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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)'s Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) website (www.hkpl.gov.hk) was selected today (April 12) as one of the winning websites in the 2013 Meritorious Website Contest, organised by the Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration with the aim of encouraging young people to visit healthy websites.
An LCSD spokesman said, "For the wealth of information and e-Resources provided online, the HKPL website was again selected as one of the winners of the contest, as it was in 2005. It is very encouraging to win the contest again and the result is surely a recognition of the libraries' quality online services.
"To enhance public library services in the digital era, the HKPL website has been revamped recently with a fresh new look. The new website features a modern layout and offers a more simple and user-friendly interface, through which members of the public can access online e-services and library materials, enjoying the convenience of a 'library without walls'."
By visiting the new website, readers can easily access the latest information on library activities and newly added library items, as well as enjoy a wide range of online library services including searching the library catalogue, media-on-demand, reserving or renewing library materials, checking readers' personal loan records, applying for e-mail notification, browsing e-books or electronic resources, watching thematic talks on archiving, booking a workstation and checking library addresses and opening hours. Readers can now explore conveniently on the new e-Resources Thematic Page all the LCSD libraries' electronic resources, including over 60 e-databases, 180,000 e-books and 750,000 tracks of classical music, jazz, folk songs and Chinese music. They can also share with friends their favourite books and library resources via the social media sharing feature on the new website.
The "My Account" and "Ask a Librarian" shortcut buttons enable direct access to readers' accounts and enquiries on library services. The dynamic webpage for kids and the new page for teens offer easy access to recommended books and activities. The new database function makes it simple to search through various library extension activities by type or date. The website also displays the booklist attractively with book covers.
Last year, the HKPL website recorded over 9.5 million visitors and 129 million hit counts. In addition, over 18 million library items were renewed and reserved via the website.
Ends/Saturday, April 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:00
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