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The library family reading event Summer Reading Month 2014, organised by the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, was launched today (July 19) at the Hong Kong Central Library (HKCL) alongside the thematic children's exhibition "The Earth and I: Sustainable Development".
Summer Reading Month 2014 encourages children to understand the relationship between daily habits and the environment and learn to cherish the earth's resources for a better future. Participants and exhibition visitors will find out how habits like switching on air-conditioners immediately when returning home, children going to school in chauffeur-driven cars and wasteful disposal of leftovers are destroying the earth's scarce resources. They will also learn about the small changes they can make in daily life, like matching clothes wisely to have a stylish wardrobe as well as create a better environment.
The colourful exhibition includes interesting 3-D installations of a greenhouse, a washing machine and an imitation tram station. Summer Reading Month 2014 also features an array of family activities and workshops offering children an enriching summer of environmental protection.
Today's launch ceremony coincided with the prize presentation ceremony of the Competition on Story Writing in Chinese for Students 2014, jointly organised by the HKPL and the Hong Kong Children's Arts Society. This year the competition received an enthusiastic response with about 1,400 entries. The winning entries have found inspirations in daily life, with the works ranging from heart-warming tales of families to stories about environmental protection, school life and social issues.
Officiating at the ceremony were the Vice-chairman of the Public Libraries Advisory Committee, Mr Sunny Lee, and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Children's Arts Society, Ms Sung Yee-shui, who presented prizes to the winners of the competition. The champions shared their vivid winning stories.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee encouraged students to read and write more and to write stories based on frequent observations in daily life and enjoy the fun of reading and creative writing. "Reading opens our eyes and broadens our minds. It enhances wisdom and language proficiency, providing a rich source of inspiration for writing. Splendid works come naturally with abundant reading," he said.
He also invited parents to participate with their children in the wide range of activities during Summer Reading Month to enjoy a green summer.
The HKPL organises the popular Summer Reading Month every year to encourage parent-child reading during the summer vacation as well as to make use of library resources.
The interesting thematic exhibition "The Earth and I: Sustainable Development" is running from today until August 18 at the HKCL's Exhibition Gallery. Children are guided through the themes of "Clothing", "Food", "Living" and "Transportation" to learn how small daily habits can affect the environment and how to live a sustainable lifestyle.
In the "Clothing" zone, children can learn how to buy, wash and dispose of clothes in an environmentally friendly way, while the "Food" zone features eating habits, organic farming and food waste. The "Living" zone introduces energy saving, reuse and recycling of used things and environmental home designs. The "Transportation" zone starts with going out from home, like taking the lift, and then shows the impacts of means of transportation, shopping bags and excessive personal electronic gadgets on the environment and how carbon footprints can be reduced in daily life and travelling.
Families can also read selected books and electronic resources which are related to environmental protection, and enjoy variety shows and competitions held at the HKCL's Exhibition Gallery. There will also be musical performances, a shadow-puppetry show, English drama and storytelling, a dance show, a mime performance and more. Admission to the exhibition and various activities is free.
Various activities including storytelling by the elderly, a do-it-yourself recycled bag activity, pencil vase making, language learning, paired reading and "Green Science" workshops will be held in different public libraries.
The "Reading Charter" activity is also being held in this year's Summer Reading Month at all public libraries to promote reading through voluntary pledges. It aims to encourage readers to establish the good habit of reading by promising to achieve goals in reading. Readers who join the "Reading Charter" will be presented with a souvenir.
Admission tickets are required for some of the programmes. Detailed information is available in the Summer Reading Month booklet distributed at all public libraries. For enquiries, call 2921 2660 or visit the website at www.hkpl.gov.hk/srm .
Ends/Saturday, July 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 13:30
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