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Students who enjoy reading express their views and thoughts on books in many different ways. After reading ¡§Secret Seven Win Through¡¨, a primary school student submitted her book report with simply a picture of a scarecrow standing in a field. Another young reader presented a detailed report on space science after reading ¡§Exploring Space¡¨. Yet another, who had read ¡§Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban¡¨, expressed her profound personal feelings in the book report.
Nearly 100 participants of the Reading Programme for Children and Youth, including the winners of ¡§Book Report ¡V Star of the Month¡¨, ¡§Outstanding Award¡¨, the most actively participating schools and library volunteers who had won gold awards, today (September 20) received 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 Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Libraries and Development), Mr Lee Yuk-man, said that the public libraries cultivate youths¡¦ interest in reading by organising various activities, including ¡§Summer Reading Month¡¨, ¡§Light Your Reading Passion 2008 - Summer Reading Programme¡¨ with the Olympics and world culture as its theme, Reading Clubs, ¡§Meet-the-Authors¡¨, 4.23 World Book Day Creative Competition, Reading Carnival, Dr Book Chart, Selection of Good Books for Secondary School Students and ¡§Hong Kong Book Prize¡¨.
He added that the Reading Programme for Children and Youth was strongly supported by different parties. He encouraged the participants to make reading a habit and, furthermore, to share their good read so that it becomes a hobby for others as well.
The reading programme, which has been well-received by the community, aims to stimulate the interest of children and youth in reading, to develop their reading habits, to widen their scope of reading and knowledge and to enhance their ability in language usage. Since 2003, the number of members has reached more than 100,000.
Children aged from four to 19 can join the reading programme individually or through their school. Children aged between four and nine are encouraged to join the family category, so that they can read books with their parents.
Fifty participants who achieved the ¡§Outstanding Award¡¨ today have read in many subjects over the past year. In addition, 38 members were awarded ¡§Book Report ¡V Star of the Month¡¨ because of their outstanding and creative book reports.
The five most actively participating schools in the reading programme were SKH Yan Laap Primary School, Aberdeen St. Peter¡¦s Catholic Primary School, Pak Tin Catholic Primary School, SKH Lee Shiu Keung Primary School and Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church Primary School.
To encourage more people to engage in 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. Eight library volunteers, who had contributed more than 100 hours of service in the past year, were presented with gold certificates.
People who are interested in the reading programmes for children and youth and in being library volunteers can contact any HKPL in their vicinity.
Ends/Saturday, September 20, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:05
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