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RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

Reference and Information Services

Reference and information services are provided at the Central Library and the five major libraries the City Hall, Kowloon, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun Public Libraries. The Central Reference Library has a total collection of 680 000 items, providing comprehensive reference and information services through its six subject departments. It features a comprehensive collection of electronic materials including CD-ROMs, online databases, electronic books, electronic journals and multimedia programmes, all of which are available for online access by the public. The library also holds the depository collection of books required under the Books Registration Ordinance.

Multimedia Service

Computer and information centres are provided at the Hong Kong Central Library, five major libraries and most of the district libraries. The workstations provided in these centres are installed with commonly used computer applications, such as software for word processing, database management, spreadsheet, presentation programmes, graphics and publishing tools in order to promote computer literacy among library readers that will assist them in using computer technology in their daily life. Other static libraries have multimedia workstations that provide access to the Internet and multimedia databases and, in addition, audio and visual facilities are provided in the major and district libraries.

Library Automation

The public library system is fully computerised. The library automation system supports over 1 200 terminals and is one of the world's largest computerised library systems with both Chinese and English capabilities. It provides 24-hour daily Internet library services for readers to search library holdings, renew their borrowed items and reserve library materials. In 2002, readers used the Internet library service a total of 49 554 178 times, representing an increase of 496 per cent over the previous year. The public library's home page has the third highest usage rate among government home pages. The library automation system also offers telephone renewal and borrower record enquiry services. Readers can now borrow and return library materials at any of the branch libraries. Self-charging terminals are being installed at all libraries. Plans are in hand to enhance the library automation system so that readers may use the new 'smart' ID cards, to be issued by the Government from mid-2003, as library cards.

Multimedia Information System

A Multimedia Information System (MMIS) has been developed for the Hong Kong Central Library. It provides audio and video on demand, online CD-ROM and reference resources, and searching and document viewing services through the library's workstations and the Internet. Materials of various formats including old local newspapers, books, photographs, maps, government documents, clippings, manuscripts, posters, and house programmes of local cultural presentations are readily available. The system also enables patrons to book the use of the library's workstations a week in advance. This service has been extended to the Internet since October for readers to access information at home, in school or at the office. The MMIS has won a number of local and overseas awards. These included the silver award presented by the Hong Kong Computer Society in the application category of