet children's informational needs and foster the love of reading among
them.
Next, Reference Collection. Reference resources are mainly provided by

Hong Kong Central Reference Library. They include e-Resources, Hong Kong and
international information collections, topical resources and research guides, and
others to cater for a wide range of information, self-learning, and research needs. The
Hong Kong Public Libraries' reference services strive to provide readers with up-to-
date information. Its collections aim to collect and preserve monographs from various
subject disciplines for general reference and research. There are three types of
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reference collections which are general reference collections, special reference
collections and depository collections. For general reference collections, held by the
Central Reference Library encompass a great variety of subjects except for those
already covered by special reference libraries and resource centers under the Hong
Kong Public Library. The collections focused on topics specific to Hong Kong, China,
Chinese humanities, business practices, and management, and issues of local and
international concern, are kept in six subject departments, namely Hong Kong Studies,
General Reference, Social Sciences, Business and Finance, Science and
Technology, and Humanities. They feature essential quick reference tools, standard
or scholarly works, research reports, and expensive sets which provide quality and
reliable reference sources relevant to general or special information needs, systematic
self-learning, or research purposes. Next, special reference collections. There are
twenty-one special collections being kept in the Hong Kong Public Libraries which
comprise of a wide variety of reference materials mainly related to Hong Kong and of
some other thematic collections and subjects, including books, periodicals and
newspapers, celebrities' correspondences, manuscripts, maps, photographs, music
scores, opera scripts, archival documents, microforms, audio-visual materials and
digital files, covering the subjects of local history, philosophy, literature, art, education,
society, economy, folklore, etc. Some of them are rare books and out-of-print
publications. In addition, Hong Kong Central Library has been designated as the legal
depository library in Hong Kong for nine global organizations which are Asian
Development Bank, European Union, International Labour Organization, International
Maritime Organization, United Nations, United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, World Bank, World Trade Organization and World Food
Programme. Materials published by these organizations will have copies sent to this
library.
Next, Multimedia Information. The Multimedia Information System (MMIS)

is a digital library system solely developed by the Hong Kong Public Libraries. Since
its launch in 2001, it has been serving the public with the best multimedia information
including over 260,000 audio-visual materials and 6 million pages of digitized images
and documents. By using MMIS, readers can easily access historical content like Hong
Kong newspapers published over 100 years ago, or contemporary materials like CD
albums. Also, it contains e-books covering a wide variety of subjects, suitable for doing
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personal studies, research as well as general leisure reading. In addition, there are
many educational CD-ROMs for children and multimedia language learning materials
for different users, satisfying the studying needs of readers in different age groups,
thus facilitating lifelong learning.
Next, Newspapers and Periodicals. Newspapers and Periodicals services

are provided by the three special independent units: Current Issues Reading Area,
Microform Reading Area, and Back Issues Reading Area for the purpose of providing
readers with various types of worldwide newspapers, periodicals, and historical
microform materials of different subjects, mostly related to China, Hong Kong, and
Taiwan for informational, recreational and research needs. The Current Issues
Reading Area houses more than 4,800 titles of current newspapers and periodicals in
Chinese and English languages by subscription mainly from Hong Kong, China,
Taiwan, Europe, America and other Asian countries. About 200,000 volumes of back
issues and 50,000 bound volumes are being kept in the Back Issues Reading Area.
Next, Document Collection. The library has special collections which are
11 collections being housed in the Hong Kong Central Library include The Hong Kong
Collection, Hong Kong Oral History Collection, Open University of Hong Kong Course
Materials Collection, Hong Kong Music Collection, Hok Hoi Collection, Kotewall
Collection, Hong Kong Exchanges Collection, The Royal Asiatic Society (Hong Kong
Branch) Collection, Hong Kong Literature Collection, Hong Kong Village Life Collection
and Documents Collection Campaign Collection which comprise of a wide variety of
reference materials mainly related to Hong Kong, including books, periodicals and
newspapers, celebrities' correspondences, manuscripts, maps, photographs, music
scores, opera scripts, archival documents, microforms, audio-visual materials, and
digital files, covering the subjects of local history, philosophy, literature, art, education,
society, economy, folklore, and others. Some of them are rare books and out-of-print
publications.
Next, Hong Kong Literature Collection. As a special reference unit of the

Hong Kong Central Library, there is a Hong Kong Literature Room that aims to present
local literature and promote study and research related to Hong Kong literary scene.
Hong Kong Literature Room mainly provides reference inquiry service. The Hong
Kong Literature Collection includes books and periodicals, authors' manuscripts,
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authors' portraits, newspaper clippings, and a database of nearly 1,000 authors'
biographies, bibliographies of works, and criticism of literary authors. Some of the
authors' manuscripts and clippings related to local literature have been digitized after
clearance of copyright and can be accessed via the Multimedia Information System
(MMIS) of Hong Kong Public Libraries. Chinese Literary Authors Collection comprises
books of Chinese literary authors from Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, and overseas
countries. Hong Kong Village Life Collection has a stock of books and historical
documents obtained from several early New Territories citizens. These valuable books
and documents are first-hand sources of information for the study of the economy,
social and cultural development of early Hong Kong and traditional village life.
Next, Map and Photo Collections. For these collections, there is a Map
Library which is specialized by the Hongkong Central Library to provide various kinds
of maps, old Hong Kong photos, and cartography-related resources for reference use
by the public. For map collection, It emphasis on maps of Hong Kong, the Mainland,
and major countries and cities in the world, including Maps and Atlases which are
physical, topographic, geological, thematic, national and regional, historical maps or
atlases; Remotely Sensed Imagery is images covering the areas of Hong Kong, the
Mainland, and selected countries; Street Naming Plans: gazetted street naming plans
of Hong Kong; Other Reference Resources: including glossaries, dictionaries and
selected books on cartography. For photo collection, there are old photos of places in
Hong Kong and aerial photos of Hong Kong taken by the Survey and Mapping Office
of the Lands Department.
Next, Arts Collection is housed on the 10th floor of the Hong Kong Central
Library. It is a specialized arts reference library that aims at providing arts-related
information and reference services. The Arts Collection has a comprehensive
collection including books, music scores, periodicals, audio-visual and multimedia
materials as well as online databases. The collection is in both Chinese and English
and covers various disciplines in arts such as music, paintings, calligraphy, design,
photography, sculptures, architecture, theatre, dance and films. Some of the house
programs, posters, and newspaper clippings related to arts have been digitized after
clearance of copyright and can be accessed via the Multimedia Information System
(MMIS) of Hong Kong Public Libraries. The art collection is divided into three parts.
First, there is an Arts Document Reading Room. The room provides readers with
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access to the collections of arts documents, services, and facilities for research
purposes. Second, Hong Kong Music Collection. Through the Hong Kong Music
Collection Campaign, the special collection received more than some 76,000 items of
local music materials including manuscripts of music scores, lyrics and opera scripts,
audio-visual materials, photos, program leaflets, house programs, posters, newspaper
clippings, etc. The special collection aims at developing the understandings of the
preservation of the Hong Kong music archive and encouraging studies and research
on Hong Kong music. Third, there are also Online Databases on Arts. The Online
Databases provides information on arts, and they are available for searching and
research purpose.
Besides, the Hong Kong Central Library also provides electronic sources
which include e-books, e-databases, and digital collections. For e-databases, the
library provides authoritative and quality online databases with different types which
are journals, newspapers, audio & video materials and subjects (encyclopedia,
science & technology, social issues, etc) for study and research. For e-books, the
collections are suitable for doing personal studies, research as well as general leisure
reading. In addition, users can also choose between Chinese and English e-books. It
also includes English audiobooks, which encompass a wide range of titles in literature,
poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and other genres. In order to improve their reading,
listening, and pronunciation skills, users can read e-books by using audiobooks while
listening to them. It also comprises a children's collection and adult collection.
Therefore, the availability of e-books is subject to change without prior notice. Readers
may use the e-books by accessing via the Internet with the library account or using
the workstations inside the Hong Kong Public Libraries via Multimedia Information
System (MMIS). Also moreover, there are many types of digital collections based on
their themes which are literature and language, history and geography, general and
reference, culture and society, and arts and music.
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There are three retrieval tools used in the Hong Kong Central Library
include Library Catalogue Terminal, Online Database or E-Database, and Dewey
Decimal Classification (DDC). This library utilized the catalog as one of the tools used
in the library. This refers to the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) of this library
which is the Library Catalogue Terminal. Generally, catalogs provide access to
individual items within collections of information packages. Each information packages
is represented by a description of the packages that is somewhat longer than a
bibliography description. The descriptions are assigned one or more access points.
As we already know OPAC is an online bibliography of a library collection that is
available to the public. The users can make use of the Z39.50 protocol which is a
standard communications protocol for the search and retrieval of bibliographic data in
online databases. This will enable the users to easily search for any bibliographical
information about the materials in the library such as the author, title, or subject.
Therefore, this provides their readers with an easy-to-use library catalog for searching
materials by using those access points.
Figure 1.3.1 : Interface of Library Catalogue Terminal.
Next, E-Database provided by the library is the Multimedia Information

