Latest arrangements on services of Hong Kong Public Libraries

28.05.2021

All public libraries have resumed normal opening hours. Children’s computer facilities including the Kid’s Internet & Digital Service workstations and Children’s Multimedia Room, and the Toy Library of the HKCL will be reopened with effect from 31 May (Monday). For opening hours of individual public libraries and mobile stops, please refer to Locate Libraries

Special Measures

In the interest of public health, to avoid people gathering and to foster social distancing, the LCSD will continue to adopt special measures at the library facilities. Measures include limiting the number of people entering the library. Members of the public need to use hand sanitiser and will be subject to body temperature checks before admission. They also need to wear their own masks in the library. Children aged under 12 are allowed to enter the library to use library facilities and services, and participate in extension activities, only when accompanied by an adult. The library will strengthen the cleaning and disinfection of the facilities in the library, ensure the normal operation of the ventilation system in order to maintain indoor air circulation.

"LeaveHomeSafe" QR codes are displayed at entrance of libraries and students’ study rooms for patrons to scan and record their visit. Users are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code or register their names, contact number and the date and time of the visit before being allowed to enter the libraries and students’ study rooms for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. Members of the public who opt for registering their personal information at the scene, the venue staff will immediately call the contact number provided to verify the authenticity of information. Appeals are made to members of the public to download and install the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app in advance and scan the QR code with the app. (Details)

The LCSD will pay close attention to the latest development of the pandemic and review or revise the above reopening arrangements in due course, and adjust relevant preventive measures as and when necessary.

Renewals and Overdue Fine

The maximum number of renewal maintains as five consecutive times except for item which is reserved by another reader. All static and mobile libraries have resumed the calculation of overdue fines from 5 March and 3 May 2021 respectively. Except mobile libraries, overdue charges will also be levied on the closing days of any individual library. Patrons are advised to renew their borrowed items on time or return the overdue items as soon as possible to avoid incurring overdue fines.

Computer facilities

About half of the workstations of Internet & Digital Service and Computer and Information Centre/Area, if any, of the libraries have been reopened earlier for booking. About half workstations of the Kid’s Internet & Digital Service and the Children’s Multimedia Room will be resumed for use by children under the age of 12 with effect from 31 May. The booking arrangement for computer facilities has been resumed to normal. Reservation to use computer workstations can be made 7 days in advance through the 24 hours online booking system (for Internet & Digital Services and Kid’s Internet & Digital Services workstations only), by telephone or in person during library opening hours.  Each patron may reserve a maximum of two sessions per day during the library opening hours. First-come, first-served. Please refer to the attached list for the telephone numbers for making reservation.

Students’ Study Room

The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) students' study rooms (SSR) will resume normal opening hours with effect from 1 June. The number of seats in SSR is adjusted to about half to control the number of users. List of the SSR is attached here. For opening hours of the SSR, please refer to Locate Libraries

The HKPL may change and alter the opening hours or admission arrangement of SSR in response to public health concerns or other special circumstances when necessary. Please note the latest announcements of the HKPL.

Book drops and Self-service Library Stations

Following the resumption of normal opening hours of all public libraries from 19 April, all book drops of HKPL have resumed to the normal operation and remain closed during library opening hours. Loan records of items returned through book drops, including non-print material such as cassette or CD, will be updated on the next opening day. MTR book drop service (including service at MTR Central, Kowloon Tong and Nam Cheong stations) continue to maintain normal service. 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 provide round-the-clock library services for borrowing, return, payment and pickup of reserved library materials.

Extension Activities

Public libraries are resuming library programmes from 1 May with implementation of enhanced precautionary measures.

Toy Library

The Toy Library is located at the second floor of the Hong Kong Central Library, aims at serving children aged eight or below and their parents. The Toy Library will reopen on 31 May, with  special play sessions, reduced number of users per play session and revised application arrangement.  For details, please visit the Toy Library's webpage

Other Services

The following online services will continue to be provided:

With the resumption of normal opening hours of all public libraries, will book drop service be changed?
Subsequent to the resumption of normal opening hours of all public libraries from 19 April, all book drops of the HKPL have resumed to the normal operation, i.e. will be open during library closing hours. Loan records of items returned through book drops, including non-print material such as cassette or CD, will be updated on the next opening day. Readers are invited to return borrowed items to the libraries directly during library opening hours.

How to return borrowed library materials which cannot be renewed? Will overdue fines be incurred for overdue items?
Readers can return borrowed items to all re-opened public libraries, or through library book drops (including the book drops located at MTR Central, Kowloon Tong and Nam Cheong) and self-service library stations.  All static libraries and mobile libraries have resumed the calculation of overdue fines from 5 March and 3 May 2021 respectively. Except mobile libraries, overdue charges will also be levied on the closing days of any individual library. Patrons are advised to renew their borrowed items on time or return the overdue items as soon as possible to avoid incurring overdue fines.

Will all computer facilities in library be resumed?
All computer facilities for adults have been resumed earlier while the Kid’s Internet & Digital Service and the Children’s Multimedia Room will be resumed for use by children under the age of 12 with effect from 31 May. In the interest of public health, to avoid people gathering and to foster social distancing, the number of workstations have been adjusted to about half for booking.  Booking arrangement for use has been resumed to normal. Reservation to use computer workstations can be made 7 days in advance through the 24 hours online booking system (for Internet & Digital Services and Kid’s Internet & Digital Services workstations only), by telephone or in person during library opening hours. Each patron may reserve a maximum of two sessions per day during the library opening hours. First-come, first-served.

Why patrons are required to use "LeaveHomeSafe" app for admission to public libraries and students’ study room? Are patrons without smart phones not allowed to use the library services?
To tie in with the government's epidemic preventive measures, users of public libraries and students’ study room are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code or register their names, contact number and the date and time of the visit for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. For users who opt for registering their personal information at the scene, the venue staff will immediately call the contact number provided to verify the authenticity of information.

Will the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app position its users and collect personal data in users’ mobile phone?
The "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile app will not use positioning services or any other data of the users' mobile phones. Venue check-in data will be encrypted and saved on users' devices only. Such data will not be uploaded to the Government or any other systems. Please call 1823 for any enquiry.