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iii) Newspapers & Periodicals Services
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Over 10,000 current titles of local and overseas newspapers and periodicals are subscribed by the libraries. The central libraries, City Hall Public Library and Arts Library also house back files of a large number of newspapers and periodicals in the original and microform format for readers to make retrospective searches. In 1995, a total of 1.91 million back issues of newspapers and periodicals were referred to in the two Councils' library systems.
Block Loan Services
The libraries provide regular block loans of books, audio- cassettes and back issues of periodicals to non-profit-making organisations, rehabilitation and penal institutions and homes for the aged and the physically handicapped.
Outreach Programmes
Outreach programmes form an integral part of the public library services. Educational and recreational programmes such as book and art exhibitions, video shows and organised group library visits are frequently organised. In addition, the libraries also take an active role in promoting literary arts and have organised a number of literary arts awards such as the Awards for Creative Writing in Chinese, Poetry Writing Competition and the Competition on Story Writing in Chinese for Students to arouse public interest and awareness in this regard. On average, some 21,500 outreach events are organised by the two public library systems each year, attracting a total attendance of about 6.5 million per annum.
Reference and Information Services
Reference library services are provided in the central libraries, City Hall Public Library and the Arts Library. These libraries provide comprehensive collections of reference materials and a number of special collections. In addition, they play an active role in the dissemination of information and the handling of public enquiries. In 1995, a total of some 490,000 reference enquiries had been handled whilst a total of 2.43 million items of reference materials had been referred to in the libraries.