Archive Consultation Papers and Consultancy Reports Information Technology for Learning in a New Era Five-Year Strategy 1998/99 to 2002/03

Annex F Provision of IT Equipment in Community Facilities Existing provision Planned enhancement Libraries managed by the Provisional Urban Council (1 central library, 17 district libraries, 17 small libraries, and 3 mobile libraries) A total of 22 microcomputers for training purpose in the City Hall Library and the Kowloon Central Library A total of 8 multi-media workstations for information and self-learning through CD-ROMs in the central library and 2 of the district libraries A total of 189 microcomputers for use as Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) terminals to search the library catalogue at various branch libraries A total of 52 microcomputers which provide access to a CD-ROM network for searching networked and standalone CD-ROM databases and the Internet at various branch libraries According to the Five-year Forecast of the Urban Council: Open up the microcomputer rooms in the City Hall Library and the Kowloon Central Library to the public for using word-processing software and other popular application software by March 1999 Add 60 microcomputers to provide multi-media workstations at all central/district libraries by mid 1999 Add 33 microcomputers to extend the CD-ROM network to district/small libraries by December 1998 The Hong Kong Central Library (to be opened in late 2000) According to the Five-year Forecast of the Urban Council : Provide 35 microcomputers for public use to promote computer literacy Provide 94 OPAC terminals, 396 LAN workstations for CD-ROMs and Internet access, and 90 ATM terminals for audio-on-demand and video-on-demand access Provide a multi-media room with 20 workstations in the Children Library Libraries managed by the Provisional Regional Council (3 central libraries, 8 district libraries, 11 small libraries, and 5 mobile libraries) A total of 8 microcomputers for public users to search for information in CD-ROMs in the 3 central libraries and 5 of the district libraries A total of 14 microcomputers for public users to have access to the Internet in the 3 central libraries and 8 district libraries A total of 117 microcomputers for use as OPAC terminals to search the library catalogue at various branch libraries A total of 4 microcomputer rooms in the 3 central libraries and 1 district library, each with 11 microcomputers for conducting computer courses and practical sessions On a pilot basis, install 3 additional datalines in the microcomputer room of one of the central libraries with a view to strengthening the Internet service. The microcomputer room will be opened to the public for free access to the Internet and use of popular application software by March 1999. Upon successful implementation, the above service will be extended to the other 3 libraries with microcomputer rooms and the 2 new libraries to be opened in 1999/2000. 222 Children and Youth Centres 1 microcomputer for administrative use in each Children and Youth Centre Provide 2 to 3 additional micro-computers in each Children and Youth Centre for programme use under a modernisation programme starting from June 1998. Hong Kong Science Museum 30 microcomputers at a computer classroom for conducting various self-training and training classes 32 microcomputers at the Computer Laboratory for public access to the Internet and educational computer programmes 53 microcomputers at the Exhibition Hall for educational programmes specific to the exhibition themes 2 microcomputers at the Exhibition Hall for demonstration