System (MMIS), a one-stop search service that allows users to navigate digitized
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collections with high local heritage and cultural value, such as old photos, maps, old
Hong Kong newspapers, artist clippings, manuscripts, and audio-visual materials, and
to play both digital and analog physical media like CDs, VCDs, DVDs, CD-ROMs, and
gramophone records interactively inside the library. Also, it contains e-books covering
a wide variety of subjects, suitable for doing personal studies, research as well as
general leisure reading. MMIS is composed of different servers and playback systems,
and it provides a wide variety of images/documents and audio-visual materials. The
user can also search by subject, search e-databases and e-journals by title or
alphabetical order, or input a keyword in the title, description, or topic e-
database.
Figure 1.3.2 : The interface of Multimedia Information System (MMIS) by Hong Kong
Central Library.
Last but not least, the classification scheme was then applied by Hong
Kong Public Libraries. The book arrangement in the library has been requested in
order to improve access to and retrieval of information services from the shelves. A
classification system is a structure that has been established to categorize the world
of human cognition into broad and small categories. The class numbers presented in
indexes are impossible to obtain without categorization schemes. Furthermore,
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libraries have developed and implemented a variety of grouping methods based on
the size and quality of their holdings. The HKPL's most well-known classification
scheme is the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). It is a system that allows new
books to be added to a library and placed in the proper location based on the subject.
Figure 1.3.3 : The use of classification scheme by Hong Kong Publis Libraries.
For the printed materials, the arrangement of library material involves

continuous monitoring of the stack room, displaying of new material on the display
racks, and the arrangement of the books and periodicals on the shelves after use.
Besides these, the material will be dusted and cleaned at periodic intervals. The
periodicals, damaged and torn books must be bound. The old and obsolete documents
which are no longer in use must be withdrawn from the stacks. This also includes
physical care of the books, that is, their protection from sunlight, dust, insects,
moisture, and heat. The maintenance work is related to many sections of the library.
For example, the processing section makes available new material all the time and
there is a need to shelve these books within the already existing collection. This
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creates problems of shelving when books on the same subject are received in large
numbers. These books must be accommodated on the shelves without disturbing the
order of arrangement of other collections.
Figure 1.4.1 : Hong Kong Central Library Central Book Stack.
Besides, the majority of books are kept upright on bookshelves with book
supports. They should be shelves that are packed in so tightly that they are likely to
be damaged when users try to remove them. Books can withstand a lot of handling
before they need to be repaired or rebinded, but some libraries cover them to extend
their life. Paperback books can be stored in freestanding wire baskets for easy access.
Large books should be stored horizontally on shelves, but stacked on top of one
another, the weight will cause damage.
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Figure 1.4.2 : Arrangement of printed books in Hong Kong Central Library.
Besides, for the newspaper’s collection, Recent issues of newspapers are

often stored in hanging files. Older issues may be bound and stored horizontally on
specially designed shelving. For the arrangement of periodicals, the library displays
current issues of periodicals on rigid racks, and some use transparent plastic covers
to protect the issues. Pamphlet boxes are typically used to store unbound back issues
of periodicals. In addition, in order to save space and preserve information, the library
also micro copy back runs or purchase microform copies.
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Figure 1.4.3 : Current Newspapers Reading Area.
Figure 1.4.4 : Bound Volumes of Periodicals and Reading Area.
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Next, the arrangement of map collections. The library provides a section
that can store numerous maps collection. These maps are best stored flat in plan
cabinets, but some collections are rolled and stored in pigeon-hole racks in plastic,
metal, or cardboard cylinders. If the maps are fragile, the acid-free paper should be
used to interleave them. In addition, there are also maps that are frequently used are
laminated. For the photo collection, drawings and photographs may be stored in
folders in a filing cabinet or mounted in albums. The library also uses archive boxes,
which protect the items from light and dust. However, most photos have been
converted by the library into e-photo and can be accessed through Multimedia
Information System (MMIS). This collection includes old photos of Hong Kong dating
back to the mid-19th century, with themes on historic buildings, street scenes, social
customs and traditions, festivals, and people's livelihood. It provides a valuable
reference for the study on the history of Hong Kong, district development, social life
as well as local heritage preservation in Hong Kong. Therefore, converting the photos
into e-photos will preserve the collection from any damage.
Figure 1.4.5 : Collection of maps in Hong Kong Central Library.
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Figure 1.4.6 : Arrangement of Photography Collection in Hong Kong Central Library.
Figure1.4.7 : Photo’s Collection through Multimedia Information System (MMIS).
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Next, the arrangement of the audio collection includes audio cartridges,
audio discs, audio reels, talking books, and other sound recordings are stored on
shelves because their outer casing is strong enough to protect them from damage and
can stand upright. In addition, the Compact disc (CDs) are stored on display racks, in
a tower, or on shelves and cassettes tapes are usually stored in cases or drawers or
shelves in similar cases to video containers.
Figure 1.4.8 : Arrangement of Audio Collection.
For the audio-visual collections, the Hong Kong Central Library provides a
special Audio-visual Library and it is on the sixth floor of the library. Its library provides
a better equipment tool which easy-to-use to access audio-visual materials. These
materials include slide-tape presentations, films, television programs, corporate
conferencing, church services, and live theatre productions. For the microform
collection, microfiche may be stored in envelopes, boxes, or slotted plastic panels.
Microfilm is usually stored in small reels in cardboard boxes which are housed in
special cabinets. In addition, the library also provides a microform reading area for
their users and its reading area is very conducive because has been equipped with
better tools to read microform such as Three ScanPro 2000s and One ScanPro 3000.
These digital machines connect to PCs with powerful software to view microfilm and
microfiche and produce clear, detailed digital images. The PowerScan software
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includes an auto-scan feature, capable of scanning and digitizing an entire reel of
microfilm automatically.
Figure 1.4.9 : Audio-Visual Library.
Figure 1.5 : Microform Reading Area.
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Staffing includes manpower planning, which determines the quality and

quantity of library employees. This exists at all levels in relation to the size and scale
of a library's operations. The library's staff is not only a valuable resource but also a
valuable asset. It is the living human resource that makes the best use of all other
resources to achieve the goals and objectives of a library. The performance of the
staff is entirely dependent on the staff's quality. As a result, increasing staff strength
should be given top priority. Therefore, Hong Kong Public Libraries as the biggest
library in Hong Kong has its own staffing structure to strive and achieve its missions
and objectives. The staffing structure of the library includes professional staff
and frontline supporting staff.
The structure for the professional staff includes the chief librarian, senior
librarian, librarian, and staff librarian. This structured focus on specialization main work
such as library management, lending, and reference services, collection development,
technical processing, marketing and promotion, library automation, and infrastructure
system. For library management, it involves library planning and development,
renovation program, operational issues such as loan period, opening hours, fees and
charges, and finance and supplies. In addition, the library management will also take
charge as human resources management. Next, lending services involve patron
registration. Patron registration allows staff to add and retrieve patron records as well
as view and modify existing patron information including general patron information
(identification, delivery and messaging information), statistical information, billing
information, and login information (to allow the patron to login to the webform). It also
handles the charging and discharging of library materials, readers’ reservation of
library materials and readers’ enquiry service. Next, reference services. These
services include readers’ advisory service, newspapers and periodicals service, e-
Resources, specialized library collections, and handling interlibrary loans with other
institutions.
Next, the collection development. This specialization focuses on establishing

