XN000022-1978-11-29 — Page 22

20

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1978

COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF N.T. LIBRARY SERVICES

*****

THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE GENERAL RAISING OF PEOPLE'S STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS HAVE OVERTAKEN THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE WORKING PARTY SET UP SIX YEARS AGO TO EXAMINE LIBRARY FACILITIES IN RURAL AREAS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF LIBRARY SERVICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS CURRENTLY IN HAND WITH A VIEW TO MAKING FRESH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION BEFORE NEXT YEAR'S ESTIMATES BECAME DUE.

MR. AKERS-JONES WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. ALEX WU REGARDING THE PROPOSED EXPENDITURE TO EQUIP, TO STOCK AND TO PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALLOCATED $1.1 MILLION TO MEET THE COST OF A BASIC STOCK OF BOOKS FOR THE NEW LIBRARIES PLANNED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES UNTIL 1982.

+ IT IS ESTIMATED THAT A FURTHER $0.8 MILLION WILL BE SPENT ON REPLACING OLD BOOKS AND EXPANDING EXISTING STOCK IN THE PERIOD TO 1983,+ HE WENT ON.

+THE EXPENDITURE ON THE PROVISION OF OTHER SERVICES - WHICH I TAKE TO MEAN SUCH FACILITIES AS LECTURES, FILM SHOWS, AND ORGANISED GROUP LIBRARY VISITS AND SO ON IS NOW RUNNING AT ABOUT $40,000 A YEAR.+

-

-

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT, BOTH THE LEVELS OF EXPENDITURE AND THE STANDARDS OF PROVISION FOR LIBRARIES WERE APPROVED IN 1976 ACCORDING TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING PARTY.

+THESE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN OVERTAKEN BY THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE GENERAL RAISING OF PEOPLE'S STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID.

+ I AM THEREFORE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF LIBRARY SERVICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IS CURRENTLY IN HAND WITH A VIEW TO HAVING THE RESULTS AVAILABLE IN TIME TO MAKE RECOMMENDAT-

IONS FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE TIME WHEN NEXT YEAR'S ESTIMATES ARE DUE. +