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More than 70 teenagers from Forms 4 to 6 at eight schools in Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai will spend the night at the newly opened Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library tonight (October 11) to experience a journey of science and creativity and take part in interesting and inspiring games. The students will also have the opportunity to gaze at the wonders of the universe from the green roof of the library as well as explore the library's resources.
"A Night at the Library - A Journey of Science & Creativity" is jointly organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups - Centre for Creative Science and Technology. The Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library, which opened eight months ago, is the second largest public library in Hong Kong and provides a young adult library for teen readers. It is the first public library where the public can read in an outdoor courtyard.
Speaking at the launch ceremony of the activity, the Assistant Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (Libraries and Development), Mr Lee Yuk-man, said, "Tonight's special activity is the first programme of its type organised in the public libraries in their 50 years of service. This is a new initiative representing the diverse services offered by the Hong Kong Public Libraries."
He encouraged participants, who would gain a better understanding of science through the night's activities to read more books from the scientific collections in order to broaden their horizons and enrich their knowledge.
The Supervisor of the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, Ms Lui Wai-lin, pointed out that the programme was specially designed to be held at night-time with an interesting mystery atmosphere so as to arouse students' curiosity and interest in science and encourage them to take the initiative to explore, learn and have creative ideas.
"A Night at the Library - A Journey of Science & Creativity" aims to cultivate youngsters' interest in science, inspire their creativity and promote the library's resources through games and other activities throughout the night at the library.
The activities tonight will include introducing and promoting the library's resources, ice-breaking challenges, DNA workshops, investigative games to search through the library's facilities, a science laboratory to inspire creativity and a space journey on the green roof using a telescope to explore the mysteries of space, as well as photography lessons on photo composition and editing skills.
The recently opened Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library has a design inspired by traditional elements and features an air of simplicity. The open space of the atrium and courtyards across the floors as well as the surrounding curtain wall admit sunlight to the building, thus enabling readers to enjoy reading in natural light.
To promote reading among the public, the library organises various extension activities. From October to December, there will be interesting programmes related to the traditions of the Ping Shan community such as the "Ping Shan Bon Bowl" exhibition together with guided tours and workshops; talks on bird watching to foster a better understanding of nature; and programmes for ethnic minorities such as "Library Fun Day for Minority Groups". Activities related to daily life such as the information technology workshops "Enjoy Easy Life@internet", a subject talk on health and a thematic storytelling workshop for children, as well as an exhibition displaying the winning works of the "4.23 World Book Day Creative Competition", will also take place at the library.
Ends/Friday, October 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 23:22
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