the needs of readers and formulating policies for selection, acquisition and weeding.
It also participates in the selection of library materials and undertakes stock-editing.
For technical processing, it involves familiarization with the book trade, selection and
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acquisition of suitable library materials and also classification and cataloging of library
materials. For marketing and promotion, it involves organizing extension activities and
outreach programs for promoting reading and literary arts and also liaising closely with
schools, cultural and community organizations for promoting public library services.
The last specialization is library automation and infrastructure development. This
includes developing and maintaining Library Automation System (LAS) and
Multimedia Information System (MMIS), providing support to Internet and multimedia
information services, and offering e-Services.
Next, the structure of frontline supporting staff. Generally, library support staff,
also known as library paraprofessionals, are involved in all levels of library operations.
They may manage libraries or provide highly specialized expertise in a specific field.
They may perform routine tasks or supervise and direct other employees. However, in
this structure, there are two main parts that should be highlighted. First, Clerical Grade
Staff includes Clerical Officer (CO) and Assistant Clerical Officer (ACO). As a library
clerk, also known as a library assistant, his or her responsibilities include assisting
librarians with tasks such as shelving books, assisting library patrons in finding
reference materials and resources, answering questions, or checking out books at the
circulation desk, and issuing library cards. Library clerks also organize books and
reference materials, answer phones, clean the library, set up meeting rooms, and plan
or host special library events. Library clerks work under the supervision of a librarian
and may do so while pursuing a career as a librarian. Second, Cultural Services
Assistant (CSA) includes Senior Cultural Services Assistant (SCSA), Cultural Services
Assistant I (CSAI) and Cultural Services Assistant II (CSAII). For Cultural Services
Assistant (CSA), the job description includes promoting self-service, maintaining
library order, and shelving library materials.
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1.6 Limitations
There are a few limitations of Hong Kong Public Libraries. First, there is a
limitation of users to use the discussion room. The library can accommodate 2 to 8
people depending on their size. Because the discussion rooms are intended for small-
group discussions or reading public library materials, they only allow hiring on the day
of use, and reservations are not accepted in advance. Each hirer is allowed to book a
discussion room for a minimum of one hour and a maximum of two hours per day.
Personally, the amount of time that is offered is not enough because surely discussion
takes lots of time. In addition, the rental fee ranges from $32 to $65 per hour. From
our personal view, we think the rental fee is not a reasonable price especially for the
students. Regarding this issue, we hope the library can offer a reasonable and
affordable rental fee for their users.
Second, the website of Hong Kong Public Libraries is not fully in English.
For example, we need to key in the author’s name, the title of the book, series, and
others by using the mandarin language. It is hard for users especially foreign users to
search books or sources by using that language. Aside from that, most librarians are
not very friendly, which results in a lack of the best services in the library. When we
look at what is going on today, we can see that there are many scenarios that have
occurred, such as a lack of respect from librarians in many situations. The low level of
funding for public library services demonstrates a lack of interest in the library and
what it provides to the community. As a result, many people are looking forward to the
day when libraries are fully recognized for the unique and irreplaceable services they
provide to their cities and districts, and this action should be taken by those in charge
to further improve the services of this institution.
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Generally, the public library plays an important role in people’s lives as a

source of accessing information and a place for knowledge creation. It has shown that
public libraries are important informational, educational, cultural, and social
institutions. However, in this context, Hong Kong Public Libraries uniquely bring
positive impacts as information center collections. By providing its largest collections,
this library supports the UNESCO Public Library Manifesto which affirms the public
library as a living force for education, culture, and information, as well as an essential
agent for the promotion of peace and spiritual well-being through the minds of men
and women.
First, one of these public libraries has a significant and fundamental role in
education. This library provides books and other materials for people to read and use.
These materials are educational and lead to self-improvement and develop basic
literacy skills. This library has always been seen as an educational resource for all
people. The educative role of the public library has expanded to include supporting
both formal and informal education.
Next, supporting literacy. Generally, literacy is defined as the ability to

read and write. This concept is broadened in Hong Kong Public Library culture to
include the knowledge or education in one or more fields required to develop the skills
of individuals and communities. Learning is no longer a luxury reserved for a select
few, but rather a necessity for survival. Literacy expansion necessitates the acquisition
of reading and writing materials. This public library is the local hub for providing a
wealth of information to the general public through learning facilities and materials to
support literacy. Literacy is also achieved through the provision of literacy programs
and activities for various groups and ages.
The library continues to play an important role in promoting literacy in

communities and societies, particularly among populations that require help in
developing literacy skills, such as preschool and elementary school children. For
example, during the crucial preschool and elementary school years, this library is
concerned with providing children with high-quality reading materials and rich
language experiences. Following that, this library is interested in involving them in
summer reading programs, storey hours, and arts and crafts activities. Therefore, it
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shows that children who participate in summer reading programs gain more literacy
skills. They also found that preschool and summer reading programs encourage
children to spend more time with books.
Besides, support lifelong learning which is the process of continuous and

ongoing learning throughout a person’s life in order to enhance continuous
development and improvement of the individual’s knowledge and skills. Life-long
learning cannot be achieved without literacy because reading and writing are essential
for learning. Due to the complex and rapid change environment, people need to
acquire a variety of skills and knowledge irrespective of their age, social, political, or
economic status. Today, this public library contributes to lifelong learning by assisting
learners in identifying and locating reading materials relevant to community needs. For
example, to acquaint readers with the library facilities and services provided, and to
help them sharpen their self-learning skills and make full use of library resources for
the purpose of lifelong learning, the Hong Kong Central Library (HKCL) offers free
library guided tours for schools, registered charitable organizations, and registered
non-profit-making organizations.
Last but not least, this library provides educational programs by using its
collection, such as children’s and adult literacy programs, to improve the literacy levels
of users. Thus, this plays a role in providing resources and collections in their
institutions in order to respond to world economic challenges. They are also essential
to the functioning of a democratic society by providing free and equal access to
high-quality information.
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1.8 Conclusion
To conclude, Hong Kong Public Libraries is the biggest library in Hong Kong
which aims to provide quality public library services to promote city-wide reading
culture in Hong Kong. In order to achieve the goals and objectives, the library will
enrich knowledge by providing a gateway to information and knowledge for supporting
and encouraging lifelong learning, cultivate the quality of life by enriching the
documentary heritage of the history and culture of Hong Kong and promote Hong Kong
literature and local publications, inspire curiosity and creativity through reading,
enhance the quality of library services by leveraging on new technology and the use
of IT, build connection and engagement through public involvement and partnership
in public library services, enable access by providing a wide network of public libraries
as well as free and equitable access to information and knowledge of diverse points
of views to serve all residents of Hong Kong. To contribute to the development of all
their communities, Hong Kong Public Libraries must ensure that the services and
collections they provide are equitable, relevant, and representative of all the culturally
diverse communities they serve. Therefore, this library is able to make a significant
contribution to society's cultural, social, economic, and educational development by
doing so.
23
2.0 LIBRARY B: NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Figure 2.0 : The main entrance of the New York Public Library.
New York Public Library (NYPL) is a public library system in New York
City. The New York Public Library (NYPL) is the second-largest public library in the
United States (after the Library of Congress) and the fourth largest in the world,
with nearly 53 million items and 92 locations. It is a private, non-governmental,
non-profit corporation that is independently managed and receives both private
and public funding. The library has branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten
Island, as well as affiliations with academic and professional libraries throughout
the New York metropolitan area. The city's other two boroughs, Brooklyn and
Queens, are served by their respective borough library systems rather than the
New York Public Library system: the Brooklyn Public Library and the Queens
Public Library. The branch libraries are open to the public and are made up of
circulating libraries. The New York Public Library also operates four research
libraries that are open to the public. The library, officially chartered as The New
York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations, was established in the
nineteenth century as a result of a merger of grass-roots libraries and social
24
libraries of bibliophiles and the wealthy, aided by the philanthropy of the wealthiest
Americans of the time.
The name "New York Public Library" may also refer to the Main Branch,
which is distinguished by two lion statues named Patience and Fortitude that stand
on either side of the entrance. The branch was designated a National Historic
Landmark in 1965 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966
and was designated a New York City Landmark in 1967. The origins of this
remarkable institution can be traced back to the early days of New York's rise to
prominence as one of the world's most important cities. By the second half of the
nineteenth century, New York had surpassed Paris in population and was rapidly
catching up with London, the world's most populous city at the time. Fortunately,
this burgeoning and somewhat brash metropolis had among its citizens’ men who
saw that if New York was to become one of the world's great centers of urban
culture, it needed to have a great library as well.
Among them was former governor Samuel J. Tilden (1814-1886), who left
the majority of his fortune approximately $2.4 million, to "establish and maintain a
free library and reading room in the city of New York" upon his death. At the time
of Tilden's death, New York had two significant libraries which are the Astor and
Lenox libraries but neither could be considered a truly public institution in the sense
that Tilden appears to have envisioned. The Astor Library has established thanks
to the generosity of John Jacob Astor (1763-1848), a German immigrant who was
the wealthiest man in America at the time of his death. In his will, he left $400,000
to establish a reference library in New York. The Astor Library first opened its doors
in 1849 in what is now the Joseph Papp Public Theatre of The New York
Shakespeare Festival. Despite the fact that the books did not circulate, and the
hours were limited, it was a valuable resource for reference and research.
During this time period, New York's other major library was founded by
James Lenox and consisted primarily of his personal collection of rare books,
manuscripts, and Americana. The Lenox Library, which was built on the current
site of the Frick Collection, was designed primarily for bibliophiles and scholars.
While use was free, admission tickets were required. Both the Astor and Lenox
libraries were in financial trouble by 1892. Their trustees were forced to reconsider
25
their mission due to dwindling endowments and growing collections. At this point,
John Bigelow, a New York attorney, and Tilden trustee devised a bold plan in which
the resources of the Astor and Lenox libraries, as well as the Tilden Trust, would
be combined to form the NYPL, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. On May 23,
1895, Bigelow's plan was signed and agreed upon, and it was hailed as an
unprecedented example of private enterprise.
The New York Public Library's collections, carefully curated by

