**********************************************************
More than 110 participants of the Reading Programme for Children and Youth, who had been awarded ˇ§Star of the Monthˇ¨ and library volunteers who had achieved gold award, today (September 15) received their certificates in recognition of their reading efforts and services to the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL).
The certificate presentation ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Central Library .
Speaking at the ceremony, the Acting Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Libraries and Development), Ms Terry Lee said that forming a reading habit during early age could help children acquire knowledge, widen their horizons and adapt to a new environment.
She appealed to readers to write down their thoughts after reading, which would also help enhance their language abilities with reading.
The Reading Programme for Children and Youth has been well-received in the community. Children aged from 4 to 19 can join the reading programme individually or through their school. Children aged between 4 and 9 are encouraged to join the family category, so that they can read books with their parents.
The top 50 members aged from 5 to 15, who had read between 1,000 and 3,000 books in the past year, were awarded certificates. In addition, 43 members were awarded ˇ§Book Report ˇV Star of the Monthˇ¨ because of their outstanding creative book reports.
The most actively participating schools in the reading programme were SKH Yan Laap Primary School and Shek Lei Catholic Primary School (AM) (winners 2004-2007), SKH Tsing Yi Estate Ho Chak Wan Primary School (winner 2005-2007), as well as Pak Tin Catholic Primary School and Aberdeen St. Peterˇ¦s Catholic Primary School who were new on the list.
To encourage more people to provide voluntary services, the HKPL launched the Voluntary Helpers Scheme in 1981, recruiting volunteers aged 16 and above with Form 4 standard or above to support the library services. A total of 15 library volunteers, who had contributed service of more than 100 hours in the past year, were presented with a gold certificate.
People who are interested in the reading programme for children and youth and library volunteers can be made by contacting any HKPL in their vicinity.
Ends/Saturday, September 15, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:17
NNNN
