Students of the University of Hong Kong will get instant text messages on overdue library books since the launch of Library Messaging Service Thursday.

Offered by the university's ETI Consulting Limited (ETIC), the new service is part of the university's on-going efforts to enhance the communication between the university and students, as well as to improve the university's operations by adopting the latest applications in information technology.

The text messaging service allows the HKU Libraries to send text messages on overdue books, book reservations and new book announcements.

Students of the university were happy about the new service. They said that in the past, they depended on the e-mail system to check for the latest library news and library book status.

The new service not only allow them to obtain the latest information but also largely enhance the efficiency of the operation of the library, said some students.

The service is based on one of the applications of the ETIC Mobile Messaging Platform, which solves the problem of integratingthe different standards and protocols of mobile operators and, thereby, enabling organizations to fully capitalize on the potential of wireless messaging applications.