generations of curators over the past 160 years, now number more than 50 million
items. When combined with the lending collections, it is the most comprehensive
library collection ever assembled for public use. The collections are divided into
over 100 major topics, ranging from "Accents and Dialects" to "Women's Studies,"
with others such as "Baseball," "Computer Science," "Gay and Lesbian Studies,"
"Immigration," "Judaica," "Theatre," and "US History" in between. The library’s
strength in three areas is so strong that major facilities have been built to house
them the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts (LPA) at Lincoln Center,
the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (SIBL) in Harlem, and the
Science, Industry, and Business Library (SIBL) in midtown Manhattan. The LPA is
a treasure trove of music manuscripts, including Claude Debussy's beautifully
rendered Les papillons, as well as hundreds of thousands of other documents,
photographs, sound recordings, films, and videos relating to music, theatre, and
dance. High culture happily coexists with more populist fare here, as it does
throughout the NYPL system, such as a fantastic poster promoting the Ringling
Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The Schomburg's collection documents the
history and experiences of peoples of African descent all over the world unlike the
other NYPL libraries, it actively collects art as part of its mission, including Aaron
Douglas' epic oil on canvas, Aspects of Negro Life Song of the Towers. One of the
many fascinating items from the history of business found in SIBL's collection is a
cigar box label for the Henry George cigar.
26
For nearly a century, students and scholars have flocked to the library’s
landmark buildings on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street (now known as the Stephen
A. Schwarzman Building) to gain firsthand access to materials from all eras. Riches
can be found in many different mediums for certain subjects, such as the history
of New York City, such as maps, John Bachmann's stunning view of Central Park
and photographs, and Wurts Brothers' iconic view of the Chrysler Building.
Expendable items from bygone eras are frequently regarded as treasures today
and the library’s stacks of old newspapers, including the long-defunct New York
Atlas, have provided endlessly rich material for scholars and writers. The building
also houses the library’s historic children's materials such as the original stuffed
animals that inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh children's classics, as well as circulating
children's collections.
Today, the Library continues to make significant investments in its most

unique collections, particularly in rare primary source materials such as the
records of the 1939–40 New York World's Fair. The library owns many important
manuscripts, including Walt Whitman's delicately scripted "A Child's
Reminiscence," and is constantly adding entire archives to its holdings, most
recently the Katharine Hepburn Papers from her stage career. Illuminated
manuscripts from the early days of book production are one of the library’s most
important holdings. Its mandate includes digital scans (of images and entire
books), downloadable audiobooks and videos, and electronic databases. The
library serves as a jumping-off point for users to embark on a rich journey of
discovery on the Internet.
27
Figure 2.4: The manuscripts at the New York Public Library.
The purpose of the retrieval tools is for evaluating, processing, and

archiving information, as well as retrieving information that meets the needs of a single
person. Modern information retrieval systems can either extract bibliographic materials
or specific text from a recorded information database that matches the person's
specific keywords. Modern information retrieval systems are capable of handling not
only textual information, but also digital communication such as text, audio, images,
and videos. Modern information retrieval systems. For example, deal with the storage,
organization, and accessibility of textual and multimedia information resources.
Among the rest that New York Public Library used is catalog. It is a
collection that contains bibliographic information on books, periodicals, maps,
recordings, musical scores, visual resources, digital as well as other materials held by
the library. The New York Public Library offers two catalogs which are The Dictionary
Catalog or the Black Book Catalog for materials acquired before 1972, and the Online
(Computerized) Catalog (CATNYP) for materials acquired after 1971.
Furthermore, NYPL also uses an index. An index within a library setting is

a collection of articles or other materials within a discipline or subject. It includes
bibliographic material, such as authors, title, where it has been released, and
sometimes abstracts. This information allowed the researcher to identify publications
28
and determine if they were important to his or her subject, but the index itself did not
include its full content but commonly known as full text.
The next retrieval tool that New York Public Library use is the bibliography.
It is a compilation of books or papers on a single topic. This is often seen at the end
of a book or an article. A lengthy bibliography is often written separately as a book. In
The New York Public Library Research Libraries Dictionary Catalogue, bibliographies
appear nearly exclusively at the beginning of the subject headings. Lastly, they also
use classification schemes as a retrieval tool. The classification scheme is the
descriptive knowledge for the organization or division of objects into categories based
on characteristics which the items have.
Lastly, they also use classification schemes as retrieval tools. The

classification scheme used is Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and involves the
process of analyzing a particular input and assigning it to one or more categories.
It also allows a user to find an individual object quickly on the basis of its kind or
group. It makes it easier to detect duplicate objects.
Figure 2.3 : Online Catalogue used by New York Public Library.
29
There are a few divisions of physical arrangements in the New York Public
Library. There are a variety of factors that control variations in the arrangement
between libraries. Librarians are concerned with the arrangement of resources within
the library, as well as the location of library services for optimum utilization. The
arrangements of unique or valuable manuscripts needed to be stored in a secure
location, such as a locked storeroom or cupboard. Manuscripts on flat sheets can be
bound into books, filed in loose-leaf folders, or stored inboxes. Whereas rolled
manuscripts must be kept in cylinders.
Besides, the arrangement of maps collection also is kept flat in plan

cabinets, but some libraries roll and store them in pigeon-hole racks in plastic, metal,
or cardboard cylinders. If they are fragile, acid-free paper should be used to interleave
them. Items that are frequently used can be laminated.
Next, printed materials are kept on the shelves because the majority of
books are kept upright on bookshelves with book supports. They should be shelved
that are packed in so tightly that they are likely to be damaged when users try to
remove them. Books can withstand a lot of handling before they need to be repaired
or rebound, but some libraries cover them to extend their life. Paperback books can
be stored in freestanding wire baskets for easy access. Large books should be stored
horizontally on shelves, but stacked on top of one another, the weight will cause
damage.
Other than that, theatre on film and tape archives should be stored on
shelves because their outer casing is strong enough to protect them from damage and
allow them to stand upright. Video stands are used in some libraries. Compact discs
(CDs) are kept in display racks, towers, or shelves. Cassette tapes are typically stored
in cases, drawers, or shelves that are similar to video containers. Lastly, drawings and
photographs can be kept in filing cabinets in folders or in albums. Another option is to
store the items in archive boxes to keep them safe from light and dust.
30
Figure 2.4 Example of physical arrangement in New York Public Library.
Figure 2.5 : New York Public Library’s Staff Organization.
31
First and foremost, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) . The CEO
is the highest-ranking executive in an organization whose primary roles include
making major strategic decisions, overseeing the company's overall activities and
resources, serving as the key point of contact between the Board of Directors (BOD)
and corporate operations, and being the public face of the company. Next, the Director
of Branch Libraries and Education as known as Chief Librarian is responsible to
monitor the 88 neighborhood branches of NYPL, as well as the library’s educational
plan.
Next, Director of the Research Libraries. The director is responsible for the
four research centers of NYPL and their 460 employees. Its roles include collection
strategy, acquisition, and preservation. Its primary emphasis is on improving
accessibility towards the most democratic research collections throughout the globe.
The Mellon Director is also a national voice on humanities studies in general. Next,
Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary. This position will report to the CEO and
connect on a continuous basis with the CEO, the Board of Directors, and the staff of
the NYPL, displaying an interest in the business. It will be responsible for developing
and implementing the legal strategic plan that sustains the Company's strategic plans,
providing advice to NYPL on all major transactions, commercial contracts, litigation,
labor, product liability issues, and other critical initiatives.
Next, Vice President, Capital & Construction. The Vice President of

