HK Public Libraries marks World Book Day and invites public to unlock the secrets of joyful reading (with photos)

     To tie in with World Book Day, the Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has launched a range of exciting activities today (April 20). Built on last year's theme "Discover and Share the Joy of Reading", the new element "Unlock the Secrets@LIBRARY" is introduced this year to help readers experience the joy of reading.

     During the fight against COVID-19, the HKPL will launch a series of online programmes to allow members of the public to enjoy reading anytime, anywhere. In the first programme "Interaction with Authors", local young writers Yau Yan-ni and Leung Wai-lok, through video clips, share how reading influences their lives, while children's book author Cheng Wing-sze explores the benefits of parent-child reading. The videos will be uploaded to the YouTube Channel of HKPL in phases. Online writer Blue God Zi will go live in real time to engage fans and create stories.

     In addition, the HKPL organises the 4.23 World Book Day Creative Competition annually to encourage children and youth to broaden their reading scope. Featuring the theme "Growing Up with Reading", this year's competition received an overwhelming response with over 1 400 entries from more than 240 schools. Winning entries were selected from each category, with 25 chosen from junior primary, 15 from senior primary Chinese, 15 from junior secondary Chinese, 12 from senior secondary Chinese, eight each from senior primary English and junior secondary English, and five from senior secondary English. The result of winning entries will be uploaded to www.hkpl.gov.hk/wbd on April 25.

     The HKPL is also rolling out the campaign "Take a Break – eReading Corner" to promote e-books. Thirty e-books from two popular online Chinese collections, HyRead and SUEP, will be selected each month. Readers can simply download the HyRead 3 App and log in with their library accounts to borrow the online books anytime at no charge. For more details, please visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/ereading-corner.

     Other highlight activities such as "Meet-the-Authors", "Summer Reading Fiesta", "Hong Kong Library Festival" and "Library-on-Wheels" will also be held. Details of the activities are available on the HKPL's website (www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/index.html), "Reading is Joyful" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/readingisjoyful) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/readingisjoyful).

     Members of the public can enjoy reading through the HKPL's vast e-resources. The public can log in to their library accounts to read online or download to computers and mobile devices for e-reading anytime. Hong Kong residents who have never applied for library cards or HKPL e-accounts can visit the HKPL's website to create e-accounts and gain instant access to the diversified digital content. To learn more about HKPL's e-resources, please visit www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/e-resources/index.html.