Hong Kong's public libraries have expanded their digital collections by over 60 percent since 2019, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said.

Law told lawmakers on Wednesday that e-book inventory grew from 330,000 items in 2019 to about 540,000, with checkouts surging from 960,000 in 2019 to 2.32 million in 2024.

Foot traffic to physical libraries rebounded post-pandemic, with visits rising from 21.49 million in 2023 to 23.83 million in 2024. Physical book loans also rose from 28.75 million to 28.97 million items during the same period.

E-book loans dipped from 2.56 million in 2023 to 2.32 million in 2024 as more readers returned to borrowing physical copies.

New library registrations totaled 43,000 in 2023 and 38,000 in 2024, while the number of active borrowers of physical materials stood at 620,000 and 600,000, respectively.

The government maintained its annual spending on library materials at around HK$100 million for the 2023-24 and 24-25 fiscal years, accounting for seven percent of total library expenditures.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has implemented a strategy plan since 2020, focusing on library facility upgrades, public awareness campaigns for both physical and digital resources, and technology integration.

When designing new libraries, the LCSD studies models from mainland China and overseas to create community hubs tailored to local demographics.

Law also noted ongoing efforts to modernize operations with a smart library system, including radio-frequency identification technology for automated sorting of returned books across branches. High-capacity libraries like the Hong Kong Central Library will receive dedicated sorting machines.

Law said future plans include adopting artificial intelligence to further streamline services.

（Ayra Wang)

HK e-book collection soars 60pc as libraries expand digital access