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The District Facilities and Management Committee of the Tuen Mun District Council today (August 31) held a briefing session to introduce the "Community Libraries Partnership Scheme", which encourages more non-profit making organisations to participate in the scheme to promote reading in Tuen Mun district.
Speaking at the briefing session were Convenor of the Working Group on Community Involvement under District Facilities Management Committee of Tuen Mun District Council Ms Robena Lee Ying, Convenor of the Steering Group on Promotion of Reading Project Ms Josephine Chan Shu-ying, and the Assistant Director (Libraries and Development) of the Leisure of Cultural and Services, Mr Lee Yuk-man.
Representatives of existing community libraries in Tuen Mun district also shared their experiences in setting up community libraries.
To cope with the continuous growth of local community and to promote reading, the District Facilities and Management Committee of the Tuen Mun District Council has initiated the "Promotion of Reading Project" in Tuen Mun district. The "Community Libraries Partnership Scheme" is one of the reading projects.
Ms Lee pointed out that under the scheme, community libraries were set up through the co-operation and collaboration between local organisations and the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) to provide more convenient and accessible library services and promote reading at local community level to establish a reading community in Tuen Mun.
"These community libraries further enhance public library services at community level by enabling local residents, in particular children, teenagers, housewives and senior citizens, to access library books more conveniently for reading, without leaving the neighbourhood," she said.
The first community library in Tuen Mun was set up in May this year and has met with positive response.
Mr Lee said that apart from block loan service of library materials, the HKPL also offered professional assistance and advice on the operation of the community library and selection of library materials. The scheme also allows flexibility in the mode of collaboration to better meet the needs of individual organisations.
Local organisations or non-profit making organisations interested in joining the scheme are welcome to contact any public libraries in Tuen Mun for more details.
Ends/Friday, August 31, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:45
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