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The Hong Kong Central Library (HKCL)'s Multimedia Information System (MMIS) today (January 29) was honoured a silver award by the Hong Kong Computer Society in the application category of its IT Excellence Awards 2001.

The IT Excellence Awards aims to recognize and encourage world-class application and innovation in information technology in Hong Kong. The award also promotes wider use of information technology in the community to enhance the operating efficiency of Hong Kong's industries, services, product qualities and overall competitiveness.

Equipped with the state-of-the-art technology, the MMIS is regarded as the largest multimedia information system in Hong Kong. It provides an effective one-stop service search for information and an extensive access to a selection of digitized and audio-visual materials. With the MMIS, information search is no longer limited by geographical location. Users may also access a wide variety of information via their Internet anywhere with a workstation.

Mr Chan Cheuk-wah, Senior Librarian (Infrastructure Development) of the HKCL is gratifying to receive the award. He said, "The MMIS provides an extensive collection of digitized documents and audio-visual materials, which strengthen our flexibility and capacity to upgrade the Hong Kong library service. The system also allows multiple users to search for and use the same library materials simultaneously, making research work much easier for multiple users."

The MMIS provides three types of searching methods, i.e. Basic Search, Image Search and Advanced Search. Users may use either Keyword or Browse Search to access more than 1.3 million pages of digitized images and materials, including audio and video materials, house programmes, posters, CD-ROM databases, CD-ROMs for children, maps, photos, old HK newspapers, HK Arts & Artist clippings, HK literature, books, the former Urban Council's and Regional Council's archives.

The MMIS services are available everyday from 9 am to 9 pm, except on Wednesdays from 1 pm to 9 pm. Readers may also make use of the system to reserve the HKCL's audio and video materials, CD-ROM databases, CD-ROMs for children and multimedia workstations.

For enquiries, please call 3150 1234 or visit the MMIS website at http://hkclweb.hkpl.gov.hk.

End/ Tuesday, January 29, 2002

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