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RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

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April/May 2001. It will be the main library of the Hong Kong Public Libraries system and an information centre in the HKSAR.

Reference and Information Services

Reference and information services are provided at the five major libraries

the City Hall, Kowloon, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun Public Libraries. These libraries have comprehensive collections of reference materials and 35 special collections. To meet the increasing information needs of residents, the reference libraries have been installed with local area networks for readers to search a wide range of on-line as well as information databases stored on CD-ROMs. Over 22 000 CD-ROMs are available for public use. A wide selection of useful indexes and the full text of newspapers and periodicals are available at the reference libraries and the library system's local CD-ROM network.

In recognition of its role as a major metropolitan library, the City Hall Public Library has been designated as the depository library in Hong Kong for nine international organisations such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and the European Union.

Multimedia Service

Computer and Information Centres are provided at five major and two district libraries. All other static libraries are provided with multimedia workstations for access to the Internet and multimedia databases. Audio-visual libraries are provided in the major and district libraries.

Library Automation

Both the libraries in the urban and New Territories have been computerised. On-line catalogue search, renewal of borrowed items and reservation of library materials are available through the Internet 15 hours a day. Plans are in hand to integrate and upgrade the existing library automation systems in early 2001. The new system will be one of the world's largest computerisation systems with Chinese and English capability. It will have an initial provision of over 1 500 terminals to provide 24-hour Internet access daily for search of catalogues of local and overseas libraries as well as information in a wide range of databases; automated renewal of loan of library materials and reservation of library materials. Self-charging terminals have been installed at the City Hall Public Library and Kowloon Public Library and will be installed at all libraries to allow readers to borrow library materials by themselves.

Digital Library System

A digital library system is being installed in the Hong Kong Central Library. It will provide audio and video on demand, CD-ROM and on-line search and document viewing services. The digital library collection will include a wide range of materials such as old newspapers, books, photographs, maps, government documents, posters and house programmes. For effective sharing of resources, the digital library services will be extended to the branch libraries and made available, in phases, for remote access by the public.