Total number of books borrowed: 28,491
Average number of books borrowed per person: 2.5
Female readers borrowed an average of 2.9 books, the same as the previous year, while male readers borrowed an average of 1.8 books, with a decrease of 0.2 from the previous year.
Number of Books Borrowed by Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students
Students from the 2022 cohort had the highest borrowing volume, totaling 2,892 books.
The 2024 cohort, having enrolled at the end of August borrowed 2,305 books over approximately four months.
Book Subject Popularity Ranking
In 2024, the top three categories of Chinese books were I (Literature), B (Philosophy & Religion), and K (History & Geography).
In 2024, the top three categories of foreign language books were 300 (Social Sciences), 600 (Technology), and 800 (Literature). 600 (Technology) moved up from third to second place, while 300 (Social Sciences) retained the top spot by a narrow margin of just one book.
Most Popular Chinese and Foreign Language Books
Top 10 Chinese Language Books
Top 10 Foreign Language Books
Group Study Room
Total usage time: 24,754 hours
The students from the 2022 cohort were diligent in their studies. They not only had the highest borrowing volume, but also the highest usage rate of group study rooms, accounting for 28.98%.
Group study rooms were used most frequently in the evening, making them the ideal space for discussions after a full day of classes.
Soundproof Pods
Total usage time: 585 hoursThe soundproof pods equipped with MET English-speaking database remained popular among students, with a total usage time of 585 hours in 2024. Starting in October, the booth hours were extended from 9:00 AM to 10:30 PM, giving students more time for English-speaking practice.
Desk Lamp Lending Service
Total usage time: 154 hours
The Circulation Desk offers a desk lamp lending service. Simply bring your UIC ID card to the Circulation Desk to borrow.
Primo VE is one of the library's most essential search tools, serving as a one-stop discovery platform for faculty and students to access print collections, subscribed English databases, and external academic resources. In 2024, Primo VE recorded 157,235 visits and 425,666 searches. The "Add results beyond your library's collection" feature, which helps users discover external academic resources, was used 1,604 times.
Top 5 Searches on Primo VE
Information Literacy Workshops
In 2024, the library held a total of 61 information literacy workshops, including 35 customized lectures and 26 regular workshops, with a total attendance of 1,710 participants. According to feedback, 96.47% of attendees successfully grasped the key content. These sessions help students learn how to navigate the library's subscribed databases and develop essential research skills. Students are encouraged to join library workshops based on their availability and interests.
Interlibrary Loan Service
In 2024, UICers made a total of 183 interlibrary loan requests, with faculty submitting 53 requests and students submitting 130. The fulfillment rate for interlibrary loan requests was 92.3%.
LibGuides is an integrated navigation platform that includes subject-related resources, such as books, journals, databases, and search tips to provide readers with subject-specific professional services. Currently, the library has released 34 subject guides, covering all undergraduate programmes offered by UIC.
The UIC Scholars Hub is a platform for collecting, preserving, presenting, and disseminating research achievements of UIC scholars. It provides direct access to scholars' articles, allowing a better understanding of their research areas and interest, supporting UIC's teaching and research. Currently the Scholars Hub has included 194 UIC scholars, with a total of 5,190 journal articles, 1,361 conference papers, 623 book chapters, and 311 review articles.
Digital Shadow Puppet Platform
In 2024, the LRC launched the UIC Digital Shadow Puppet Platform project. Based on the collections of UIC's former Shadow Puppet Theater, the project presents the intangible cultural heritage of shadow puppetry through images, videos, and animations. So far, the LRC has completed the photography of all 216 shadow puppets and established the foundational framework for the digital platform. In 2025, the LRC will continue enhancing the platform, preserving UIC's shadow puppet culture and deepening UICers' understanding and appreciation of this traditional art form.
On August 24 and 25, the Learning Resource Centre hosted a Library Orientation Tour for first-year students. Guided by staff, new students explored the library and received a detailed instruction to its resources and facilities. At the end of the tour, each student received a welcome package, which included a library guide, floor plan, workshop schedule, and a resource handbook to help them navigate the library more effectively.
90% of new students participated in the orientation satisfaction survey, with a positive feedback rate of 99.5%.
Meanwhile, we also received some suggestions for improvement and we will continue to follow up on them.
After the orientation, students could also participate in the Learning Resource Centre's scavenger hunt. By exploring the library's facilities and resources and completing the scavenger hunt questionnaire, they gained a deeper understanding of the library.
In 2024, the featured bookshelf continued to highlight popular books and those related to UIC's academic focus and development. There were also updates made to showcase different resource types, helping readers better explore high-quality library collections. A new "Series Books" section was added to showcase outstanding domestic and international book series. Additionally, themed book selections were aligned with current events, such as the Nobel Prize in Literature and tributes to renowned authors, helping readers discover and explore their literary works. Both new sections are also linked to LRC's WeChat posts, providing readers with easier access to library news and collection highlights.
8th UIC MET English Speaking Contest
The 8th UIC MET English Speaking Contest was successfully held in the first half of 2024. Its relaxed, free, and low-pressure format was well-received, as students enthusiastically participated and achieved excellent results.
Apart from learning while watching TV series and movies in English by ourselves, UIC offers us a great chance to practice oral English every day, including in-class discussion and communicating with professors. I hope more students can feel the charm of English from the bottom of their hearts, especially oral English. And hopefully, next year more students will participate in this speaking contest! I will keep being modest and focus on my improvement.
Participating in the contest is a precious experience for me, which greatly strengthens my English speaking ability, including pronunciation and fluency. The burden-free contest mechanism makes it more convenient to attend the contest, which increases the enthusiasm of students.
Wish the contest could be successfully held and attract more students to attend next year.
