UM Library and HFPJC Successfully Held The “Rare Book Conservation and Culture of the Rare Book in China” – Student Achievement Exhibition and Closing Ceremony

The University of Macau Library (UM Library) and the Henry Fok Pearl Jubilee College (HFPJC) jointly organised the “Rare Book Conservation and Culture of the Rare Book in China”. The exhibition of student achievements and the closing ceremony of this course were held on May 13, 2024, at the Painting and Calligraphy Gallery (書畫坊) on the second floor of the University Library. Dr. Wu Jianzhong, the University Librarian, presented certificates to nine students who met the course assessment requirements. The course instructor, Mr. Staty Chan, College Liaison Librarian, and resident fellows from the HFPJC, Dr. Andrew Lao and Ms. Sara Chang, attended the ceremony. The exhibition showcased a total of 24 student achievements, including rubbings, thread-bound bookbinding, and colouring of ancient maps from the East and West, covering the technical products of practical work in the course.

In response to the learning interests and needs of students at the University of Macau for Chinese culture and to enhance cooperation between the University Library and the residential colleges, the UM Library and HFPJC jointly organised the “Rare Book Conservation and Culture of the Rare Book in China” for the university’s 4-in-1 collaborative education model. The courses focused on the preservation of ancient books and ancient cultural heritage. The content of the courses included an overview of ancient Chinese and Western books in the University of Macau Library collection, Chinese rubbing techniques, The History of Traditional Chinese bookbinding and publishing, restoration and preservation of ancient books, map-making of ancient maps and historical culture, as well as cultural heritage preservation in Macao. Through classroom theory, workshops, and field trips, the courses provided students with a foundational and systematic understanding of ancient books and their preservation. The course offered six classes with a total of eighteen hours and attracted over 200 participants from the college, receiving good feedback from the students.