When I was small, I longed to become a cinema usher so that I could watch movies for free every day. I also wanted to become a driver for a mobile library; in that way I could drive my library truck each day to every corner of the city, reading lots of books while spreading the fun of reading to everyone.
In the end I have achieved neither goals but there is somebody who has driven the library van for decades – driver Cheang Chou Chan of the Macao Central Library of Cultural Affairs Bureau. Over the past decades, Cheang has been driving the library van around the city, undertaking the fabulous job of spreading knowledge.
Retiring a few years ago, Cheang Chou Chan had served the Macao Central Library for over 30 years with his staff number being ‘5’ - signifying the long tenure of his service. Cheang cannot sit still even though he is retired, and travels whenever he has the opportunity. The love of travelling is also related to his reading habit: “I like reading travel books to know different places of the world. I can name which places in Japan are worth visiting even though I have never been to Japan”.
On 2nd October 1986, the mobile library was first put into operation, since then Cheang formed a close partnership with the first mobile library. In the past, the windows and doors on two sides of the library van could be raised as awnings, like “a pair of wings” and very “impressive”. At that time, this library service was very popular and everywhere the van stopped it would attract a long queue of readers who had to pay MOP5 deposit for every book they borrowed. “As time went by I could remember some readers’ library card numbers when they came to borrow or return books”, he recalled. Cheang even knew what kind of books people from the nearby shops liked to read.
The mobile library was once an essential service for Macao residents of different sectors. Cheang said that when the library van parked near the Hospital Conde S. Januário, doctors and nurses on night shift as well as visitors would borrow a few books to spend the time. The library van had also entered the campuses to provide lending services to schools without a library at that time. On special festivals such as June 1 Children’s Day, they would also organise children’s activities. The mobile library has been providing community services to Macao residents over three decades, nurturing reading habits one generation after another.
When we took a photo of Cheang in front of the mobile library his expression was full of excitement and happiness; after all, he had been driving this library van for 30 years. Although Cheang has stepped down from his post, the mobile library is still serving Macao residents and the books borrowed from different branches can also be returned via the mobile library. If by chance you encounter this van, do not hesitate to board the ‘vehicle of knowledge’ to explore the boundless world of reading!
He has worked with the mobile library for many years.
The mobile library facilitates the borrowing of books by people living in remote areas.
He has formed a reading habit since his tenure as a driver of the mobile library.
Cheang Chou Chan has witnessed the changes of the mobile library over the years.
Location and Opening Hours of Mobile Library
Monday Rua Nova da Areia Preta
(12:00 noon-7:00pm) (Edf. Tong Wa San Chun)
Tuesday Av. Artur Tamagnini Barbosa
(12:00 noon-7:00pm) (adjacent to Edf. Dona Julieta Nobre de Carvalho)
Wednesday Avenida de Vale das Borboletas, Coloane
(12:30pm-6:30pm) (adjacent to Edf. Lok Kuan de Sec Pai Wan)
Friday Rua Nova da Areia Preta
(12:00 noon-7:00pm) (Edf. Tong Wa San Chun)
Saturday Rua de Coimbra, Taipa
(12:00 noon-7:00pm) (adjacent to Banco Nacional Ultramarino)
* Except Sundays and public holidays. For enquiry, residents may call (853) 2822 5783 or 2838 1767 from Monday to Saturday (10:00am to 8:00pm).
1986. The first mobile library was funded by Macao Foundation. (The background image is the landmark of Macao - the Ruins of St. Paul’s)
1988. Second library vehicle started operating, two vans alternately parked in populated streets in Macao.
1991. Stacks and vehicles of mobile library moved to current Estrada Marginal da Ilha Verde address.
2005. New library vehicle available to public. The new mobile unit was converted from a truck and newly installed with air conditioner, ampifier, generator, connector for outdoor power station, CCTV, etc. The vehicle has a total of 31 shelves with collection of approximately 3,000 volumes.
