ENG-1985 — Page 326

RECREATION AND THE ARTS

251

a new central library for the urban area, located in Kowloon, was opened in 1985; construction of a central library at Sha Tin is well advanced, and plans are in hand for a further central library at Tuen Mun.

Apart from providing the usual library services, the libraries throughout the territory regularly organise extension activities for different age groups. These activities range from story-telling to interest clubs, subject talks, mini cultural presentations and music apprecia- tion. A block loan service for books and audio cassettes is offered by the libraries in the non-urban areas to village schools and organisations as well as to penal institutions. Study room facilities are available in 16 libraries throughout the territory and similar facilities will be provided in the new district libraries under planning.

During the year, 439 011 new books were acquired by the libraries in Hong Kong, bringing the total stock to 2.26 million volumes. The library stock also included 1 080 titles of newspapers and periodicals, 5 215 reels of microfilms, 62 787 audio cassettes, 5 518 video cassettes and 24 084 gramophone records-Some 148 137 people joined the libraries as new members, bringing the total membership to 1 601 125. A total of 10.26 million books were issued for home reading and a further 7.03 million were read in the libraries. About 1 878 419 people participated in the extension activities organised by the libraries.

Hong Kong Museum of History

The most significant event of the year was the 'Dinosaurs in China' Exhibition which attracted nearly 720 000 visitors over 80 days. The exhibition, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, was a joint venture between the Urban Council and the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology and Palaeoanthropology, Academia Sinica, Peking, and featured a wide range of dinosaurs and their relatives which inhabited various parts of China some 200 million years ago.

This exceptionally popular exhibition aroused much interest, particularly among school children, and a painting competition, 'The World of Dinosaurs', was organised jointly by the council and the Community Youth Club of the Education Department as a contribu- tion to International Youth Year to further encourage interest in these ancient creatures, and stimulate the imagination of young people. There were over 2 700 entries from about 150 schools, and the 240 award-winning paintings were put on display in June.

Another contribution by the museum to International Youth Year was the 'History in the Making' Photography Competition at the beginning of the year. This was designed to promote public awareness, particularly among the younger members of the community, of the rapid changes in the scenery and environment of Hong Kong, and to achieve a better understanding of the place in which they live, with a view to developing their sense of belonging. The 15 award-winning entries, together with 93 other noteworthy entries, were put on display during the summer.

The museum's regular educational and extension services, covering organised school visits to the museum and small travelling exhibitions on subjects of local history, ethnography and archaeology to primary and secondary schools were intensified during the year. A total of 560 organised school visits, comprising 72 330 students, were made to the museum.

Progress continued to be made in the collection of ethnographic and historic materials, and on the special projects which seek to record different facets of the local cultural heritage. During the year, a new project on local puppet theatres was commissioned.

Pending provision of a permanent museum, the museum continued to pursue further expansion of its various services, and was planning a Folk Museum at Chai Wan, based on