"Library as Place": Implementation of 5-S System

The 5-S system, developed from Japanese management techniques, is a useful tool for managing and maintaining a quality environment. It is widely applied in various manufacturing and business sectors. This article shares the experience of implementing the 5-S system in the Hong Kong Baptist University Library in relation to the idea of “library as place”. A detailed account of an application of 5-S system is given. It is hoped that it can serve as a reference for the library community in the continuous improvement of library environment. It also attempts to explore the validity of “library as place” nowadays and its compatibility with impacts of information technology development.