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The new Tsing Yi Public Library, which has a floor area of 2,000 square metres and a stock of 140,000 items of books and audio-visual materials, was open today (Monday), offering comprehensive library service to the residents in Tsing Yi District.
The Tsing Yi Public Library is the first major cultural facility of the new Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) since its establishment on January 1 this year.
Officiating at the opening ceremony were the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr David Lan, the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Paul LEUNG Sai-wah, and the Chairman of the Kwai Tsing District Council, Mr Chow Yick-hay.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr David Lan said that at the turn of the century and the establishment of the new Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the government will continue to improve the public library service and enhance its role for providing information and self-learning service to cope with the new development and the increasing demand of the public at large.
He said, "Over the next few years, the government will spend over 320 million to upgrade the library automation system and provide a comprehensive digital library service. When these two new services commence at the end of this year, the library information services will be further enhanced.
" This will include the provision of audio-on-demand and video-on-demand services and 24-hour service for enquiry, renewal of library materials, reservation, searching and application for library cards on the internet".
He added, "The Hong Kong Central Library which will have a total area of 33,800 square metres and an ultimate stock of 2 million items of library materials will also be open to the public at the end of this year.
"It will be the most advanced information center in Hong Kong, providing a full range of library and special reference services. Following the opening of the Hong Kong Central Library, the existing reference libraries at the City Hall and Kowloon Central Libraries would be developed into an industrial and commercial library and an educational resource center respectively."
He pointed out that the first library in Hong Kong was first open at the City Hall in 1962. Today Hong Kong has built up a modern public library system comprising five major libraries and 61 district, small and mobile libraries with a combined stock of 7.6 million items of library materials. The number of library materials borrowed by the public has exceeded 30 million per year.
Easily accessible by public transport including the MTR, the new Tsing Yi Library is located at the 1st floor of the Tsing Yi Complex at 38 Tsing Luk Street (just opposite the Tsing Yi Sports Complex).
The library will replace the small library at Cheung Hong Estate. Its range of facilities include an Adult Library, a Children's Library, a Quick Reference Section, a Multi-media Resource Centre, a Computer and Information Centre, an Extension Activities Room, a Newspapers and Periodicals Section and a Students' Study Room. The library will also organise from time to time various extension activities including children's hours, interest clubs, subject talks and book displays.
Opening hours of the library is from 9 am and closes 8 pm from Mondays to Wednesdays, 7 pm on Saturdays and 5 pm on Sundays and public holidays and it closes whole day on Thursday.
Group visits by students and members of cultural and educational organisations can be made by appointment with the Assistant Librarian in-charge. Enquiries can be made at 2497 2904.
End/Monday, January 31, 2000
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