ENG-1995 — Page 424

RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS

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architectural history by the Chinese University of Hong Kong in August. It also supported academic institutions, community organisations and schools in a variety of heritage-related activities.

Urban Council Public Libraries

Computerisation of the Urban Council Public Libraries System was completed in March, 1995, three months ahead of schedule. Borrowing and returning of library materials can now be handled with greater speed and accuracy. Users can return library materials to any of the council's 31 branch libraries and gain access to the entire collection through an on-line catalogue, which will also be available via home phone service with a personal computer and a modem in 1996. An on-line borrowers' record enquiry is in place to keep readers informed of their borrowing activity.

Five new small libraries, the Tsim Sha Tsui, Un Chau Street, the Hung Hom, Smithfield and Yiu Tung libraries, were due to open and plans are in hand to bring the total number to 42.

The council approved the layout design of the Hong Kong Central Library at Moreton Terrace, the largest of its kind in Hong Kong. It can hold two million items of library material and is expected to be completed in late-1998.

The borrowing limit for each reader was increased from three items to five and use of the libraries increased considerably: 9.6 million library items were borrowed during the year, and 18.4 million books were read in the libraries. Readers gained further benefits in July with the start of the scheme for mutual acceptance of library cards with the Regional Council Libraries.

The libraries' total collection increased to 2.7 million books and 190 000 audio visual items including audio-cassettes, gramophone records, audio compact-discs, video compact-discs, videotapes, CD-ROMs, Compact Disc-Interactive (CD-I) and computer software. The libraries subscribed to more than 5 110 titles of local and overseas newspapers and periodicals. Efforts to meet the target of a stock of 3.3 million items by 1997 were enhanced by a decision to buy 300 000 items per year instead of the original 220 000.

Services to the handicapped were also improved. Adequate access to the libraries for the disabled was ensured, and amendments were made to the Library By-Laws to facilitate wheelchair users. In addition to the existing reading machines and the reference enquiry hotline for the visually handicapped, image magnifiers with colour- adjustable capability were acquired. Braille books and talking books were made available for block loan to the Library of the Hong Kong Society for the Blind,

The CD-ROM network was further expanded and enhanced to provide simultaneous search of more than 40 CD-ROMs at the district libraries. This search facility together with the on-line search through INTERNET greatly enhanced the reference library services. The reference libraries now have more than 900 CD-ROMs in stock. Info/law was also introduced in the City Hall Reference Library, providing on-line access to the Laws of Hong Kong database. As a depository library for seven international organisations, the City Hall Library receives full sets of pub- lications from the United Nations, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the World Trade Organisation, the World Food Programme and the International Labour Organisation.