ENG-2001 — Page 490

RECREATION, SPORT AND THE ARTS

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Scheme', a programme that aims to encourage primary school pupils to fully utilise public library resources for lifelong learning. Library staff have also held regular liaison meetings with school librarians to examine ways to enhance and support school library services. The Open University of Hong Kong has deposited its course materials in 15 public libraries. The public libraries continue to provide supporting library services to the Project Springboard educational programme. Plans are also under way to set up a Business and Industry Reference Library and an Education Resources Centre at the City Hall Public Library and the Kowloon Public Library, respectively.

Outreach Programmes and Promotion of Literary Arts

Outreach programmes form an integral part of library services. Educational and recreational programmes are organised on a continuing basis to promote library facilities, cultivate lifelong reading habits and enhance the public's appreciation of the importance of free access to up-to-date information. Programmes including children's hours, book displays and exhibitions, seminars and talks, interest clubs and group visits were organised throughout the year. User education sessions, such as teaching the public on how to search the On-line Public Access Catalogue, on-line databases, the Internet and CD-ROMs, were held regularly. In 2001, a total of 17 635 library outreach programmes were organised by the libraries.

The public libraries also play an active role in promoting the literary arts in Hong Kong. Literary competitions organised regularly include the Awards for Creative Writing in Chinese, the Chinese Poetry Writing Competition, Hong Kong Biennial Awards for Chinese Literature, Competition on Story Writing in Chinese for Students and the Hong Kong Literature Festival. Since 1980, 91 Chinese literary books have been published to promote creative writing.

Promotion of Reading

Reading programmes have been launched by the libraries to encourage young people to cultivate good reading habits, with reading-related activities organised for participants. During the year, the libraries organised the 'Scheme on Recommending Good Books for Children 2001' in conjunction with the Task Force on Promotion of Learning through Reading of the Board of Education and the Education Department, with the aim of recommending good books for children and encouraging parental participation in the reading process. The public libraries also co-operated with the Po Leung Kuk, the Education Department and Hong Kong IT Education City in organising the 'Read to Enjoy' programme which provided mobile library services to 300 schools without library facilities. The 'Ten Recommended Good Books' programme was launched by the public libraries together with Radio Television Hong Kong.

The libraries provide block loan of books and audio cassettes to non-profit-making organisations, rehabilitation and penal institutions, homes for the aged and the physically handicapped, extending the provision of library service to members of the community who, for various reasons, are unable to gain free access to normal library services. Block loan service is also available to schools.