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To enable the implementation of a new and upgraded library computer system at the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) by the end of this year, certain library services will be suspended temporarily during the coming Christmas holiday.
A spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department said today (December 22) that the new computer system, the Next Generation Integrated Library System (NGILS), will provide enhanced public library services and cater for the future development of library services in Hong Kong.
Library services that will be affected include:
1. Counter services: payment and borrower registration services will be suspended on Saturday (December 24) and Tuesday (December 27). Library users who wish to collect their reserved library items on these two days are required to produce their reservation notices at the library counters. Borrowing and returning services will not be affected. Libraries will be closed on December 25 and 26 (Sunday and Monday) as in previous years.
2. Online and telephone services: to allow sufficient time to complete the major system upgrade, online and telephone services will be suspended from 9pm tomorrow (December 23) to 9am on Wednesday (December 28). The services affected include library catalogue access via the Internet (web and text-based), borrower record enquiry and reservation of library materials via the Internet, web access to electronic resources (including e-books and online databases), Internet/telephone renewal services and the multimedia information system booking service.
To minimise the inconvenience caused to library users during the system migration period, the HKPL has adjusted the due dates of all loan items such that they will not fall from December 23, 2011 to January 2, 2012. There is thus no need for readers to return or renew borrowed library materials during this period.
The new NGILS system will make online search of the library catalogues more efficient, interactive and more similar to the popular global search engines.
Publicity on the temporary service suspension has also been undertaken at all public libraries and on the HKPL website at www.hkpl.gov.hk.
For enquiries on affected library services, please call 2414 5555 or email to libcu@lcsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, December 22, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:33
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