Latest arrangements on services of Hong Kong Public Libraries

22.09.2020

The services of public libraries will resume gradually. From 17 September, the Hong Kong Central Library, six major libraries and 31 district libraries have been partially reopened with limited services, including lending and returning of library materials, and picking up of library materials reserved. In addition, newspapers and periodicals services will be resumed from 23 September.

Libraries reopened

‧ Hong Kong Central Library

‧ Six major libraries (namely City Hall, Kowloon, Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library)

‧ 31 district libraries (namely Aberdeen, Chai Wan, Cheung Chau, Fa Yuen Street, Fanling, Lai Chi Kok, Lam Tin, Lockhart Road, Ma On Shan, Ngau Chi Wan, Ngau Tau Kok, North Kwai Chung, North Point, Po On Road, Quarry Bay, San Po Kong, Sai Kung, Shek Tong Tsui, Sheung Shui, Shui Wo Street, South Kwai Chung, Tai Hing, Tai Po, Tiu Keng Leng, To Kwa Wan, Tseung Kwan O, Tsing Yi, Tung Chung, Yau Ma Tei, Yuen Chau Kok and Yuen Long Public Library)

Facilities provided

Library facilities opened include adult library, young adult library (only applicable to Hong Kong Central Library and Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library), children's library, reference library, some workstations of the Computer and Information Centres (not applicable to Cheung Chau, Lai Chi Kok, Ngau Tau Kok, North Point, San Po Kong, Sai Kung, Shek Tong Tsui, South Kwai Chung, Tai Hing and Yau Ma Tei Public Library) and Internet & Digital Services workstations, and Students’ Study Rooms (not applicable to Hong Kong Central Library, City Hall Public Library, North Point Public Library and Tai Hing Public Library). Newspapers and periodicals area will resume on 23 September with reduced number of seats. The Toy Library and Children’s Multimedia Room of the HKCL, the Kid’s Internet & Digital Service workstations at other public libraries remain closed.

In the interest of public health, to avoid people gathering and to foster social distancing, the LCSD adopts special measures at the library facilities reopened. Measures include implementation of special opening hours and limiting the number of people entering the library. Members of the public will be subject to body temperature checks before admission and need to wear their own masks in the library. Children aged under 12 are allowed to enter the library and use library facilities and services (including Students’ Study Room) only when accompanied by an adult. Cleaning sessions will be arranged during the opening hours.

The library will strengthen the cleaning and disinfection of the facilities in the library, ensure the normal operation of the ventilation system, and maintain indoor air circulation. The LCSD will continue to review the situation and adjust relevant preventive measures as and when necessary.

Special opening hours

The above mentioned libraries implement special opening hours. Details of the library opening are listed in the table below. Please contact the staff of respective library for details: Locate Libraries

Computer facilities

The number of workstations for Internet & Digital Service and Computer Information Centre, if any, of the above libraries have been reduced. Patrons may make reservation by phone for use of computer workstation (except Internet & Digital Service Workstations of Hong Kong Central Library) on the current or next service day, during the special opening hours of the respective library (i.e. Monday to Saturday: 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Sunday and Public Holiday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). Patrons may reserve a maximum of two sessions per day during the library opening hours on a first come, first served basis. The duration of each session is one hour. Kids’ Internet & Digital Service Workstations remain suspended. Please refer to the attached list for the telephone numbers for making reservation.

Students’ Study Room

The students’ study rooms of the above libraries also implement special opening hours. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Number of seats has been reduced about half to allow distancing in the seating arrangement. Please refer to the attached list of the reopened students’ study room and the service hours as follows:

Book drops and Self-service Library Stations

Book drop service of Hong Kong Public Libraries (including service at MTR Central, Kowloon Tong and Nam Cheong stations), and the self-service library stations located at Island East Sports Centre Sitting-out Area, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Tsuen Nam Road, Tai Wai have been resumed on 2 September.

Renewals

With the resumption of book drop service and self-service library stations, and reopening of the Hong Kong Central Library, six major libraries and 31 district libraries, the maximum number of renewal will be resumed to five consecutive times from 23 September except for item which is reserved by another reader.

