Digital transformation of the library industry: The "key" to effectively reaching readers

Students look up information for research and study at the library of the University of Foreign Languages (University of Danang ). Photo: DOAN HAO LUONG

Grasping that trend, in recent times, the Da Nang General Science Library as well as many school libraries in the city have implemented many forms of digital transformation, gradually forming a modern library network, creating a breakthrough in serving readers.

Forming a public digital library

Implementing Decision No. 206, dated February 11, 2021 of the Prime Minister approving the "Digital transformation program of the library sector to 2025, with a vision to 2030", Da Nang General Science Library has gradually promoted digital transformation in library activities. This is an important step to form a modern, synchronous library network and create a breakthrough to serve readers more and more effectively.

Ms. Vu Thi An, Deputy Director of the Da Nang General Science Library, said that the library is considered one of the leading libraries in digital technology in the Central Highlands region. In recent times, the library has actively developed and supplemented digital information resources; equipped with technological infrastructure, robotic scanners and formed a digital library with more than 4,000 electronic documents including English and Vietnamese.

In addition, the library digitizes rare geographical documents to update the digital library to better serve readers. Since 2022, the Da Nang General Science Library has deployed a system of inter-system library management software from the city library to the grassroots level. From there, it helps to easily share information when accessing shared documents throughout the system.

In particular, the library applies an information resource management system using RFID technology (book management using radio frequency identification technology). This is the first RFID machine in the public library system in Vietnam, allowing readers to return books on all days of the week, at any time without having to wait for library opening hours.

To develop a reading culture in the community, the General Science Library has promoted the implementation of the Project on developing the public library system of Da Nang city in the period of 2021 - 2025, with a vision to 2030, and the Project on developing a reading culture targeting the main target audience of students in Da Nang city from 2018 to present. Thereby, many reading culture festival events such as introducing books, introducing city authors; thematic talks; organizing the Da Nang reading culture ambassador contest are held annually, contributing to spreading the reading culture more and more widely among all classes of people.

Modernizing school libraries

Some school libraries have initially applied information technology to gradually modernize information and library work, such as equipping computers; building databases for searching on the internet; maintaining and applying software; building electronic information pages; digitizing documents; and simultaneously updating news and searching for professional activities on the electronic news page.

Speakers exchanged and talked with Thanh Khe youth) on the topic of "reading culture in the digital age" during Reading Culture Week 2025. Photo: DOAN HAO LUONG

Ms. Huynh Thi Thu Nguyet, Principal of Le Dinh Chinh Primary School, said that since the school library was newly built along with the school headquarters in 2017, the school has always focused on purchasing and supplementing information resources, focusing on investing in facilities, specialized equipment, and expanding reading rooms.

“The library is built on the 2nd floor of the headquarters building, spacious, airy, and fully equipped to serve the preservation and exploitation of information resources. The information resource search system is implemented in 2 ways, both directly at the library and through the library management software system. Teachers and students can read books on the school's electronic library page. The library management software is regularly upgraded and equipped with a barcode scanner to facilitate students and teachers to borrow and return books to the library with high efficiency,” Ms. Nguyet shared.

Considering the library as the “key” for students and lecturers to effectively access knowledge resources, the University of Foreign Languages (University of Danang) has digitally converted internal documents; theses, master's and doctoral dissertations and scientific works; purchased a number of databases in packages to serve students.

In particular, the school library provides the Science Direct database - an important online resource that allows students and lecturers to access a large number of scientific journals, e-books and other research documents in many different fields.

To help students better understand the copyright of e-books, the school also provided training on reading copyrighted books on digital platforms and organized a talk show called “Lifelong Learning: Learning How to Learn in a VUCA Context” during the school’s Reading Culture Week this year with the theme “Reading Culture - Connecting the Community”. This attracted many students to actively participate, contributing to spreading the love of books, encouraging the spirit of self-study and the desire for lifelong learning.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/chuyen-doi-so-nganh-thu-vien-chia-khoa-tiep-can-ban-doc-hieu-qua-3298599.html