ENG-2006 — Page 464

392 Recreation, Sport and the Arts

Public Libraries

The LCSD operates the Hong Kong Public Libraries system which comprises 66 static libraries and 10 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, research and recreation and to support lifelong learning and continuous education. It promotes reading and literary arts and offers library extension activities to all ages.

The libraries have a comprehensive collection of library materials which include 10.43 million books and 1.48 million multimedia materials. It has 3.4 million registered borrowers. More than 61.3 million books and other library materials were borrowed from the 76 existing public libraries during the year.

Hong Kong Central Library

Since its opening in May 2001, the Hong Kong Central Library has become a major information and cultural centre in Hong Kong. Occupying a gross floor area of 33 800 square metres with a total stock of 2.19 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, a Hong Kong literature room, map library, language learning centre, young adult library and a toy library. There are also facilities for hire. These include a 1 500 square-metre exhibition gallery, a 290-seat lecture theatre, two activity rooms, a music practice room and discussion rooms. On average, the Hong Kong Central Library is visited by about 14 000 users each day.

In addition to regular cultural activities and talks, the Hong Kong Central Library continued to organise a wide range of large-scale cultural activities such as the 'New Vision in the 21st Century: Young Outstanding Persons' Discourse on Globalisation, China Fever and Technology Revolution', 'Cosmopolitan Hong Kong' and 'Translation, Language and Culture' seminars and 'Public Lectures on History and Business in China'. Two territory-wide exhibitions, entitled 'Art Publishing in Germany' and 'A Passage to Jao Tsung-l Fusion of Art and Scholarship', were presented jointly during the year by the Goethe Institute of Hong Kong and the Jao Tsung-l Petite Ecole of the University of Hong Kong.

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New Initiatives in Library Services

The Hong Kong Public Libraries system makes every effort to improve its service. to the public by enhancing the library stock, the reference and information services, the use of information technology and the promotion of reading habits in the community.

Two new small libraries were added to the public library network during the year. They are the Stanley Public Library and the Tin Shui Wai North Public Library, which were opened in July and December respectively, strengthening significantly the library services provided in the Southern and Yuen Long districts.

The Education Resource Centre, a specialised reference library on education at the Kowloon Public Library, opened in late October 2005. With a collection of over