Mobile libraries brushed up

Readers living in big and small housing estates may have recently come across three lovely painted mobile library vans decorating in a world of books in a colourful mixture of blue, green and purple.

They are the HKPL's newly refurbished Mobile Libraries One, Three and Eight. Mobile One provides services in Tsuen Wan and Tsing Yi districts; Mobile Three in Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and the northern New Territories; and Mobile Eight in housing estates on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. These new mobile libraries are part of the HKPL's continued effort to extend and upgrade library services to the newly developed, densely populated and remote residential areas.

The new designs are masterpieces of local-renowned designer Mr Freeman Lau Siu-hong who conceptualizes the blue liveries of the mobile library vans as a world of books in which the joy of reading is as enjoyable as flying into a world of knowledge where readers can explore its boundless realm in different interests. The designs also aim to make the vehicles more eye-catching in bustling streets.

An image of book world

Mobile Library Eight design symbolizes the role of a library as a knowledge vessel.

The livery of Mobile Library One features some books flying in the azure sky to accentuate a simple and refreshing mood for readers. Mobile Library Three uses the vast universe as background where books have been transformed into shooting stars stripping across the night sky.

Mobile Library Eight is the longest of the trio in which the HKPL's mission statement - to enrich knowledge and support lifelong learning is highlighted in the shape of a space shuttle to symbolize the role of a library as a knowledge vessel. It also implies that books are no longer the only channel for acquiring knowledge and information in the 21st century.

Serving community for 27 years

Mobile Library Eight design symbolizes the role of a library as a knowledge vessel.

Mobile Library Three uses the vast universe as background.

The mobile library service was first introduced in 1976 with the aims to supplement services provided by district libraries located in densely populated areas and to extend library services to the newly developed and remote areas where static libraries are not yet provided. The target users are children, housewives and the elderly. Each mobile library carries a stock of 2,000-3,000 items, ranging from Chinese to English books and audio CDs in subjects of general studies and leisure. It also has its own replenishment base to enable staff to change the lending stock in accordance with the interests of the district it serves.

The HKPL currently operates eight mobile libraries servicing at 74 stops across the territory including some of the outlying islands. All refurbished mobile libraries are fully installed with the HKPL's Online Public Access Catalogue system to facilitate readers' search and reservation for library materials from the network. It is expected that the whole refurbishment project will be completed by the end of this year.

Wider mobile service network

To cater for the growing needs in new towns and the increasing usage in some densely populated areas, the HKPL has opened five new mobile library stops over the past year. A review on the overall mobile library services was also conducted which found usage of the services satisfactory. In 2000 and 2001, the total number of items borrowed exceeded 900,000 and the figure broke one million last year.

The HKPL plans to open six more new mobile stops and to add one new mobile van to its fleet. The ninth mobile library is scheduled for operations in early 2004. Details of the servicing network and opening hours of all mobile libraries are available at the HKPL website at www.hkpl.gov.hk.

Each mobile library carries a stock of 2,000-3,000 Chinese and English books and audio CDs for lendings.	All refurbished mobile libraries are installed with the OPAC system.