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SCMP Reporter

HONGKONG'S first public library opened in 1962, when City Hall began lending books.

  In those days, the New Territories was still relatively unpopulated, and it was not until 1974 that the number of people there warranted their own library.

  It was opened in Tsuen Wan in the Fuk Loi Chuen low-cost housing estate.

  A stone's throw away from today's new central library, it provided the town's residents with books for nearly 20 years until the demand threatened to overwhelm its capacity, and the Regional Council decided to replace it with a suitable library for the modern town.

  However, most of the staff have moved with the library across Castle Peak Road to work in the new library.

  Since its establishment in 1986, the Regional Council has placed great emphasis on the provision of public libraries.

  On its formation, it took over those that had previously been operated in its area by the Government, and now the council manages 22 permanent public libraries spread throughout its nine districts.

  They vary in size from small district libraries, each with less than 10,000 books, such as Sha Tau Kok on the border and Mui Wo on Lantau Island, to the massive central libraries at Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan - each with over 250,000 books.

  In addition, three mobile libraries, each based on one of the central libraries, goes to villages whose inhabitants do not have easy access to a library.

  Between them, the 25 libraries have a total stock of over 1.73 million books and audio-visual materials - enough to satisfy the most avid reader.

  Last year, more than six million items were checked out for home reading, and a further 14 million were read in the libraries.

  The number of items is constantly changing. The council's budget for new books and audio visual materials is $21 million this year and, by 1997/98, the council is planning to have one item per head of population in its region. The present population is 2.6 million.

  The total membership of the libraries, which is not restricted to people living in the Regional Council's area, is over 800,000.

  Apart from providing a free lending service, the council's libraries organise special activities in the form of book exhibitions, story hours and library visits which help to promote its services and attract new readers.

  Other activities include film shows, hi-fi concerts, and interest clubs. Such entertainment is standard in all but the smallest of libraries, and it helps to attract people to one of the cultural focal points of the town.

  The Regional Council has plans to expand its library services by constructing new libraries to match the growth of the region's population.

  The new central library is part of the Regional Council's plan to have over 30 libraries, including mobile libraries, in operation by 1997.

  A new library will open next year in the northern district near Sheung Shui, and this will be followed by another one on Tsing Yi Island in 1995/96.



Facilities serve 800,000 members