Other public libraries and their students’ study rooms (if any), and mobile libraries will continue to be temporarily closed until further notice. During the period, library programmes held in all venues will be cancelled. Overdue fines will not be generated for late return of library materials, due date of reservation pick up will be extended accordingly. The following online services will continue to be provided:

Will book drop service be resumed in all libraries?
The book drop service of all Hong Kong public libraries has been resumed on 2 September. During the period when the public library services are not fully resumed, the book drop service is available 24 hours or during the opening hours of the premises where it is located. Please refer to the attached timetable. The concerned loan record will be updated within 48 hours. In addition, the book drop service at MTR Central, Kowloon Tong and Nam Cheong stations has also resumed on the same day.

What kind of services will be resumed at self-service library stations?
Self-service library stations have resumed round-the-clock library services from 2 September to provide borrowing, return, payment and pickup of reserved library materials.

What should a reader do if the borrowed library materials cannot be renewed, due to reservation made by other readers or the renewal limit being reached, when some of the public libraries remain closed? Can the overdue fines be waived?
From 17 September, readers may return library materials to library book drops, self-service library stations or the re-opened libraries. During the period when the public library services are not fully resumed, overdue fines will not be incurred.

According to library notice, counting of overdue fines shall be resumed from 20 July. If some libraries shall continue to be temporarily closed, what should readers do with the borrowed library materials? Can the overdue fines be waived?
From 17 September, readers may return library materials to library book drops, self-service library stations or the re-opened libraries. During the period when the public library services are not fully resumed, overdue fines will not be incurred. Counting of overdue fine from 20 July has been suspended until further notice. Readers may continue to renew the borrowed library materials (whether overdue or not), unless there are reservations on them by other readers, and the maximum number of renewal for each loan item will be resumed to five consecutive times from 23 September.

Why overdue notices were still sent to remind readers of the overdue items and overdue fines if overdue fines will not be incurred during the period of service suspension?
Currently, library notices will only be sent to patrons who have registered for the Library Email Notification Service reminding them to return the overdue items.  As some public libraries are still temporarily closed, no overdue fines will be incurred during the period of service suspension.

With the reopening of the Hong Kong Central Library, six major libraries and 31 district libraries offering limited services, will pick-up service of reserved library materials be resumed at these libraries?
The Hong Kong Central Library, six major libraries and 31 district libraries have been reopened on 17 September to provide lending services and picking up of library materials reserved to public. Readers may collect their reserved items in person at the aforesaid libraries that have been selected for pick-up. The pick-up expiry date of reserved items awaiting for collection at the aforesaid libraries has been further extended for fourteen days starting from the date of reopening. Readers can check the revised expiry date by login to their online patron accounts or through “My Library” mobile app.

What should readers do if their selected pick-up location of the reserved items continue to be temporarily closed?
The pick-up expiry date of reserved items will be extended through the library system during the period of service suspension of public libraries that are still under temporary closure. Readers can check the revised expiry date by login to their online patron accounts or through “My Library” mobile app. Readers can also contact the library selected as the pick-up location for enquiries.

Will all computer facilities in library be resumed?
In the interest of public health, to avoid people gathering and to foster social distancing, the number of the workstations in Computer Information Centers and Internet & Digital Service Workstations (except Kids’ Internet & Digital Service Workstations) reopened will be reduced. Patrons can make reservations by telephone in advance to use the workstations (not applicable to Internet & Digital Service Workstations of Hong Kong Central Library) on the current or the next service day. Each patron may reserve a maximum of two sessions per day during the library opening hours, on a first-come, first-served basis. The duration of each session is one hour. Reservation will be closed 15 minutes before each session. Please refer to the attached list for the telephone booking numbers.

Why reservation service is not available for Internet & Digital Service Workstations of Hong Kong Central Library?
There are relatively more Internet & Digital Service Workstations, available on almost all opened floors in the Hong Kong Central Library for use by patrons who have been admitted to the Library on a first come, first served basis.