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Recreation, Sport, Culture and the Arts

Public Libraries

The LCSD operates 70 static and 12 mobile libraries and a books registration office. The libraries hold 13.3 million books and 1.79 million multimedia items, serving 4.7 million book borrowers and lending more than 23 million books and other library materials in 2020. Library services and opening hours were seriously affected because of COVID-19, and libraries put more efforts into promoting the library's online resources.

Hong Kong Central Library

The Hong Kong Central Library in Causeway Bay is a major information and cultural centre, with a reference and lending stock of almost 2.8 million books and other reading materials, multimedia facilities, a central reference library with six subject departments, an arts resource centre, a Hong Kong literature room, a map library, a language learning centre, a young adult library and a toy library. It offers for hire a 1,540-square-metre exhibition gallery, a 290-seat lecture theatre, two activity rooms, a music practice room and eight discussion rooms.

The Central Library organises cultural programmes and public lectures, and promotes a reading. culture and information dissemination.

Improvements to Library Services

The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) operates self-service library stations, one each on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories. The third self-service library station, located in Tai Wai, was launched in January, offering round-the-clock public library services.

In December, the Yau Ma Tei Public Library was relocated to new three-storey premises at 251 Shanghai Street, with improved space, environment, facilities and services.

The public libraries work closely with district councils and local groups to set up community libraries, which are offered block loans of library materials. Since April, as part of the Pilot Programme for Promotion of Local Publications and Reading Culture, additional content on local publications, such as book cover images and summaries, has been incorporated in HKPL's online catalogue.

Reference and Information Services

Professional reference and information services are available at the Central Library and the public libraries of City Hall, Kowloon, Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun. The Central Library's reference collection contains special collections about Hong Kong and international organisations, while the City Hall Public Library has collections about business and industry, creativity and innovation resources, and the Basic Law. The Kowloon, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun libraries provide collections on educational resources, sports and fitness, modern living, and food and nutrition respectively.

Information Technology and Digital Library Services

Online services are integral to the public libraries' reference and information services. The libraries provide more than 1,900 computers giving public access to their electronic resources and the internet. For remote internet access, 378,100 e-books are available to registered

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