Construction/Capital Projects will oversee and undertake capital projects for the
organization and ensure that all work is accomplished within budget, timeline, and
scope. These projects include growth, ready-to-work market, upgrade of tenants, and
significant repair and maintenance products. In addition, this role will help asset
managers in asset management responsibilities, help the acquisition organization in
signing and help the Senior Vice President, Construction Management in handling the
integrative finances for capital.
Next, Vice President of Development. The Vice President of Development

supports both the fundraising efforts of the Executive Director and is a primary
fundraiser responsible for expanding and diversifying the fundraising line of the
organization. The position needs the potential to establish a strategic planning strategy
and execute it.
32
Next, Vice President of Human Resources. This position has been charged with
championing, partnering, and innovating through a diverse variety of human resources
areas, including talent development, workforce relations, labor relations, performance
evaluation, salary management, employee engagement, learning, benefits, and well-
being management, and information technology. And this position also working.
Besides, Vice President, Government & Community Affairs. Its duties include
the planning, development, and implementation of strategies to support and enhance
support from the government for the library and its programmers. Throughout its
tenure, the library has seen public expenditure and capital funding achieve historic
levels. This position has contributed to the formation and introduction of the Building
for You community outreach initiative in the library, integrating the NYPL more closely
with the communities it supports. There are also Vice Presidents of Public Programs.
This position is to build to create and incorporate a robust curriculum designed to
educate and involve the public in the role and purpose of The New York Public Library.
This involves improving existing NYPL programming, partnering with staff to create
innovative services, discovering and reaching new viewers, and more.
Next, Chief Financial Officer & Assistant Treasurer. They are responsible
for financial strategy and control of the capital. Sharp controls budgeting, taxation,
filing, acquisition, insurance, banking, debt management, payroll, and other financial
activities. Our staff controls the library’s balance sheet of over $2 billion, more than
$300 million in running costs across 92 branches, and a portfolio of multi-year capital
investments. In addition, there is also Chief Investment Officer. The Chief Investment
Officers (CIO) are responsible for maintaining the assets portfolios of the company.
They generally oversee a list of talented professionals and help to develop short-and
long-term investment plans, suggest capital expenditure and allocate assets. Also,
Chief Operating Officer & Treasurer. They are responsible for the expenses and
capital investments of the library, its $1 billion endowment, and all building
programmers in the three boroughs of the system. It also manages the operating
divisions of the library, including Finance and Investment, Human Resources, Capital
Planning and Construction, Facility Management, and Government Relations. Next,
Chief External Relations Officer. The role includes oversight of the Divisions of
Development, Communications and Marketing, Revenue and Alliances, and Public
departments.
33
Also, Chief Digital Officer. He is responsible for the continuing digital
transition of the institution and its pioneering work to make its collections and
resources as available as possible. Aside from that, there are also frontline
supporting staffs in NYPL includes a paraprofessional library and ICT staff, library
clerk and others which are sometimes called a library assistant, your responsibilities
are to assist librarians with duties like shelving books, helping a library patron find
reference materials and resources, answer questions or check out books at the
circulation desk, and issue library cards. Library clerks also organize books and
reference materials, answer phone calls, clean the library, set up rooms in the library
for meetings, and plan or host special library events. Library clerks work under the
supervision of a librarian and sometimes do so while they train for a future career as
a librarian.
2.6 Limitations
As we know New York Public Library is a well-known public library in Europe,

but this is not an excuse for an organization not to have many shortcomings. Libraries
are becoming increasingly complex, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to ensure
that everyone is satisfied. According to our opinion, the New York Public Library has
a few limitations that they need to fix for improving their services towards the user. The
first limitation that we discovered during our research on NYPL is that the librarian in
charge of the library's website takes a long time to respond to patrons who use
the website. Many users of this library's website may be dissatisfied with its services.
Since all the users nowadays are rushing to do their own work or research. If this
system can be improved, then it should be great.
The last limitation we discovered during our NYPL website research is the
preservation of the materials. Because of technological advances, the library
website may become out of date, the data may become unavailable and access to the
materials on this library website may become difficult. It is a must need especially for
the student’s users. Along with their mission to provide the best services, the library
management should update this website. What can we summarize from our research
based on the New York Public Library, these two limitations are the only ones we can
34
present to the library management or administration to improvise their quality of
services to users.
The New York Public Library has been a vital source of free books,
documents, ideas, and learning for all New York communities for more than 100 years.
Established in 1895, NYPL is the nation's largest public library system, offering a rare
mix of 88 local branches and four university research centers, drawing together an
incredible wealth of services and opportunities open to everyone. The New York Public
Library has provided essential access to books and information for more than a
century. Nowadays, NYPL is building on that legacy by increasing access to our
collections physically and online and by transforming the libraries into proactive
centers of education and opportunity for all of New York’s community.
NYPL plays an essential role in providing safe, accessible, and fully free
educational resource centers for every member of communities across the
country. At the NYPL, it does not matter about the status of users because every
resource there is free of charge including books, internet access, and education.
Individuals and families, no matter their socioeconomic status, can count on NYPL to
provide them with the resources they need to succeed and the answers to important
questions they can't otherwise find. In addition, NYPL is providing resources and
services in a variety of media to meet the needs of individuals and groups for
education, information, and personal development including recreation and leisure.
At NYPL, the preservation of truth is important now more than ever. New
York Public Library, which houses centuries of learning, information, history, and truth,
are important defenders in the fight against misinformation. By providing free
access to educational, news, and historical resources, libraries help keep the public
informed with facts, rather than confused with fiction. NYPL act as a hub of information
and users’ leaders, the librarians, torch bearers for facts. While users might have a
robust fiction section, libraries are still some of the greatest champions of truth.
35
2.8 Conclusion
As a result of this research, The New York Public Library is designed to

promote lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and improve their communities. The
New York Public Library relies on three fantastic tools to deliver on those promises: its
staff, collection, and physical and digital space. Their goals are to provide opportunities
for learning and development to all New York people as well as library users
worldwide. NYPL provides free access to information, technology, and safe places to
be during out-of-school hours. In addition, libraries have the potential to offer high-
quality youth development and employment programs that include training in specific
job skills and general personal and social skills.
36
3.0 LIBRARY C: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MALAYSIA
Figure 3.0 : Main Entrance of National Library Malaysia
In 1972, the National Library of Malaysia was founded in Kuala Lumpur to make
library materials available to the general public and to serve as a repository for
national-interest collections. The National Library's mission is to provide a national
repository of knowledge for current and future generations. It was in Kuala Lumpur's
Titiwangsa neighbourhood, on Jalan Tun Razak. The National Library's mission is to
provide a national repository of knowledge for current and future generations. Prior to
the formation of the National Library of Malaysia, the library was housed in 11 different
buildings, but the NLM (Annex) building project began on March 28, 2008. The Annex
is being built to expand NLM's Malaysian service space, which is its primary offering.
Apart from putting several components under one roof. After its completion on May
31, 2010, the Annex Building has renamed the NLM Tower and was inhabited in
September 2010. The structure is divided into four sections, the highest of which has
eleven stories and houses offices (some of which are rented out to third parties), a
gym and badminton court, a canteen, auditorium, children's theatre, and an exhibition
hall. Wheelchair-accessible facilities are supposed to be built. Only two floors are
37
allocated to public-access books and materials, with the majority of these being
housed in the Wisma Sejarah annex building. The main building houses the children's
department.
The Malaysiana Collection is the pride of the National Library's collection. It

