Taipa library operational on trial next week

Ung Vai Meng describes the new space

Taipa’s first library will be opened to the general public on a trial basis next Wednesday, offering a collection of around 150,000 books for the city’s library-goers. The new space was presented to the press yesterday by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), whose representatives highlighted the library’s spacious area (easily accessible to citizens) and considerate family-friendly facilities, as well as its significant collection of foreign-language books.
Occupying a total area of 2,200 square meters, the library is situated at the basement level of one of Taipa’s recently opened central parks, where a large spiral staircase leading down to the library has been established. The library is considered by the IC to be the city’s biggest public library in terms of facilities.
It is comprised of a general reading area, newspaper area and a multimedia room. Other highlights include what the IC’s department head called a “library for children” – a section occupying one-third of the entire building’s area that is exclusively tailor-made for kids, and which features a little theater. This particular section also contains such features and facilities as parent-child-friendly lavatories, a nursing room and a parking area for strollers.
However, currently owing to understaffing, it is expected that the library will only become fully operational mid-year, when all positions there are filled. Several areas of the library will remain closed, alongside some of its services that are still not yet available, despite having staff allocated from other public libraries to maintain operation for its opening.
The head of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng, hoped that the library could meet Taipa’s public demand for such a space. Meanwhile, he encouraged locals to make frequent visits to the library to broaden their knowledge. “I hope that this library in Taipa can serve its biggest function, as while we know that libraries [provide] leisure and comfy environments in contemporary society, they are also crucial in nourishing local talents. Our children and citizens could acquire knowledge through reading and interaction [there],” said Ung, also describing the new establishment as a “parlor” for the citizens in Taipa.
He added that libraries currently under the management of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau will come under the management of the IC later this year.
Among all the public libraries, Taipa’s is the first one in the city to adopt the advanced RFID system, used for archiving and controlling the flow of books and documents in libraries. Furthermore, other automatic equipment available inside the library includes sterilizers for books, book scanners and word magnifiers. During the trial period, its opening hours will be from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays.
Since Taipa is largely populated with English speakers, the library has enhanced its catalogue of English-language publications, as well as making 10 out of 54 computers available with English interfaces. Various themed workshops and exhibitions, talks and art education activities will be rolled out soon. We will also see various themed plays organized at the children’s theater later this month. Staff reporter

Aspect of the library