XN000022-1977-05-30 — Page 4

MONDAY, MAY 30, 1977

LIBRARY AND RURAL MOBILE SERVICES

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THE LIBRARY AND RURAL MOBILE SERVICES UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS RAPIDLY EXPANDING ITS AREA OF ACTIVITIES WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NETWORK OF VOLUNTARY WORKERS RECRUITED FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

APART FROM PROVIDING REGULAR LIBRARY SERVICES, THE UNIT'S MOBILE LIBRARY VANS ARE FAST BECOMING THE FOCAL POINTS FROM WHERE A HOST OF COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE ORGANISED: FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNGSTERS LIVING IN REMOTE AREAS.

MANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN MADE POSSIBLE SINCE THE RECRUITMENT OF YOUNG VOLUNTEERS FROM AREAS NEAR STRATEGICALLY LOCATED LIBRARY STATIONS, AND THE UNIT IS LOOKING FOR MORE RECRUITS TO HELP FURTHER EXPAND ITS SERVICES.

MR. WONG PAK-CHUEN, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE LIBRARY AND RURAL MOBILE SERVICES UNIT, SAID TODAY THAT YOUTH AND CHILDREN PROGRAMMES SUCH AS GAMES RALLIES, WORK CAMPS, PICNICS, SOCIAL GATHERINGS, VARIOUS COMPETITIONS AND WORK PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ORGANISED THROUGH THE YEAR WITH MORE EVENTS INCLUDED IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.

+NEW ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DELIVERING BOOKS TO HOSPITAL PATIENTS AND SERVICES FOR THE AGED AND CHILDREN'S HOMES WILL ALSO BE RUN IN THE FUTURE, HE SAID.

MR. WONG SAID HIS UNIT WAS ALSO APPROACHING RURAL COMMITTEES AND VILLAGE ELDERS TO NEGOTIATE THE LOAN OF THEIR PREMISES OR YOUTH CENTRES FOR ONE OR MORE DAYS A WEEK SO AS TO IMPROVE LIBRARY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

+THERE ARE SOME 40 SUCH PREMISES SCATTERED ALL OVER THE NEW TERRITORIES WHICH, WITH THE HELP OF LOCAL VOLUNTEERS, CAN BE TURNED INTO PART-TIME YOUTH CENTRES,

+WE NOW HAVE PERMISSION TO USE SIX OF THEM AND THEY ARE PROVING TO BE A BIG HELP BECAUSE ACTIVITIES ORGANISED THERE ARE NO LONGER BEING DISRUPTED BY BAD WEATHER.

+WE ARE ALSO STOCKING THESE CENTRES UP WITH BOOKS AND MAGAZINES SO THAT NEARBY CHILDREN CAN HAVE READING MATERIAL ALL THE TIME.

+WHEN WE HAVE ENOUGH MANPOWER AND VOLUNTEERS, WE WILL FURTHER DEVELOP THIS PROGRAMME AND MAKE USE OF AS MANY OF THESE HALLS AND CENTRES AS POSSIBLE, HE SAID.

MEANWHILE, BOOK-LENDING AND OTHER LIBRARY SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE UNIT'S VANS CONTINUE TO BE POPULAR AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUTHS ALIKE, AND THE LATEST REGISTERED MEMBERSHIP HAS TOPPED 3.400.