Innovation, inspiring reading

“Nearly 3,000 readers came to the Provincial Library to participate in activities during the 3-day Reading Culture Festival in 2023, not to mention the number of students participating in the Mobile Library trips at schools. This is an impressive number, showing that reading culture activities still have a lot of attraction for readers.” Director of the Provincial Library Tran Van Be assessed this, after a series of Reading Culture Festival activities with the theme "Books for me, for you" in Binh Thuan .

The Vietnamese people have a tradition of loving to learn. The image of a child sitting on a buffalo reading a book, even though it was a few hundred years ago, is still the most precious image, because reading is the starting point of learning, self-learning, lifelong learning. But in today's trend, readers tend to prefer to access information sources quickly and seemingly "leisurely" rather than reading books. Therefore, finding readers is the way that libraries in the Southeast and South Central provinces are connecting and sharing ways to promote book resources and spread reading habits in the community.

Looking at the 2023 Reading Culture Festival that just took place in Binh Thuan, we can see the determination of libraries to change in line with modern trends, eliminating the label that many people once attached to "book warehouses". The attraction and appeal to readers right from the arrangement and display of book stalls, with all genres from history, literature, science, to geography, visual images that libraries in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan , Tay Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Thuan provinces bring. The novelty is also shown in the way of organization, making the space of the book festival filled with laughter and many interesting things. Because not only can readers look at books, find books, read books, relax with books, but they can also discuss and exchange about scientific and effective reading methods; interact with authors and works; system of knowledge through games… In particular, the use of folk games associated with answering questions on each topic has really attracted readers, especially students. Ms. Phan Diem Thuy - Deputy Director of Binh Duong Provincial Library shared: Instead of boring back and forth answering, applying folk games will help children exercise both physically and mentally, and promote the spirit of solidarity. Games such as blindfolded pig beating, bamboo jumping, jumping rope, walking on a thousand-mile shoe… are easy to play, and have long been associated with residents of all regions.

Even bringing multimedia mobile libraries into schools has many combined contents. There are reading groups, science film groups, experience groups, practice groups following books... have created conditions for children to access many good books, encourage reading, learning and building appropriate reading habits, skills and methods.

The liveliness and excitement of the games with books attracted not only the "bookworm" students, but also those who read less. Than Van Hong Han - grade 8 and many students of Hung Vuong Secondary School shared: After reading books and watching science films, there will be quizzes, practicing STEM education methods (integrating science - technology - engineering - mathematics) by making gas rockets, looking for pictures, so I find reading very interesting and not boring anymore...

Books are both our friends and our teachers.

Innovating the way of serving readers in the new situation, diversifying the forms of propaganda, dissemination and introduction of books is the way that libraries aim for, with the common goal of creating an increasingly closer connection between books and readers, encouraging and developing a reading culture in the community. Thereby, it also suggests that schools in the province pay more attention to reading sessions, build friendly libraries, organize activities and related competitions to encourage students to read more books. Only with a good environment can "good seeds" develop, contributing to creating a solid reading foundation in the flow of Vietnamese culture.

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