The newly-built Chai Wan Public Library opened on 19 December 2001 offering a comprehensive library service to the residents of Chai Wan. Located at 4 - 5/F, Chai Wan Municipal Services Building, 338 Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan Road and very near to various housing estates, the Library is a convenient place for the public to enjoy reading and self-learning.
The new Chai Wan Public Library occupies an area of 2,500 square meters, which is nearly two times the size of the old one. Its facilities include an adult library, a children's library, a quick reference section, a newspapers and periodicals section, an extension activities room, a students' study room, a multi-media library and a computer and information center. Also, self-charging terminals and book drop service are provided to facilitate the borrowing and returning of library materials.
A special feature of the Library is the provision of a coffee corner at the library for readers to take a break. This is the first district library to provide a coffee corner and the Hong Kong Public Libraries will introduce similar facilities to other new district libraries in the future.
The Chai Wan Public Library has a rich collection of updated reference materials covering a wide range of disciplines. In addition to an initial book stock of some 150,000 volumes of Chinese and English books, 9,000 compact discs and audio cassette tapes and 4,000 volumes of quick reference books are available.
Moreover, the public may access more than 150 titles of local and overseas newspapers and periodicals in the newspapers and periodicals section. Also, about 5,000 audio cassette tapes, compact discs, video cassette tapes, video discs, video compact discs and CD-ROMs are housed to satisfy the public needs.
In order to cope with the increasing demand for self-learning, the Library has 52 computer terminals for readers to gain access to the multimedia materials, the Internet and the CD-ROM search facilities. Twelve Online Public Access Catalogue terminals are also installed.
The Library will also organise extension activities from children's hours to interest clubs, reading programme activities and book displays to promote interest in reading.
The Chai Wan Public Library opens from 10 am to 7 pm from Mondays to
Thursday, closes on 9 pm on Friday, and 5 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and
public holidays. Students and members of cultural and educational
organisations who are interested to have a better understanding of the
Library's facilities and services are welcome to contact the Library for
group visits. For enquiries, please call 2921 5055.
Information and Public Relations Section (Film & Libraries)
Leisure and Cultural Services Department