includes library items published in Malaysia and elsewhere that include a significant
portion of their content relating to the publication date or the language used. Malay
Manuscripts are another national intellectual asset, and one of her manuscripts,
Hikayat Hang Tuah, has been recognized by UNESCO in the Memory of the World
Register. The library is MS ISO 9001:2008 certified. The National Library of Malaysia
aspires to be a world-class library capable of distributing and channeling multimedia
reference and research information to people at all levels of society. The Ministry of
Tourism and Culture of Malaysia is in charge of the National Library of Malaysia. The
National Library of Malaysia (Act 80), which includes all changes from 1 January 2006,
was established under the National Library Act 1972. The National Library continues
to play an active role in the acquisition of library materials through the implementation
of the Deposit of Library Material Act 1986, acquisition, gift, and exchange in order to
strengthen the library's collection.
Every title published in Malaysia is collected, preserved, and made available

to the public by the National Library of Malaysia. Malaysia's National Bibliography is
also compiled by the National Library of Malaysia. The National Library of Malaysia
has also been designated as the National Bibliographic Center, which is in charge of
publishing bibliographic control in Malaysia as well as a national library and information
policy. Various acts have been enacted in regard to Malaysia's national library to
protect the library's and its users' rights. The National Library Act 1972 (Containing all
modifications until January 1, 2006) (Act 80) is one of them. It was enacted to establish
the National Library and to legislate for things related to it. Following that, the Library
Resources Submission Act 1986 (Act 331) was enacted to regulate the collection,
preservation, bibliographic control, and use of library materials in Malaysia, as well as
other things.
38
Nearly 5 million materials, including books, pamphlets, journals,

newspapers, and internet information, are housed in the library. A National Library's
main function is to maintain and promote the use of published collections from inside
a country as well as collections from other countries that are related to it. As Malaysia's
National Library, it serves as a repository for the country's historical memory and
culture, as well as a library that saves, chronicles, and preserves intellectual
achievement in both print and non-print formats. The Malaysian collection is a
compilation of Malaysia's national heritage and culture. The National Library collection
consists of Malaysian Collection (Ephemeral Collection, Private Collection), Non-
Malaysian Collection (ASEAN Collection, Harvard Collection, United Nations
Collection), Malay Manuscripts Collection, Rare Collection, Serials Collection
(magazines, newspapers, journals), Electronic Media Collections and Commercial
databases. In addition to being the country's flagship lending library, it serves as a key
depository for Malaysia's historical memory and culture, housing an extensive
Malaysian collection of written materials, special papers, video, and audio files of
national heritage significance. The library has also acquired private collections of well-
known Malaysian people, including books, papers, posts, manuscripts, records,
photographs, letters, and so on.
Ephemeral Collection is one of several Malaysian Collection examples. It

was established in 1995 and contains postcards, brochures, program booklets,
posters, calendars, first-day stamps, and envelopes from numerous agencies and
ministries. Aside from that, there's the Private Collection, which began in 1994 and
contains information about historical figures. This collection is a collection of important
persons' individual works or private collections on a variety of subjects including art
and literature, history, architecture, religion, culture, and others. The National Library
of Malaysia has purchased a private collection for conservation and reference. The
materials for field items are collected based on the collection owner's preferences,
interests, or areas of expertise. Books, journals, articles, manuscripts, documents,
pamphlets, genealogy, photos, letters, newspaper clippings, files, drawings, charts,
brochures, and other private collections are available at the National Library of
Malaysia. John Bastin, A. Halim Nasir, Abdul Rahman Al-Ahmadi, Che Ismail Che
Daud, Pak Sako, Aziz Jahpin, Cerita Cina Peranakan, Abdul Karim Abdullah, Mohd
39
Idris Kamaruddin, Naharuddin Haji Ali, and A. Samad Said were among those who
contributed to the collections.
Harvard Collection and United Nations Collection are among the non-
Malaysian collections. On July 14, 2000, PNM and the Harvard Alumni Club
collaborated to launch the Harvard Collection, often known as Harvard Corner.
Monographs, Harvard University Press, and Harvard Business School Press
publications, journals, series, audio, and CD-Roms on business and management
make up the collections. The Harvard Information Packaging is available to library
patrons. Harvard Corner is now open to the general public. Since 1976, Malaysia's
National Library has served as the United Nations Depository Library or National
Depository Center. PNM has been designated as the Depository Materials Center for
the United Nations University Press, Tokyo, Japan, since February 2011. The United
Nations Corner contains the collections of books and publications from UN agencies
such as UNESCO, WHO, and others, as well as series and annual reports. Patrons of
the library have access to a wide range of UN information that is available on the
internet. The information is prepared in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian,
and Spanish, which are the six official languages. The United Nations Corner is now
open to the general public.
Malay Manuscripts Collection, on the other hand, provides the highest

quality manuscripts to researchers for research and referral in a friendly and
convenient environment. With the consent and supervision of the reader advisory
team, the recommendation to the Malay Manuscripts collection focuses more on the
originals and microfilm copies. Apart from the Malay manuscripts in the National
Library of Malaysia's collection, we also provide manuscripts in microfilm form from
other institutions both in Malaysia and abroad. Any photocopies made from microfilm
are subject to a fee.
The Rare Collection includes items that were published before the 1950s
and/or are difficult to locate, as well as issues that have gone out of print or are no
longer available on the market. It is a knowledge heritage that contains vital
information on the early socio-cultural, economic, linguistic, religious, belief, and
political history of Malay Land, including the Malay World, the Straits Settlements, the
40
Federation of Malaya, and the Malay Archipelago. The online search system (Web
OPAC) can also be used to find materials.
The National Library of Malaysia established the Serials Collection service

in 1993. It was established to serve as a serial publishing reference excellence center
to meet the information needs of library users, with a focus on Malaysiana resources.
This collection includes printed and non-printed items, as well as electronic and online
resources. Magazines, newspapers, yearly reports, yearbooks, guidebooks, journals,
indexes, abstracts, statistics, government gazettes, and acts are among the resources
available in the Malaysiana collection. Foreign serial publications are also available
via PNM. Magazines, newspapers, annual reports, journals, indexes, and abstracts
are among the previous and current holdings in the Serial Publication General
Collection. Aside from that, there are bound volumes of newspaper stories available
for reference. As at October 2007, there are 486 magazines and foreign journals
available at the National Library of Malaysia. Among the titles offered for reference is
the International Journal of Project Management, Child Abuse, AIDS Care, Fire Safety
Journal, Learning, and Instruction, The Journal of American Association, Time,
Newsweek, The Economic, National Geographic, and Harvard Business Review.
Foreign Newspapers also available at PNM among them are; The Australian, The
Nation, The Times, and The New York Times.
The National Library of Malaysia's electronic media collection includes an

audiobook collection. PNM has been a pioneer of the book industry development in
Malaysia, producing local content Audio Books to fulfill the needs of the Visually
Impaired People, in line with its ambition to be the world leader in library development
and services in Malaysia by 2020. PNM collaborated with external agencies such as
McDonald's, Education Technology Division, MARA, and DBP to produce the book.
Authors and publishers have granted PNM copyright permission to convert the book
from print to audio format. In this published audiobook, the reader's voice is provided
by volunteers. Audio Book Publishing Project has been started in 1996 and until now,
PNM has successfully published fifty-two (52) titles. One of the audiobook titles is
Merdeka! Merdeka! (1996), Bimasakti Menari (2014) and Semarak Hijau (2019).
41
Figure 3.2 : Examples of NLM book collection.
Information retrieval systems have been created. Retrieval tools are

essential building components for a framework that aids in the organization of stored
content retrieved from libraries. Libraries have existed since the beginning of literature,
serving as a depository for humanity's intellectual riches. As a result, libraries have
always been concerned with maintaining and retrieving material in its original media.
There were libraries when the amount of information increased rapidly. Forcing them
to make full use of information processing resources in order to speed up the storage
and retrieval process. Catalogs, classifications, schemes, indexes, abstracts, and
bibliographies are examples of retrieval tools. The success with which a library can
supply consumers with the resources they require to access and download the
knowledge they require determines the library's value as a learning tool.
The National Library of Malaysia applied catalog as retrieval tools, and the
catalog concept contains a photo of rare collections as well as a brief description of
the collections. It makes it simple for users to understand the information in their
collections. In the library, the catalog is a highly rich source of religious knowledge.
The type of catalog used in the NLM nowadays is an online catalog (OPAC). Prior to
the introduction of the OPAC, they employed a card catalog. The OPAC now makes
the NLM library collection, which includes books, magazines, manuscripts, and
multimedia resources, more accessible to the general public. OPAC allows consumers
to have a more engaging search experience while also making information searches
42
easier and quicker. Users of the National Library of Medicine can provide personal
remarks by using reviews, ratings, and social tagging.
Figure 1.3: The Interface of NLM OPAC.
The classification scheme was then used by the National Library of

