Second Largest Public Library In the City Opens In Tin Shui Wai

With a floor area of 6,100 square meters, the eight-story library is located in the brand new Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Leisure and Cultural Building. It contains 320,000 books and multimedia resources, as well as a special section dedicated to teen readers from the ages of 12 to 17. The library is close to nearby residential areas, and is easily accessible by public transport.

To create a traditional yet modern outlook, architects chose old building materials such as bricks, fair-faced concrete, wooden screens, iron netting and rusty iron. With an open space atrium and cross-floor courtyard design, readers will find rooms with curtained walls, allowing natural sunlight to flood into the building. There are also flowerbeds, as well as a green roof, where readers can enjoy a panoramic view across Tin Shui Wai. Readers are encouraged to take books to the outdoor courtyard to enjoy reading under a natural environment.

Built to meet the needs of the growing population across different age groups in the Yuen Long district, the library is the first in the city to offer an outdoor reading area, says senior librarian of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Evon Shum.

“We wanted to create a space where readers would feel relaxed while they’re reading,” she said in an interview with news.gov.hk. Other facilities in the building include a children’s library, a multimedia library, as well as a computer center.

Following its opening, the library is set to be hosting a series of exhibitions and talks in the next few months.