FAQ
Student frequently asked questions
Select your area of interest from the choices below, and then scroll down to view the sub-set of questions relevant to that area. Click on a classification to display the question and answer.
When is the RC open?
You may refer to the “Opening Hours” section on Here.
What are the Centre’s Regulations?
You may refer to the “RC Regulations” section on Here.
Is RC open on Sundays and Public Holidays?
The Centre is closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Can I bring my own food and drink into RC?
No food is allowed.
Can I use my mobile phone in the RC?
Please turn off mobile phones or turn them to silent or vibrate mode. No phone conversations are allowed in RC.
Can I borrow stationery?
You can use stationery at the Circulation Counter only.
What should I do if I lose something in the RC?
You can go the Counter and ask if your item has been found. If not, you may fill in the “Report-lost” form.
What should I do if I find someone else’s belongings in the RC?
You should contact our staff on duty at your earliest convenience.
What should I do with lost items I found?
You should contact our staff on duty at your earliest convenience.
Can I donate my textbooks to the RC now that I no longer need them?
Donations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact our staff on duty at your earliest convenience or send email to [email protected].
Can I borrow RC’s extension cords for use outside the Centre?
Extension cord use is restricted to RC only.
Where can I find a brief online guide to using the RC?
You can download RC User Guide from Here.
How can I book the Soundproof booth/Discussion Corner in advance?
All bookings should be made at the Circulation Counter of the Centre. Bookings up to one week in advance are allowed.
How long can I use the discussion corner?
Each booking is limited to 0.5 – 2 hours (discussion corner) and 0.5 – 1 hour (soundproof booth) each day per user.
How do I login my Borrowing Record?
You can log in your “Borrowing Record” to renew the items you borrowed with your “Patron Barcode” and “Pin”. Your default “Patron Barcode” and “Pin” are your “Library No.” shown on your University Identity Card. You can change your “Pin” after you log in successfully.
How many books can I borrow?
You may refer to the “Loan Privileges” section on Here.
How long can I borrow a book for?
You may refer to the “Loan Privileges” section on Here.
Can I borrow journals or final year projects?
Journals and final year projects can only be used inside RC.
How can I renew/extend the loan on an item I have borrowed?
You can renew the item in person at the Circulation Counter OR renew it online. You can go to RC Catalogue and click “Borrowing Record”. Then, you can log into your “Borrowing Record” with your Patron Barcode and Pin.
How many times can I renew the borrowed book(s)?
You can renew the item, except for laptop, online at RC Catalogue , if it is not requested by another user. The limit of renewal per item is 2 times.
How can I check my book’s due date for return?
You may refer to the due date slip affixed to the item. You can also check the due date online via your “Borrowing Record”.
What will I be charged for overdue RC items?
The overdue fine for the late return of a borrowed item is HK$5 per day (up to a maximum of HK$200 per item).
How can I reserve an item that is currently out on loan?
You can reserve that item online with your Patron Barcode and Pin.
How can I search the RC’s collections?
On the first page of the Centre’s website, select RC Catalogue.
How can I find books on my subject area?
Use the “Subject/Discipline” search function provided by the RC Catalogue.
How can I find out which journal titles the RC holds?
Select “Journals”, and there is a listing of journals in alphabetical order available at the Centre.
How can I find journal articles on my subject area?
Use the “Subject/Discipline” search function provided by the RC Catalogue.
Which databases are available via the PolyU Library?
Databases are listed in alphabetical order Here.
Where can I find a plan of the RC layout?
You may refer to the “RC Layout” section at Here.
How are the books arranged in the RC?
You may refer to the “Locating RC Materials” section at Here.
What is the first login user name and pin?
Your default Patron ID is your student number and you can set your own password.
How can I get help with database searching?
You can contact the counter staff for assistance.
Can I access the C’s databases off-campus?
Yes, you can access the RC’s databases off-campus.
Which theses does the RC hold and how can I find them?
The Centre holds doctoral dissertations and master’s theses of postgraduate students as well as the final year project (FYPs) of graduate students of SHTM. They can be downloaded from the SHTM Database http://rcdb.shtm.polyu.edu.hk/SHTMDB/dissertation The Centre also holds the hard copies of these FYPs dissertations and theses.