Malaysia. The library's book arrangement has been requested in order to facilitate
access to and retrieval of information services from the shelves. A classification
system is a structure established for the classification of the world of human cognition
into broad and small categories. Without categorization schemes, the class numbers
presented in indexes are impossible to get. In addition, based on the size and quality
of their holdings, libraries have created and implemented a variety of grouping
methods. The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) is the most popular classification
scheme used by the NLM. It is a system that allows new books to be added to a library
in their appropriate location based on the subject. The Decimal Classification
introduced the concepts of relative location and relative index.
43
The bibliography is also used as a retrieval tool in the Malaysian National
Library. A bibliography is a collection of works, books, or shorter works that can classify
where material can be accessed and is one of the following tools to retrieve sources
in the library. Materials in bibliographies are usually arranged alphabetically, with
surnames appearing first, followed by title, publisher, date of publication, and page
numbers. Bibliographies are especially important for those conducting analytical or
specialized research without the use of bibliographies, because these individuals may
not have made it easy to uncover what has previously been written in the field in which
they are working to identify and pick materials. In fact, patrons are advised and
required to study bibliographies as a first step in locating available material on their
chosen topics.
The physical arrangement of the materials in the collection relates to how and
where they are housed and stored. The collections of the library refer to the library's
materials. The library's collections are organized into two categories, which is non-
printed and printed materials.
The arranging of library material at the National Library of Malaysia (NLM)

includes constant monitoring of the stack room, the exhibition of new material on
display racks, and the placement of books and periodicals on the shelves after usage.
Aside from that, the material must be dusted and cleaned on a regular basis. The
damaged and torn books, as well as periodicals, must be bound. The stacks must be
cleared of outdated and obsolete documents that are no longer in use. Physical care
of the books, such as protection from sunshine, dust, insects, dampness, and heat, is
also included. Many sections of the library are affected by the maintenance work. For
example, the processing section receives new material on a regular basis, and these
volumes must be shelved within the existing collection. When a huge quantity of books
on the same subject is received, this causes shelving issues. These books must fit on
the shelves without interfering with the order of the rest of the collection. For the
Arrangement of New Materials, it is necessary to follow what material comes in first.
Then arrange according to alphabetical order, colour coding, and finally, the
classification scheme.
44
Monographs should be organized to include information sources that can
assist in solving or clarifying problems, as well as illustrative material in any topic field.
It was a small book or treatise [a large formal essay on a single subject's complex
topic]. Any non-serial publication should be finished in a single volume. This
monograph is normally arranged alphabetically by call number on the shelves. This
would also follow the Accession Order and have a specified location.
However, when it comes to the arrangement of the pamphlet, it should include

an exclusive biographical item as well as a thin paper-covered booklet that discusses
current trends in interest and opinion at the time and place. Apart from that, it is used
interchangeably with the brochure for non-serial publications having at least 5 but no
more than 48 pages, stapled or stitched but not bound. Pamphlets are typically sorted
by type of information organization and are classed, shelved, organized in their
holders, and placed on tables.
Then, as part of the arrangement for continuous resources, a publication will be

produced in successive parts that will be continued indefinitely, usually multi-authored
and sequentially numbered. It also contains irregular serials, which have no set
publication date. On shelves, continuing resources are usually organized
alphabetically.
Aside from that, the audio-visual resources will be organized using audio and
videocassettes, allowing users to learn while doing other things. The materials'
descriptions are listed in a catalog, and they may be kept in different files and rooms,
accompanied by a catalog and organized by subject classification. On specific
shelves, audio-visual materials are organized.
Finally, the electronic resource arrangement will make use of a computer to

access intellectual information. This arrangement is made in accordance with the
resource's format. CD-ROM, multimedia presentation, and online database are
examples of electronic resources.
45
Figure 3.2 : Physical Arrangement at NLM.
The national library has 500 staff. The main function of the National Library of
Malaysia is divided into three main activities that are Management Activity, Library
Development Activity, and Information Services Activity. Each activity is supported by
sub-activity or division to achieve its goals and objectives of the National Library of
Malaysia. There are two categories of staff, namely management and professional
staff and supporting staff. The Management and professional staff consist of 144
people while the supporting staff consists of 368 people.
Management activity will include management and human resources, as well

as planning and corporate communication. Normal managerial tasks, as well as
intellectual freedom and fundraising responsibilities, are all part of library
management. Overseeing all library operations, managing the library budget, planning
and negotiating the acquisition of materials, Interlibrary Loan requests, stacks
maintenance, fee collection, event planning, and fundraising are the basic functions of
library management.
In addition, Information Knowledge Network and National Collection

Development and Documentation will be part of the Library Development Activity. Its
members are accountable for a variety of key objectives both within and outside of the
organisation. They ensure that the library's materials, services, and operations are in
good working order, and they provide consultative assistance as needed. They also
46
conduct a service environment analysis. The development department uses their
analyses to improve the services and number of users at their libraries.
Apart from that, Malaysiana Services, General Information Services, and

PERDANA Services will be part of the Library Services Activity. They are all in charge
of material management, library information resources, and all of the library's services.
3.6 Limitations
One of its limitations is the building is poorly designed and not easily
accessible. Even getting to this building was tricky. Users had to walk through the
front of the main library complex (Anjung Bestari) to the back and there were no signs
as to where exactly Menara Warisan Sejarah was located. It is not really convenient
for people to trudge all the way to the back of the library complex and go up to the third
or fourth floor of the building to borrow and return books.
Second, the library focuses on the wrong priorities. The main library
complex is reserved for exhibitions, while only two of three of the buildings are
dedicated to books. For a National Library that is supposed to promote a culture of
reading, only two floors out of 3 buildings were dedicated to books and materials which
the public could borrow. And both these floors were located in Wisma Sejarah, which
is to be found at the very back of the National Library. Instead of putting the books
which the public could borrow in the main library complex (Anjung Bestari), this space
was reserved for exhibitions instead.
Third, the National Library is not designed to handle high-volume traffic

