Latest arrangements on services of Hong Kong Public Libraries
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23.09.2020
The Hong Kong Central Library, six major libraries, and 31 district libraries have been partially reopened earlier (17 September). From 29 September, the remaining 32 small libraries and all mobile libraries will resume service. All reopened public libraries and their Students’ Study Rooms will resume normal opening hours.
In the interest of public health, the library will continue adopt special measures. Cleaning session will be arranged during the opening hours and seating will be reduced to avoid gathering. 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. 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.
Opening Hours
Please refer to the attached list. For enquiries, please contact the staff of respective library: Locate Libraries.
Facilities to be provided
Library facilities to be opened include adult library, children's library, newspapers and periodicals area, reference library, Students’ Study Rooms (not applicable to Hong Kong Central Library, City Hall Public Library, North Point Public Library and Tai Hing Public Library) and young adult library, discussion room and music practice room which are provided at some libraries.
Computer facilities
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 Service workstations are resumed. 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 opening hours of the respective library. 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 (applicable from now to 1:00 p.m. of 28 September).
With the reopening of public libraries with normal opening hours from 29 September onwards, please refer to the attached list for details on the reservation of computer facilities (applicable from 1:00 p.m., 28 September).
Students’ Study Room
All students’ study rooms will also resume normal opening hours from 29 September with arrangement of cleaning sessions and reduced seating. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please refer to the attached list of the reopened students’ study room and the service hours.
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 and Return of Library Materials
The maximum number of renewal is resumed up to five consecutive times from 23 September except the borrowed item is already reserved by another reader.
With the resumption of book drop service and self-service library stations, and reopening of public libraries with normal opening hours from 29 September onwards, counting of overdue fines shall be resumed from 19 October 2020. Readers are advised to return the overdue items as soon as possible in order not to incur overdue fines.
Library Programmes
Public libraries will also plan to resume some library programmes with implementation of enhanced precautionary measures.
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.
Subsequent to the resumption of normal opening hours of all public libraries from 29 September, all book drop will be resumed to the normal operation, including to remain closed during library opening hours, and to update loan records on the next opening 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.
As the book drop service, self-service library stations and most public libraries have resumed or reopened, and all libraries will resume normal opening hours from 29 September, counting of overdue fines shall be resumed from 19 October 2020. Readers are advised to return the overdue items as soon as possible in order not to incur overdue fines.
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?
Previousy, 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.
As the book drop service, self-service library stations and most public libraries have resumed or reopened, and all libraries will resume normal opening hours from 29 September, counting of overdue fines shall be resumed from 19 October 2020. Hence, the issue of overdue notices was resumed to remind readers to return the overdue items.
Will pick-up service of reserved library materials be resumed in all 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. The remaining 32 small libraries and mobile libraries will resume service from 29 September. 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 will be 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.
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 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. Kids’ Internet & Digital Service Workstations remain suspended until further notice.
When will the online booking service for use of computer facilities be resumed?
With the reopening of public libraries with normal opening hours from 29 September onwards, patrons may make reservation through the 24 hours online booking system (for Internet & Digital Service workstations only), by telephone or in person during library opening hours, for use of computer workstations 7 days in advance starting from 1:00 pm on 28 September. Please refer to the attached list for details. Kids’ Internet & Digital Service Workstations remain suspended.
