Reading old books in the digital age

Even as digital books and newspapers become increasingly popular, many people still maintain the habit of reading and collecting old books and newspapers. For them, this is both a joy and a unique cultural aspect amidst the "digital age."

Reading old books in the digital age Many valuable books and documents, imbued with the patina of time, are carefully preserved at the Ha Duy Dat Library.

The Ha Duy Dat Library, owned by the Ha Duy Son family in Xuan Lai commune (Tho Xuan district), was established in 2015. To date, its readership includes not only retirees but also many students and residents of the commune. According to Mr. Son, the library is named after his grandfather – a revolutionary soldier who loved reading and collecting valuable books. The library was created with the desire to spread the values of books and valuable documents and to develop a reading culture in rural areas. Initially, the family's collection had over 400 titles. Now, thanks to contributions from family members and those who have moved away, the library has reached 8,000 books, comprising 2,400 titles. Upon entering the library, those with a passion for reading will be surprised by the sheer "treasure trove" of books and valuable documents contained within this small private library. Mr. Son carefully preserves books that have been stained by time, or royal decrees that are now over 100 years old.

Mr. Son said: "Not only me, but most of my children and grandchildren enjoy reading and collecting books, especially old books and newspapers on culture and history. For me, my particular passion is for books on history, including the book 'History of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee' and books about my grandfather Ha Duy Dat and other loyal revolutionary fighters during their revolutionary activities, which I frequently reread many times."

For Cao Son Hai, a collector and compiler of folklore from Thanh Hoa City, now nearly 90 years old with failing eyesight, reading remains a special passion. Leading us to a bookshelf filled with thousands of books, pointing to Victor Hugo's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," he slowly shared: "These books, though old, are of great value because the translations have a captivating writing style, the words are not confined to conventional thinking, and they are rich in emotion. For me, these old books are like 'old friends'." He didn't forget to advise us: "When you have time, you should read books like 'How the Steel Was Tempered,' 'A Day for a Lifetime'... there are many interesting and beneficial things for the younger generation."

For Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Le, a librarian at the Sam Son City Center for Culture, Information, Sports and Tourism, reading books daily is both a job and a passion. For her, rediscovering old books is like rediscovering beautiful memories.

“As a young person, I enjoy reading and collecting old books. There are some books I've read before, and rereading them feels like meeting an old childhood friend I was very close to. There are also books and series that I used to love but couldn't afford, so reading and collecting old books holds a special appeal for me. These books not only broaden my knowledge but also nourish my soul amidst the hustle and bustle of life. Among them, the 'Kaleidoscope' series by author Nguyen Nhat Anh, with its wit, humor, and profound life lessons, remains my favorite to this day,” Ms. Le said.

According to Ms. Le's observations, while people can skim through new books to find information, those who turn to old books always spend a lot of time flipping through each page and pondering each word. Therefore, the information from old books always has a greater appeal, making readers remember it longer and dedicate more time to reading it.

In the ever-changing flow of modern life, rediscovering old books not only satisfies the passion of book lovers but is also gradually becoming a beautiful aspect of reading culture. Having weathered the ups and downs of time, old books may no longer be in perfect condition, but they serve as a bridge between the past and the present. Therefore, in recent years, Thanh Hoa City and several other localities in the province have regularly hosted events such as: Old Book Fairs, Old Book Spaces, and Old Book Exhibitions... gradually becoming familiar meeting places and unique cultural spaces for book enthusiasts.

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