[Archive] Provision and management of libraries in secondary and primary schools

Date of sitting: 27 February 2002

Asked by: Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung

Replied by: SEM

Question:

Regarding the provision and management of libraries in secondary and primary schools, will the Government inform this Council:

1. in respect of aided secondary and primary schools respectively,

   (i) of the numbers and percentages of schools with libraries;

   (ii) of the numbers of persons employed for the management of these libraries and, among them, the numbers of those who have received relevant professional training; and

   (iii) among the schools with libraries, of the respective numbers and percentages of those with computerized circulation systems and teacher-librarian posts; and
   

2. of the measures the Education Department will adopt to promote the provision or improve the management of libraries in all secondary and primary schools in Hong Kong?
   

Reply:

Madam President:

1. (a) In respect of government and aided secondary and primary schools,

   (i) 404 secondary schools and 273 primary schools (in terms of the number of school premises) are provided with libraries, representing 100% and 52% of the respective school premises in Hong Kong;

   (ii) There are now 1 056 teacher-librarian posts. Among them, 732 persons have received relevant professional training.

   (iii) There are teacher-librarian posts in all the 404 secondary schools and 273 primary schools with libraries. Among these schools, 390 secondary schools and 228 primary schools are equipped with computerized circulation systems. The numbers account for 97% and 84% of the respective schools.
   

   
   
2. (b) The Education Department will adopt the following measures to improve the provision and management of libraries in all secondary and primary schools in Hong Kong:

   (i) Most of the primary schools without a central library have included the addition of a library in their School Improvement Programme and will be provided with libraries within the next few years;

   (ii) To continue the Mobile School Library Service Scheme to support primary schools without a library;

   (iii) To support schools in computerizing library management by working closely with the Hong Kong Teacher-Librarians' Association on the implementation of the "Web-based Union Catalogue for School Libraries" scheme in order to reduce the workload of teacher-librarians in cataloguing work and increase the channels of resource sharing among schools;

   (iv) To arrange induction training programmes, diploma courses in school librarianship and professional development programmes for in-service teacher-librarians;

   (v) To enable schools to use resources for reading more effectively by integrating various grants related to reading, e.g. grants for library books, grants provided by the Chinese and English Extensive Reading Scheme, etc.

   (vi) To assist principals, teachers and teacher-librarians in understanding the functions of school library service by developing resource packages on "Learning to Learn: Supporting Learning and Teaching through School Library Service", "Reading to Learn: The Promotion of a Reading Culture in School", etc., and organising relevant seminars;

   (vii) To promote collaborative teaching and resource-based learning among teacher-librarians and teachers through "Seed Projects";

   (viii) To promote and encourage good reading habits among students through reading-related competitions, e.g. "Shun Hing Reading Award Scheme", "Quality Reading Scheme Competition", etc.;

   (ix) To liaise closely with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on collaboration between public libraries and school libraries; and

   (x) To maintain close contact with various professional bodies and tertiary institutions on latest development in library management.