XN000022-1972-11-27 — Page 2

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Monday, November 27, 1972

Mr. Oblitas believes that in densely populated areas such as

Kwun Tong, Shau Kei Wan and Sham Shui Po, it is becoming increasingly

obvious that public libraries are urgently needed.

There are at present five public libraries run by the Urban

Council. Altogether the Urban Council Public Libraries have a stock of

448,000 books, about 65 per cent of which are in Chinese, and some 30 per

cent in English with representative collections in French, German, Japanese

and Spanish.

As more and more people in search of knowledge are now using the

public library services in Hong Kong, the recorded number of book issues

for home reading has increased to a monthly total of 170,000.

Since the beginning of September this year all Urban Council

Public Libraries have been issuing one extra library ticket to members to

meet the demand for wider use of library facilities. Now, members can

borrow up to three books instead of two at any one time.

This new policy has been warmly welcomed and 20,000 additional

library tickets have been issued so far.

Mr. Oblitas stressed that public libraries are set up to help

satisfy people's thirst for knowledge and urged anyone with constructive

ideas for the improvement of library services to bring them forward for

serious consideration by the Urban Council.

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