RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS
414
Central Conservation Section
The Central Conservation Section devises, implements and evaluates conservation programmes for museum artefacts and heritage objects. In 2003, the section administered conservation treatment to 2 633 cultural objects including paintings, paper artefacts, textiles, photographs, metals, ceramics, organic materials and archaeological finds. It continued to provide the necessary technical support for 79 thematic exhibitions and the management of some 200 000 collection items pertaining to 12 public museums, the Art Promotion Office, and assisted in the preservation of repository items for the Antiquities and Monuments Office.
As an essential part of its education and extension programmes, the section received five schools for behind-the-scene laboratory visits under the 'School Culture Day' Scheme and organised 14 workshops and guided tours for the International Museum Day. Adding together other lecture programmes and laboratory visits, the section received over 5 000 visitors during the year.
With a view to preserving the fireboat Alexander Grantham upon its decommissioning after 50 years of service and mounting it for public viewing, the section has been engaged in the necessary project planning and conservation work for the vessel and its more than 500 relics.
To follow on from the success of the first phase of staging cultural displays at the Hong Kong International Airport, the section undertook to organise another standing exhibition there, in cooperation with the Airport Authority, for the enjoyment of travellers and people working at the airport. Entitled Formal Dialogue Sculptures by Hong Kong Masters the exhibition began in April and featured 28 acclaimed works by two local master sculptors.
Public Libraries
The LCSD operates the Hong Kong Public Library System which comprises 70 public libraries, including eight mobile libraries. It also manages the Books Registration. Office. The Public Library System provides free public library services to meet community needs for information, research, informal education and the profitable use of leisure time. The aim is to promote reading and the literary arts and support lifelong learning.
The libraries have a comprehensive library collection of 8.98 million books and 1.19 million multimedia materials and a total of 2.97 million registered borrowers. In 2003, 58.62 million items of library materials were borrowed from the libraries and 3.91 million reference enquiries were handled by staff, representing an increase of 10.04 per cent and 3.97 per cent, respectively, over 2002.
Hong Kong Central Library
Since its opening in May 2001, the Hong Kong Central Library has developed into a major information and cultural centre in Hong Kong. Occupying a gross floor area of 33 800 square metres with a total stock of 1.82 million items, the 12-storey building provides a wide range of facilities. Special features include a Multimedia Information System, a Central Reference Library with six subject departments, an Arts Resource Centre, Hong Kong Literature Room, Basic Law Reference Collection Room, Map Library, Language Learning Centre, Young Adult Library and a Toy Library. There are also hiring facilities including a 1 500 square-metre Exhibition Gallery, a 293-seat Lecture Theatre, two Activity Rooms, a Music Practice Room and a number of