Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) Public Library Management Department Chief Loi Chi Pang told reporters yesterday that the reading atmosphere in Macau “is gradually improving”, adding that the number of the city’s “reading points” has been increased from 50 to 130 this year thanks to the proactiveness of enterprises and members of the public hosting different reading events, apart from just associations and schools.
Loi noted that the number of people visiting “reading points” so far this year has increased from 16,000 to 40,000.
Loi said: “The bureau launched a number of activities on World Reading Day today [yesterday]”, pointing out that in addition to the “Half-Hour Reading” activity, there were also activities such as “Magazine Sale” and “Book Exchange”, each providing over 10,000 books, which “has been well received”.
Loi made the remarks while attending book reading promotion event yesterday at Village of Our Lady in Ka Ho in Coloane.
This year’s Macao Library Week, jointly organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), the University of Macau Library, and the Macao Library and Information Management Association, was launched yesterday and will last until May 14, during which 60 reading activities, including book exchanges, exhibitions, seminars and workshops will take place.
Meanwhile, in response to World Book Day, an annual international event celebrated every April 23, the Association of Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers of Macau (ARTM), in conjunction with the International Institute of Macau (IIM), Mandarina Books, Language IT Services and Macao Heritage Ambassadors Association (MHAA), hosted a raft of events in Ka Ho, such as book fair.
The events kicked off yesterday.
ARTM Chief Executive Officer Augusto Nogueira told The Macau Post Daily on the sidelines of yesterday’s opening ceremony: “We [ARTM] would like to promote this area [Ka Ho] for more events for the benefit of citizens and tourists, so as to promote the history of these houses here.” He added that “this is a place that deserves to be promoted and receive more support from the government and the population.”
IIM Secretary-General António Monteiro told reporters yesterday he hoped to provide a reading environment for the public and deepen their understanding of Chinese and Portuguese culture through the events in Ka Ho.
The event also included the launch of a bilingual (Chinese-Portuguese) book by Monteiro about Macau’s traditional games for children and teenagers.
Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) Public Library Management Department Chief Loi Chi Pang talks to reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s book reading promotion event in Ka Ho in Coloane. – Photo: Yuki Lei
