Tsuen Wan Public Library () is located in

Tsuen Wan Tsuen Wan (formerly also spelled Tsun Wan) is a New towns of Hong Kong, town built on a bay in the New Territories West (constituency), western New Territories of Hong Kong, opposite Tsing Yi, Tsing Yi Island across Rambler Channel. The market ...

New Territories The New Territories (N.T., Traditional Chinese characters, Chinese: ) is one of the three areas of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory, and contains around half of the population of H ...

, Hong Kong. Opened in 1993, it is one of the major libraries of the

Hong Kong Public Libraries The Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL; ) is a system of 70 static and 12 mobile public libraries in Hong Kong. Offering a total collection of 14.35 million items, the system is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The net ...

system.

History

The original Tsuen Wan Public Library occupied the ground floor of Wing Hong House, Fuk Loi Estate, around 200 metres from the current library. This was the first public library in the New Territories. At the time, the Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung area was growing rapidly under Hong Kong's

new town New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz (South Korean band), The Boyz * New (album), ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** New (Paul McCartney song), "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * New (EP), ''New'' (EP), ...

development programme. The current Tsuen Wan Public Library is part of a building complex that also includes the Tsuen Wan Government Offices. The HK$258-million contract to construct the complex was jointly signed by the

Architectural Services Department The Architectural Services Department is a department of the Government of Hong Kong responsible for the design and construction of many public facilities throughout the territory. It is subordinate to the Works Branch of the Development B ...

and the contractor on 22 June 1990. The library was planned and managed by the public libraries service of the former Regional Council, and was the largest public library in Hong Kong when it opened. Originally known as the Tsuen Wan Central Library, the new facility was formally inaugurated on 23 July 1993 by Governor

Chris Patten Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes (; born 12 May 1944), is a British politician who was the Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1990 to 1992, and the 28th and last Governor of Hong Kong from 1992 to 1997. He was made a lif ...

, who gave a speech calling libraries "one of the most important community services". In 1997, the Tsuen Wan Central Library and Sha Tin Central Library were cited as the two most heavily patronised public libraries in the territory. In 2000, management of the library was taken over by the newly formed

Leisure and Cultural Services Department The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), is a department in the Government of Hong Kong. It reports to the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau, headed by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism. It provides leisure and cultural ...

(LCSD) after the Regional Council was disbanded.

Description

The library occupies three floors of the Low Block of the Tsuen Wan Government Offices. It has a total floor area of around . The library includes an adult library, children's library, reference library, multimedia library, newspapers and periodicals section, computer and information centre, students' study room, and extension activities room. In addition, it is home to two special collections: one on the history and culture of Tsuen Wan District, and another called the "Modern Living Collection" which includes resources on home design, domestic maintenance, and related subjects.

Expansion

The government is planning to renovate and expand the library. The proposal, estimated to cost HK$143.8 million, involves a renovation of the existing three library floors (3/F, 4/F, and 5/F) as well as the extension of the library into the 6/F and 7/F of the building. The latter floors are currently used as office and supporting space and are not open to the public. The

Home Affairs Bureau The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau () is a policy bureau of the Hong Kong Government. The bureau has general responsibility over local administration, with a remit covering youth affairs, family planning, women's affairs, social development, f ...

sought the support of the Legislative Council for the project in 2021.

Gallery

HK 荃灣公共圖書館 Tsuen Wan Public Library interior Jan 2017 Lnv2 (5).jpg, Children's library Tsuen Wan Public Library interior 201501.jpg, Multimedia section HK 荃灣公共圖書館 Tsuen Wan Public Library study room sign n opening hours Jan 2017 Lnv2.jpg, Entrance of students' study room

References

External links

* {{Public libraries in Hong Kong 1993 establishments in Hong Kong Libraries established in 1993 Public libraries in Hong Kong Regional Council of Hong Kong Tsuen Wan