I am honored to have achieved a good grade in this English speaking competition. This is my second time participating in this form of competition, and I am able to continuously try and achieve the most satisfactory results, while also improving my oral speaking skills through experimentation. I will continue to participate next time and achieve better results.
In 2024, the Learning Resource Centre hosted two Chinese and foreign language book fairs, showcasing over 10,000 books from renowned publishers worldwide. Faculty and students actively participated, browsing and selecting titles, with approximately 4,600 books ultimately added to the library collection.
During the book fair, the Learning Resource Centre invited Professor JIA Weijia and Lecturer LI Junyang to deliver two insightful lectures: "AI and 'The Way of Yin and Yang'" and "Defining Purpose: Life Is Not Meaningless Without Goals."
During the book fair, students shared their insights and experiences about their recommended books. 50 outstanding participants were awarded beautifully curated book gifts from the library.
Readers also shared positive feedback about the book fair on RedNote (Xiaohongshu).
E-Resources Discovery Day
On April 15th, 2024, the Learning Resource Centre hosted an E-Resources Discovery Day, featuring over ten renowned domestic and international database vendors. The event provided a face-to-face platform for readers to better understand and utilize the library's electronic resources. On the same day, UIC's texbook supplier, CamBook, also participated in the fair, assisting faculty and students with inquires related to textbook orders.
Book Club Corner Activity
In 2024, we continued to hold book club corner activities in a group discussion format. A total of 60 sessions were organized throughout the year, with 91 students engaging in discussions and sharing their reading experiences under the guidance of Tony. While enjoying their readings, students also had the opportunity to practice their English-speaking skills. Among the participants, 26 students attended every session, earning special gifts prepared by the Learning Resource Centre as a recognition of their dedication.
CTV 24 Frames Movie Database
CTV's 24 frames movie database was created by the LRC to collect, preserve and display CTV graduation works. It includes 413 films from 2010 to 2024, with 35 new additions in 2024, covering a variety of genres such as drama, animation, action, family, suspense, etc. UICers can log into the movie database with their UIC email accounts and passwords to enjoy various films created by CTV seniors.
Summer Renovation Project
During the summer break, the library carried out multiple renovation projects, including scaffolding installation for fire sprinkler replacement, light film replacement, leak repairs, drainage system improvements, and flourescent light replacements. With safety and quality as top priorities, all projects were completed in an orderly manner, ensuring an enhanced environment and improved services for readers in the new academic year.
In 2024, the Learning Resource Centre hosted over 200 official visits, during which librarians introduced the library's resources and facilities to more than 2,000 visitors.
As final exams approached, the library remained bustling even in the winter chill. UICers fully immersed themselves in their studies, buried in books and notes at their desks. To bring some festive cheer to those busy and cold days, we added a touch of Christmas to the library—a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, Santa made an appearance, reindeer dashed around, snow-covered street lamps lit up, and bowls filled with chocolate and candy. For those feeling the winter cold, hand warmers were available at the Circulation Desk to keep them cozy. We hoped these small gestures would bring warmth and encouragement to UICers during finals, helping everyone power through and achieve great results.
In 2024, a total of 15 students successfully completed their roles as library student assistants. They earned this opportunity after participating in volunteer work and passing an interview process. Through this experience, students not only received compensation for their contributions but also gained valuable work experience.
Having worked in the library for a year and a half, I have grown more familiar with its operations, from shelving books to managing circulation, and my appreciation for the library has only deepened. Carefully organizing books and returning them to their proper places, as well as assisting students at the Circulation Desk, have brought me a genuine sense of fulfillment. To me, working in the library is not just about serving others; it is also a sanctuary, a brief escape from the demands of academic life. The writer SHI Tiesheng once said, "In a densely populated city, having such a quiet place feels like a thoughtful arrangement by God." In the new year, I hope to cherish every moment of my time here and make the most of this special opportunity.
This year marks my fourth year as a student assistant, and throughout this time, I have gained so many valuable experiences. In the Cataloguing Department, I primarily handle tasks such as labeling and stamping books, which has helped me understand the behind-the-scenes work of library management. It has also introduced me to a wide variety of books, sparking a deeper interest in reading. At the Circulation Desk, I assist with book loans and help answer students' questions. Every time I help someone, I feel a real sense of fulfillment and joy.
Working at the library has given me the chance to connect with both books and people in meaningful ways. I've come to appreciate just how much the library does, and I've also realized the importance of my role in helping bridge the gap between the students and the knowledge they seek.
As I step into another year here, I look forward to continuing to grow in this warm and welcoming space. I hope to help even more students find the books and answers they need, and I wish for everyone to discover their own little treasure trove of knowledge in the vast world of books. May we all keep learning, growing, and embracing the future with curiosity and excitement.
Without realizing it, I've now entered my fourth year as a student assistant at the library. Over the years, I've seen countless students rushing in, their heads buried in books, fully immersed in their studies. While working at the Circulation Desk or shelving new books, I often find myself influenced by the library's quiet and focused atmosphere. No matter how many worries I have, they seem to slowly fade away in this space of calm. Here, I've had the chance to meet kind and supportive librarians, as well as fellow student assistants from different majors. Chatting with them has become one of my favorite ways to unwind and forget about my own stress. Becoming more familiar with the library's resources and rules has also helped me find books more efficiently, making my own studies much easier.
These numbers and words alone
Cannot fully capture our 2024.
If we were to extract two key words,
They would be "Readers" and "Librarians."
Together, we walked this journey,
Shaping a rich and fulfilling 2024.
The future is ever-changing,
But we hold onto our faith and remain committed to our mission,
Looking forward to 2025 with anticipation.
