************************************

A spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announces today (July 20) that the newly built Tseung Kwan O Public Library will open for public use tomorrow (July 21), offering a comprehensive library service to the residents of Tseung Kwan O.

The spokesman continues to say, "the Library, located at 9 Wan Lung Road of Tseung Kwan O (opposite to Po Hong Park), is next to a large indoor sports centre and a swimming pool complex, which is now in operation. The well-designed and spacious recreation and library complex provides a wide range of leisure and library services for local residents."

The Tseung Kwan O Public Library which has a floor area of 2,200 square metres is fully-equipped with various facilities including Adult Library, Children's Library, Quick Reference Section, Multimedia Library, Computer and Information Centre, Newspapers and Periodicals Section, Extension Activities Room and Students' Study Room.

The spokesman says, "the Library has a stock of about 170,000 items of books and audio-visual materials covering the whole spectrum of knowledge for people of all ages and interests. In addition to an initial book stock of some 150,000 volumes of Chinese and English books, 6,500 volumes of quick reference and 9,000 compact discs and audio cassette tapes are available. Moreover, library users are able to access over 160 titles of local and overseas newspapers and periodicals, as well as an initial stock of more than 4,000 compact discs, video compact discs and CD-ROMs in the Multimedia Library to satisfy their quest for knowledge in an Information Age."

Also, the Library will organise a busy programme of extension activities from children's hours to interest clubs and reading programme activities and book displays to promote interest in reading.

The Tseung Kwan O Public Library opens from 9 am to 8 pm from Tuesday to Friday, and closes on 7 pm on Saturdays and 5 pm on Sundays and public holidays. It closes the whole day on Mondays. Students and members of cultural and educational organisations which are interested to have a better understanding of the Library's facilities and services are welcome to contact the Library for group visits. For enquiries, please call 2706 8101.

End/Friday, July 20, 2001

NNNN