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In a recently held reading programme, students who enjoy reading recommended their favourite books through the creation of drawings and by giving creative book reports. One young reader illustrated an environmental protection message with superb drawings. A senior primary student learnt to overcome difficulty after reading "The Personality Potion", while a junior secondary student was inspired by "Legendary Heroes" to help those in need. And a senior secondary student vividly expressed her thoughts on the short but bright life of Princess Diana after reading "Princess Diana".
Those four students were among nearly 100 participants in the "Reading Programme for Children and Youth", which include winners of the "Book Report - Star of the Month" awarded today (September 24). Library volunteers also received their gold awards today in recognition of their reading efforts and services to the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL).
Launched by the HKPL in 1984, the "Reading Programme for Children and Youth" aims to stimulate the interest of children and youths in reading, widen their scope of reading and knowledge, and enhance their ability in language usage. There are currently over 140,000 members.
The certificate presentation ceremony was held today 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, encouraged students to read more. She said reading holds the key to knowledge acquisition, which is a must-have in a fast-evolving and competitive society.
She added that reading has countless benefits including knowledge-building and enlightening the mind, and she praised the winning students for their efforts in spending more time on reading and less time on other forms of entertainment. She noted that it is commendable that some awardees wrote book reports and comments to share their good reading with others.
The Reading Programme for Children and Youth has been well received in the community. Children and youths aged from 4 to 19 can join the programme individually or through their schools. Children aged between 4 and 9 are encouraged to join the family category so they can read with their parents.
Fifty-five participants who read between 1,000 and more than 4,000 books in the past year received "Outstanding Award" certificates. In addition, 39 participants with a total of 44 outstanding creative book reports were awarded "Book Report - Star of the Month" and 12 of the above book reports were awarded "Book Report - The Best Star of the Month".
The five actively participating schools in the reading programme were SKH Yan Laap Primary School, Pak Tin Catholic Primary School, SKH Tin Wan Chi Nam Primary School, Hong Kong Baptist Convention Primary School and SKH Lee Shiu Keung Primary School.
To encourage more people to engage in voluntary service, 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. The voluntary services also aim to enable the volunteers to learn more about libraries so as to make better use of library services. Seven library volunteers, who had contributed service of no less than 100 hours in the past year, were presented with gold certificates.
People who are interested in the reading programme for children and youths and volunteering at a library may contact any library of the HKPL in their vicinity for details.
Ends/Saturday, September 24, 2011
Issued at HKT 14:15
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