The public libraries under the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym) suffered different damage degrees due to typhoon “Hato”. Following a detailed inspection and a series of cleaning works, ten of the public libraries have resumed normal operations, namely: the Macao Central Library, Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, IACM Building Library, S. Lourenço Library, Ilha Verde Library, Mong Há Library, Wong Ieng Kuan Library in Areia Preta Urban Park, Wong Ieng Kuan Children’s Library in Areia Preta Urban Park, Taipa Library and Wong Ieng Kuan Library in Taipa. The Library in Ho Yin Garden will re-open to the public on 31 August.
Additionally, due to the closure of the respective parks and the on-going large-scale tree clearing works carried out by the responsible departments, the Wong Ieng Kuan Library in Dr. Sun Yat Sen Municipal Park and the Wong Ieng Kuan Library in Luís de Camões Garden are temporarily closed and will remain so until the respective parks re-open.
On the other hand, the facilities of the Patane Library, Red Market Library, Coloane Library and the Mobile Library have suffered severe damage. Aside from cleaning the library facilities and library materials due to the floods, the internal equipment and electrical systems were damaged and it is necessary to carry out a comprehensive inspection as well as repair works. Currently, IC is intensifying the repair works in order to ensure the safety of internal facilities and allow the libraries to re-open to the public. The Patane Library and the Coloane Library are expected to resume normal operations in early September. Since the Red Market Library and the Mobile Library have suffered severe damage, the re-opening date of these two libraries will be announced as soon as the repair works have been concluded.
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