This paper reports how English learning can be promoted in a self-access centre where students are not required to attend classes. The paper starts with an examination of learner autonomy, especially learner autonomy at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, which was done by an analysis of a student survey when the Centre was first established. Such survey results guided the installation of equipment and the provision of resources. In later years, the usage rate of self-access learning materials and the attendance rate of teacher guided workshops are compared to see how autonomous students are. A typical visit to the Independent Learning Centre is described. Record keeping procedure is given. Then the paper goes on to provide data on monthly usage of in-house visits versus access by the web, loan rate of books, audio tapes, video tapes, computer software, laser discs, VCDs, DVDs versus attendance rate of workshops on oral/aural fluency, oral accuracy and IELTS familiarization workshops. Student evaluation through an online questionnaire is also examined to find out their perceived usefulness of different materials or activities. Based on the data analyzed, recommendations are made to improve the effectiveness of the centre to help students enhance their English proficiency. This paper reports how English learning can be promoted in a self-access center where students are not required to attend classes. The paper starts with an examination of learner autonomy, especially learner autonomy at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, which was done by an analysis of a student survey when the Center was first established. Such survey results guided the installation of equipment and the provision of resources. In later years, the usage rate of self-access learning materials and the attendance rate of teacher guided workshops are compared to Then the paper goes on to provide data on monthly usage of in-house visits versus access by the web, loan rate of books, audio tapes, video tapes, computer software, laser discs, VCDs, DVDs versus attendance rate of workshops on oral / aural fluency, oral accuracy and IELTS familiarization workshops. Student evaluation through an online questionnaire is examined examined find find their perceived usefulness of different materials or activities. Based on the data analyzed, recommendations are made to improve the effectiveness of the center to help students enhance their English proficiency.