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treatments to cultural objects including paintings, historical documents, prints and photographs, textiles, metals, ceramics, organic materials and archaeological finds.

Among the other conservation projects, the methodological research and overhauling work for the preservation of the historic Fireboat Alexander Grantham has been accorded remarkable attention of the section. With the collaboration and input from specialists of various disciplines, the section is working towards lifting the 500-tonne fireboat onto land when the site formation works is completed in the year

to come.

Currently in its third year of staging, the cultural display project organised by the section at the Hong Kong International Airport has met with resounding success. The latest phase of the display, launched in late 2004, featured a selection of the distinctive works by 16 Hong Kong ceramicists. Spread in a passage way of the Departures Hall, the display entitled as Glamour of Earth Contemporary Hong Kong Ceramics enabled overseas tourists and local air passengers alike to sense the creativity and artistic identity of Hong Kong where Chinese and Western cultures meet.

With the help of the conservation volunteers recruited through the Cultural Services Volunteer Scheme, the section presented 40 workshops and guided tours for the 2004 International Museum Day and the year-round School Culture Day. Together with other lectures, behind-the-scene laboratory visits as well as educational and extension activities organised throughout the year, the section received over 1 100 visitors including students, teachers, curators, collectors, overseas delegates and the general public.

To foster professional exchanges in conservation science and technology, the section was represented at a number of international and national conservation conferences and sustained its internship scheme for application by local and overseas conservators. In this regard, two conservation papers were presented at the 32nd Annual Meeting of the American Institute of Conservation held in Portland, United States, and the 8th National Conference on archaeology and conservation held in Guangzhou, respectively; and two interns from the US and Macao were accepted for short-term placement with the section in 2004.

Public Libraries

The LCSD operates the Hong Kong Public Libraries system which comprises 72 public libraries, including nine mobile libraries. It also manages the Books Registration Office. The public libraries system provides free library and information services to meet community needs for information, lifelong learning, research, informal education and the profitable use of leisure, and to promote reading and the literary

arts.

The libraries have a comprehensive collection of 9.76 million books and 1.33 million multimedia materials for some 3.14 million registered borrowers. In 2004, 62.16 million items of library materials were borrowed from the libraries and 4.02