due to the poor allocation of parking space. As for parking lots in general, there
were certainly enough for us given that the National Library was largely deserted of
public visitors during the times (weekdays and weekends) we visited. However, the
sheltered parking annex in Menara PNM (the tallest building with 15 floors, which
houses special collections and government documents) had only just over 30 total
parking spaces for the public, with parking slots on the first 3-4 floors reserved
exclusively for library directors and staffs.
47
Fourth, poor book maintenance and organization. This kind of upkeep
would be an embarrassment in any public library. It's unfathomable that this could
happen in the flagship National Library building. We may have all the money in the
world to buy the most recent books, but if we can't even properly shelve them, then all
of our money has clearly been squandered. Even the small area designated for public
rentals was not properly maintained. Stacks of books were discovered stacked on
shelving carts and strewn haphazardly across the floor. All of the limitations listed
above are our humble personal opinions of the National Library Malaysia. We hope
that in the future, NLM will provide better services to the community.
There are a few impacts of information center collections. First, the National Library
Malaysia provides free-of-charge educational services by serving its collections to the
users. For example, users can borrow eBooks from the National Library of Malaysia. It was
shared recently that the National Library of Malaysia has a large collection of eBooks and
audiobooks which the users can rent for 7 to 14 days. The eBooks and audiobooks can be
accessed via their own websites. Therefore, this library promotes free education to the users
nowadays.
Second, this national library promotes and encourages the use of general
reference materials. For example, The General Reference Service makes available to library
readers to access monographs or various subjects published overseas and also provides
facilities for accessing electronic information in CD-ROMs via the Internet and local and foreign
online databases. In 2001, 50,543 readers used the general reference service and referred to
144,070 reference materials.
Third, this national library creates an innovative and creative group. Following
that, Katalog Induk Kebangsaan (www.kik.pnm.my) (KIK) is used to provide a comprehensive
information facility for library materials in Malaysia. It is streamlined and coordinated by NLM
for researchers, libraries, and communities as a whole. KIK is a collaborative project between
128 libraries in Malaysia comprising NLM, academic library, public library, and the state as
well as specialized libraries from government agencies. KIK has been widely used for Inter-
Library Loan transactions among libraries in Malaysia.
48
3.8 Conclusion
To sum up, the National Library of Malaysia (NLM) is a public library which
an excellent and premier library in this region that can provide and channel reference
and research information in various media for all levels of society in the country. The
library wants to ensure that all Malaysians regardless of their status and locations have
equal access to library services and facilities, as well as, have the capability to utilize
the Malaysian and universal intellectual heritage through the infrastructure of
electronic libraries of the nation, and to make a national collection of library resources
available for present and future generations. The National Library seeks to forge
strategic alliances with related agencies in order to consolidate the library and
information service infrastructure of the nation and prepares standards and guidelines
for the development of Centres of Excellence in specific fields of information. Despite
all, we truly believe that NLM will achieve its mission and objectives in the future
include o make available for the use of present and future generations a national
collection of library resources, to facilitate nationwide access to library resources
available within the country and abroad and to provide leadership on matters
pertaining to libraries because the library uniquely has the largest collections and
provides better service for the community needs.
49
COMPARISON
HONG KONG NEW YORK NATIONAL

NO. CONTENT PUBLIC LIBRARIES PUBLIC LIBRARY LIBRARY
MALAYSIA
1. Focusing on To provide public To inspire lifelong To be an excellent

library services to learning, advance and premier library
meet the knowledge, and in the region that
community's need strengthen our can provide and
for knowledge, communities. channel reference
information, and and research
research, to information in
encourage life-long various media for
learning, continuous all levels of society
education, and in the country.
profitable leisure
time use, and to
promote local literary
arts.
2. Collection Adult Lending Manuscript’s Ephemeral

Collection, Young collection, map Collection, Private
Adult Collection, collections, print Collection,
Children's Collection, collections, theatre Harvard & United
Reference on film and tape Nations Collection,
Collection, archive collections, Malay Manuscripts
Newspapers & and photographs. Collection or
Periodicals, Rare Collection
Documents and Serial
Collection, Hong Collection.
50
Kong Literature
Collection, Map and
Photo Collections,
and Arts Collection.
3. Retrieval Online Catalogue Online Catalogue Online Catalogue

Tools (OPAC) and (OPAC) and (OPAC),
Classification Classification Classification
Scheme (Dewey Scheme (Dewey Scheme (Dewey
Decimal Decimal Decimal
Classification). Classification). Classification)
and Bibliography.
4. Physical Shelving process, List out according The shelved

Arrangement the open-access to alphabetical and arrangement,
materials, grouped numbering. grouped by title
by subject and and formation date
alphabetical order. in alphabetical
order.
5. Staffing in Professional staff Highest-ranking Specialists,

the Library and frontline executive and librarians, librarian
supporting staff. frontline supporting assistants, and
staff. non-professionals.
51
CONCLUSION
Based on our survey and research, we can conclude that differences exist
between those three libraries include their collections, services, purposes, facilities,
and others. In conclusion, this assignment encourages us in finding the unique
information of those libraries through their websites. In addition, it also encourages us
to explore and be able to know more about everything related to the libraries including
their physical arrangement, collections, services, facilities, and others. We also can
differentiate the needs and functions of the public and national libraries.
52
REFERENCES
Malaysia Traveller. (2021). National Library of Malaysia. https://www.malaysia-

traveller.com/national-library-of-malaysia.html
New York Public Library. (2021, December 10).

In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Public_Library
New York Public Library. (2021). Collections: The Heart of the Library. NYPL.
https://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/collections
National Library of Malaysia. (2021, December 10).

In Wikipedia. https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpustakaan_Negara_Malaysia
Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia. (2021). Collection of National Library of

Malaysia. https://pnm.overdrive.com/
Hong Kong Central City. (2021, December 9).

In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Central_Library
Amira Idayu Mohd Shukry. (2021, December). Arrangement of Library Materials

[Lecture notes, PowerPoint slides, etc]. Classroom.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BVBo5p_sqtI6k6u6yi7sp4C3S7sbhgGq/view
ZipRecruiter. (2021). What Does a Library Clerk Do. ZipRecruiter.

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/e/What-Does-a-Library-Clerk-Do
Rabiatul Adawiyah. (2021). physical arrangement for library materials. StudyLib.

https://studylib.net/doc/5436442/physical-arrangement-for-library-materials---
jis110a-2009
53

Faculty of Information Management Universiti Teknologi Mara: Group Assignment

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FACULTY OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

DIPLOMA IN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

FATEN SYAHIRA BT MOHD SOBRI

IMAN TASNEEM BT MAT LAZIM

MUHAMMAD QAIS HAIQAL DANIELL

MADAM AMIRA IDAYU BT MOHD SHUKRY

All praises to Allah S.W.T for giving us extraordinary strength in completing

NO. CONTENT PAGE

1 LIBRARY A: HONG KONG CENTRAL LIBRARY

1.1 Overview, History or Background information

2 LIBRARY B: NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

2.1 Overview, History or Background information

3 LIBRARY C: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MALAYSIA

3.1 Overview, History or Background information 37-49

Figure 1.1 : The Main Entrance of Hong Kong Central Library.

1.2 Collections/Materials in the library

Next, Children's Collection. The Children's Library stocks more than

Next, Reference Collection. Reference resources are mainly provided by

Next, Multimedia Information. The Multimedia Information System (MMIS)

Next, Newspapers and Periodicals. Newspapers and Periodicals services

Next, Hong Kong Literature Collection. As a special reference unit of the

Figure 1.3.1 : Interface of Library Catalogue Terminal.

Next, E-Database provided by the library is the Multimedia Information

1.4 Physical arrangement of library material

For the printed materials, the arrangement of library material involves

Figure 1.4.1 : Hong Kong Central Library Central Book Stack.

Besides, for the newspaper’s collection, Recent issues of newspapers are

Figure 1.4.4 : Bound Volumes of Periodicals and Reading Area.

Figure 1.4.5 : Collection of maps in Hong Kong Central Library.

Figure1.4.7 : Photo’s Collection through Multimedia Information System (MMIS).

Figure 1.4.8 : Arrangement of Audio Collection.

Figure 1.4.9 : Audio-Visual Library.

Figure 1.5 : Microform Reading Area.

Staffing includes manpower planning, which determines the quality and

Next, the collection development. This specialization focuses on establishing

Generally, the public library plays an important role in people’s lives as a

Next, supporting literacy. Generally, literacy is defined as the ability to

The library continues to play an important role in promoting literacy in

Besides, support lifelong learning which is the process of continuous and

2.1 Overview, History or Background information

2.2 Collections/Materials in the library

The New York Public Library's collections, carefully curated by

Today, the Library continues to make significant investments in its most

2.3 Retrieval tools used in the library

The purpose of the retrieval tools is for evaluating, processing, and

Furthermore, NYPL also uses an index. An index within a library setting is

Lastly, they also use classification schemes as retrieval tools. The

Figure 2.3 : Online Catalogue used by New York Public Library.

Besides, the arrangement of maps collection also is kept flat in plan

2.5 Staffing in the library

Figure 2.5 : New York Public Library’s Staff Organization.

Next, Vice President, Capital & Construction. The Vice President of

Next, Vice President of Development. The Vice President of Development

As we know New York Public Library is a well-known public library in Europe,

2.7 Impact of Info. Center Collections

As a result of this research, The New York Public Library is designed to

Figure 3.0 : Main Entrance of National Library Malaysia

The Malaysiana Collection is the pride of the National Library's collection. It