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A popular Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) reading programme encourages students who enjoy reading to recommend their favourite books by creating drawings or book reports. Among this year's entries, one young reader illustrated his favourite book using superb origami. A senior primary student discovered how to stop a variety of pesky habits from the book "What to Do When Bad Habits Take Hold: a Kid's Guide to overcoming Nail Biting and More". A junior secondary student learned to treasure his relationship with family and friends by reading Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", and a senior secondary student boosted his brainpower by reading the children's science book "Bulging Brains".
The four students were among nearly 100 participants in the Reading Programme for Children and Youth, and went on to become winners of the "Book Report - Star of the Month" awarded today (September 22). In addition, library volunteers received gold awards today in recognition of their efforts on behalf of the HKPL.
The certificate presentation ceremony was held today at the Hong Kong Central Library.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Department (Libraries and Development), Mr Lee Yuk-man, said there is a need to continuously seek new knowledge and learn new skills to keep pace with a fast-changing world. Reading helps us to learn about the world, widen our horizons and accumulate wisdom, he added.
Launched by the HKPL in 1984, the Reading Programme for Children and Youth has been well received in the community, and now has over 130,000 members. Mr Lee remarked that it was nearly 30 years since the launch of the programme, which has undergone various changes to meet the needs of the community.
New elements, including "Reading Footprints", "Sharing My Joyful Reading", "Recommending My Favourite Book" and "Monthly Meeting of Joyful Reading", were introduced this month for members to share the fun and experience of reading by writing and drawing and actively participating in the HKPL's reading activities, he added.
The programme aims to stimulate children and youth's interest in reading, widen their knowledge, enhance their language ability and encourage parents to participate in their children's reading activities.
Children and youths from kindergarten to secondary six can join the Reading Programme for Children and Youth individually or through their schools. Children from kindergarten to primary three are encouraged to join the family category so they can read with their parents.
In the 2011-2012 reading programme, 38 outstanding creative book reports were awarded "Book Report - Star of the Month" and 11 of the above reports were awarded "Book Report - The Best Star of the Month".
The five actively participating schools in the reading programme were Pak Tin Catholic Primary School, Hong Kong Baptist Convention Primary School, Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church Primary School, SKH Yan Laap Primary School and SKH Tin Wan Chi Nam 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 four standard or above to support library services. The voluntary service also aims to enable the volunteers to learn more about libraries so as to make better use of library services. Six library volunteers, who contributed 100 hours’ service or more in the past year, were presented with gold certificates.
People interested in the reading programme and volunteering at a library may contact any library of the HKPL for details.
Ends/Saturday, September 22, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:34
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