SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 1980
POPULAR LIBRARY SERVICE REACHING MORE RURAL CHILDREN
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S RURAL MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF A NEW GENERATION OF YOUNGSTERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
WITH A FLEET OF FOUR LIBRARIES-ON-WHEELS' EXTENDED TO TUEN MUN AND MANY VILLAGES ELSEWHERE.
THE SERVICE IS NOW
EACH MOBILE LIBRARY VAN IS MANNED BY TWO WELFARE ASSISTANTS AND A DRIVER. THE FOUR VANS, TOGETHER STOCKING OVER 20 000 BOOKS AND PICTORIALS, TOYS AND GAME SETS, CALL REGULARLY EACH DAY AT LOCATIONS IN SHEUNG SHUI, FANLING, TUEN MUN, YUEN LONG, SHA TIN, TAI PO AND SAI KUNG.
FROM A MODEST START OVER 20 YEARS AGO, THE SERVICE HAS GROWN TO ITS PRESENT SIZE AND IS BECOMING FAST POPULAR WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO MR. MAK HUNG-CHEUNG, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE MOBILE UNIT.
+ IN THE EARLY DAYS, HE RECALLED, WE HAD ONLY ONE VAN LOOKED AFTER BY ONE MAN WHO WAS THEN AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN TO THE VILLAGE BOYS AS THE 'STORY-TELLER'.+
+CONSIDERING THAT RADIO AND TELEVISION WERE NOT SO POPULAR AT THAT TIME, STORY-TELLING WAS ONE OF THE MOST WELCOMED PASTIMES TO THE CHILDREN.+
EVEN THOUGH THE ELECTRONIC ERA HAS COME AND STAYED, THE MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE STILL CREATES INTEREST WHEREVER IT GOES.
IT NOW HAS A MEMBERSHIP OF 8 230 AND THE AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE BY YOUNGSTERS AGED BETWEEN SIX AND 14 IS 338.
APART FROM PROVIDING BOOK-LENDING FACILITIES, IT ORGANISES A WIDE AND INTERESTING RANGE OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR ITS READERS AND OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE.
THESE INCLUDE FILM-SHOWS, PICNICS, VISITS, CAMPING TRIPS, FOOTBALL MATCHES AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS.
SPECIAL PROGRAMMES, SUCH AS A +PLAYLEADERSHIP SCHEME+, ARE ALSO INTRODUCED FROM TIME TO TIME.
WHILE PURSUING THESE ACTIVITIES, THE SERVICE ALSO TRIES TO INSTIL A SENSE OF COMMUNITY SERVICE ÎN ITS YOUNG SUPPORTERS.
+WE DO THIS BY ENCOURAGING AND ARRANGING FOR THEM TO TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, TOGETHER WITH VOLUNTARY BODIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, SAID MR. MAK.
+THIS HELPS TO KEEP THE YOUNGSTERS FROM THE STREETS AND AWAY FROM BAD COMPANY. IT IS GRATIFYING TO SEE OUR SERVICE EXPANDING AND MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE SPENDING THE IR LEISURE TIME DOING SOMETHING MEANINGFUL AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, HE NOTED.
MR. MAK WAS HOPEFUL THAT THE MOBILE SERVICE WILL FURTHER REPLENISH ITS STOCK OF BOOKS AND GAME EQUIPMENT, SO THAT ITS ACTIVITIES CAN REACH MORE YOUNGSTERS, VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, SCHOOLS, AND HOSPITALS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
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