How can I search for past exam papers?
The digital copies of examination papers are stored electronically in Acrobat PDF format, and can be downloaded from the SHTM Database (http://rcdb.shtm.polyu.edu.hk/SHTMDB/exampaper)
Can I save or print the Final Year Projects (FYPs)?
Yes, you can.
What should I do if I forgot the pin?
You can contact the counter staff or send an e-mail to [email protected] for assistance.
How long can I borrow a laptop?
The loan period is 5 hours for in-house use and 7 days for lending outside RC.
Can I renew the loan period for outside use of the laptop via the Internet?
Renewals must be made in person at the Circulation Counter.
What can I do if I experience a problem with the laptop I borrowed?
You can contact the counter staff for assistance.
I lost the laptop what should I do?
You should report the loss of the laptop to the counter staff immediately.
How do I logon to the PCs in RC?
No password is needed to log onto the PCs.
How can I get an overview of computing facilities/software available for students at RC?
You may refer to the “Laptop and Mouse Lending” section as well as the “Computer Configurations” section on Here.
How do I connect to the University’s wireless network?
You may refer to the “Wireless Access on Campus” section at http://www.polyu.edu.hk/its/self-help/network
Where can I find out about technology support?
You may refer to the “ITS Help Centre/Hotline” section at http://www.polyu.edu.hk/its/contact-us/service-numbers-service-hours
How can I get help using the RC website?
You can contact the counter staff for assistance.
How can I print or photocopy in the RC?
Please restart the computer to restore to its default settings
*At the computer:
- Select “File” > “Print” > Select “Printer 1”
- “Print”
- Set your own ID and Password (use your “student ID” is highly suggested)
*At Printer 1
- Insert Octopus card
- Press “ELP NX”
- Press on the user ID you previously assigned
- Input the password and press “Login”
- Select “Print”
- Press “Start”
- Press “Home”
- Press red button to remove Octopus card
*Please delete unnecessary print jobs from the PCs.
*At the computer:
- Select “File” > “Print” > Select “Printer 2 or 3”
- “Print”
- Set your own ID and Password (use your “student ID” is highly suggested)
*At Printer 2 or 3
- Insert Octopus card
- Press “User Box”
- Press “Secure Document User Box” > “Use/File”
- Input the ID you assigned > “OK”
- Input the Secure Print Document Password you assigned > “OK”
- Select your document(s) > “Print”
- Press “Start”
- Press blue button to remove Octopus card
*Please delete unnecessary print jobs from the PCs.
Who do I ask if I need help with a photocopier?
You can contact the counter staff for assistance.
Why am I unable to print my documents but get the error message of “Failed to authenticate”?
The ID and Password you set at the PC do not match those you inputted at the photocopier.
How to fix a paper jam?
You should contact the counter staff for assistance.
Why is the copier not printing in color? (Using black & white left printer)
Colour printing is only available at the color photocopier 2.
What are the costs for printing?
Charges are as follows:
Service Price
Black and White Photocopying and Printing $0.2(A4), $0.4(A3) per page
Color Photocopying and Printing $1.5(A4), $3(A3) per page
Payment for printing can only be made with an Octopus Card.
How can I check whether I’ve been overcharged for photocopying/printing?
Octopus Card transaction checking is available at the Circulation Counter. The last 10 transactions made with the Octopus card on either the photocopier or the vending machines can be checked at the Counter.
Where can I get help using the scanner?
You can contact the counter staff for assistance.
How can I scan and save my 40 page double- side document?
A scanning station is available at the Centre. The scanning station has a 50-page feeder and can scan color documents. Files can be saved to a USB drive. Its use is free of charge.
Instructions:
- Place your document on the scanner glass face down.
- Open “ScanWizard DI” program by clicking on the icon on the desktop.
- The program will generate a preview of your document by clicking the “Preview” button.
- You can drag the dotted line around the preview image to crop the image.
- Click “Scan to” to save the image to your USB drive.
Where can I buy the souvenir showing in the display cabinet?
You can buy souvenirs at the circulation counter. Only cash are accepted. Please pay the exact amount and no change can be given.
Can I claim money for printing error at the student hub?
You need to contact the computing technicians on the 3/F.