RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
wider participation and to provide healthy reading materials. Since the inception of the awards in 1979, 53 titles have been published.
To publicise the high standard of books printed and published locally, a competition on the best produced books in Hong Kong was organised jointly with Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The 20 winning entries were exhibited at the Hong Kong Book Fair in July and the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany in October.
A reading programme for young people was held to arouse their interest in reading. Since the programme was first launched in 1984, 85 086 young people have enrolled as members and have read a total of 1.2 million books.
A wide range of other extension activities and outreach programmes were organised by the libraries. They included book exhibitions, interest clubs, subject talks, children's hours, computer literacy projects and library visits and attracted a total of 2.9 million people.
Regional Council Libraries
The Regional Council operates 22 public libraries in the nine New Territories districts and three mobile libraries serving 35 regular stops. These libraries, with a membership of 804 000, have a total stock of 1.6 million books and 94 000 items of audio-visual materials.
Public library services are particularly well received in developing new towns. During the year, 5.97 million books and audio cassettes were lent out for home use while 12.25 million books were read in the libraries. Sha Tin Central Library, the council's first central library, remained the most heavily patronised library in Hong Kong.
To promote greater use of library services, extension activities such as book exhibitions, subject talks and interest groups are regularly organised for different age groups. These activities are popular and form an integral part of the public library service. During the year, some 2.15 million people participated in the various activities.
As an ongoing programme, a computer literacy project is organised at Sha Tin Central Library, Tuen Mun Central Library and North Kwai Chung Public Library. In all, 3 020 people attended the computer lectures and interest clubs organised.
Since 1991, the council has annually organised a Shih or T'zu poetry writing competition. to promote interest in the basic knowledge of Chinese tones. The 1992 poetry writing competition featuring T’zu attracted immense public interest with more than 600 entries.
Educational kits in the form of discovery boxes are provided in the council's central and district libraries. They are well-liked by children in the story hours and interest clubs and have become a regular form of library extension activity.
In collaboration with the Education Department, study rooms are provided in Sha Tin and Tuen Mun central libraries and in district libraries at Tsuen Wan, South Kwai Chung, North Kwai Chung, Yuen Long, Sai Kung, Cheung Chau and Tai Po providing a total of 1 140 seats. To cater to the needs of students, these study rooms are open seven days a week, from 7.30 am to 9.30 pm daily, from March 16 to June 30 each year. Study rooms will also be provided in central and district libraries under planning.
To further strengthen the council's library services, its third central library, located in Tsuen Wan, is earmarked to start operation in mid-1993.
Computerisation of Library Services
The Regional Council's library services are being computerised to improve service and enhance efficiency. The first computerised library is expected to come into operation in
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