Source: Sun Yat-sen University Libraries
Written by: Sun Yat-sen University Libraries
Translated by: Huang Fang
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

The Opening Ceremony of the Collection of Sun Yat-sen University Erudites was held in the South Campus Library of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) on November 11, 2014. Ms. Zou Fang, daughter of Mr. Zou Lu, the first president of SYSU, Ms. Zou Fang’s husband Mr. Situ Songxun, and their daughter Miss Situ Jiayu; Prof. James Tong from UCLA; Prof. Yan Guangmei, Vice President of SYSU; Prof. Huang Tianji from Department of Chinese of SYSU; Prof. Cheng Huanwen, Director of Sun Yat-sen University Libraries, attended the ceremony. The ceremony was hosted by Dr. Wang Lei, Director of the Department of Special Collections of Sun Yat-sen University Libraries.

At the ceremony, Vice President Yan Guangmei highly praised the important role of this collection in inheriting great academic achievements and carrying forward the academic spirit of SYSU. Prof. Cheng Huanwen introduced the concept, design style and preparation for the collection in detail and stated that a database with the function of Knowledge Discovery and the characteristic of Digital Humanities will be set up in the future. As a representative of outstanding scholars, Prof. Huang Tianji made a wonderful interpretation of the academic origin and design of this collection and expressed his great expectation for its role in promoting the academic development of SYSU. Finally, the distinguished guests unveiled the plaque and visited the collection together.

Located in the southwest of the first floor of the South Campus Library, the Collection of Sun Yat-sen University Erudites mainly collects, displays and spreads the works of SYSU faculty, students and alumni, aiming at manifesting SYSU’s academic development, academic features and academic spirit. It is designed with a reading hall of European style, a popular style in European libraries in the 16th-19th century, and fused with the elements of Chinese culture and SYSU’s history and culture. It is also equipped with colored mosaic glass rose windows and lamps, retro-style oak sofa set, Wenge wooden reading tables and chairs of Ming Dynasty style, providing readers with a comfortable and elegant reading environment.
This collection includes official and unofficial publications such as works, co-authored works, complied works, translated works, textbooks, research reports, reference books, collections and proceedings of SYSU erudites. So far, there are nearly 10 thousand titles shelved, many of which are signed with the authors’ names. It is greatly encouraged that SYSU faculty, students and alumni could donate works or collective works with signature to this collection.