Ung Vai Meng (center) speaks at the inaugural session of the “Cultural Meetings”
The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) is proposing an extended working schedule of some public libraries, including the Red Market Library that might soon be open 24 hours per day.
The information was presented by Ms Tang Mei Lin, chief of the new Department of Management of Public Libraries, former Director of the Macau Central Library, who stated that the final decision will be made in accordance with the findings of a University of Macau study commissioned by the IC.
Tang was speaking at the first of a newly initiated series of conference sessions between the Bureau headed by Ung Vai Meng and the press held last Friday at the Library Sir Robert Ho Tung. According to Mr Ung the purpose of the sessions was to offer a new platform of communication between the IC and the press. It is has not been decided how often these meetings will occur, but the “Cultural Meetings” will be held in a different cultural spaces throughout the territory.
The extended library working schedule is one of the outcomes of the recent restructuring of the IC that will integrate the libraries previously under the management of the Civic And Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM). The unified system will allow, for example, the sharing of books across all libraries.
The first meeting between the IC and the press was attended by all of the heads of the new IC Departments. The president of the bureau also explained the new structure and reorganization in addition to a debriefing of some of the activities held throughout 2015.
Ung said the IC’s “target is to contribute to making Macau a more sustainable city,” in which they hope to be able to count on the support of the media.
The IC head also mentioned that the new structure, created according to the 2016 Policy Address guidelines, includes around 200 new staff members that will contribute in several areas to improving its service.
Chan Hou Seng, director of the Macau Museum of Art (MAM) said that the IC is keen to promote more education in the arts. “We want to promote Artistic Education,” said the head of the MAM, stating that only by improving the knowledge of the Macau population first, and arts and art appreciation to tourists second can we succeed in promoting art events.
public consultation on heritage sites listing
The Macau Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) is holding a public consultation for the first group of buildings and sites proposed to be heritage listed. The consultation that began December 28 will be open until February 25 and, as is customary of public sessions, will be three in total. From the first group of buildings proposed by IC are four Foc Tac Chi Temples respectively located on Horta da Mitra, Rua do Teatro, Rua do Patane, and Rua do Almirante Sérgio; Three Sections of the Old City Walls located on S. Francisco road, Visconde de S. Januário road, and next to Penha Hill Church; and buildings at 28 Rua Manuel de Arriaga, Old Chong Sai Pharmacy, Old Residence of General Ye Ting, Old Cattle Municipal stables and Kennel, and the “Blue House” Building at 6 Estrada do Cemitério. The first public session was held on Saturday, January 9 and the next two sessions are scheduled for January 16 and 23.
No timeline for new Central Library
During Friday’s meeting, the chief of the department of Management of Public Libraries, Tang Mei Lin said that a timeline is yet to be set for the construction of the new Central Library.
The project has been presented by the government for a long time as a way to revitalize the space of the “Old Court” in Praia Grande area and is in its “second stage” of construction, after the initial Design, advised Tang. According to her, this second stage will lead to the “Conception Project” work that is currently in the hands of the Public Works Bureau.
Ms Tang advanced that although there is no set deadline for the conclusion of the project it should include three different parts. Two of these are in the old court building that will see some sections of the premises demolished, maintaining the façade and the original structure, and a third part will include the Judiciary Police (PJ) building which is intended to be transformed into a museum.
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