A reading space in everyday life.

Residents of Phuong Mao village (Hoang Giang district) seek information and knowledge from the village's library.

At the Phuong Mao village cultural center in Hoang Giang commune, the community library was once almost forgotten. Books were rarely added, the space for the library was unsuitable, and people mainly came to the cultural center for meetings or regular activities. This situation meant the library existed only formally, failing to fulfill its proper role in community cultural life.

To address this issue, as part of improving the quality of cultural life in conjunction with the New Rural Development program, Phuong Mao village has reviewed and reorganized its entire book collection. Old and duplicate books have been selected and replaced with more practical ones such as basic law books, agricultural production guides, life skills books, and children's stories. The bookshelves have been refurbished, placed in easily visible locations, and arranged scientifically. The reading space has also been reorganized to be more organized, with suitable tables and chairs, convenient for the elderly and children.

Along with renovating the bookshelf, the village has extensively promoted the importance of reading culture to its residents, encouraging them to actively read books. As a result, the bookshelf has gradually attracted the attention of the people. In the afternoons, after work, many people visit the community center to read newspapers and keep up with current events; children gather to read stories and exchange books with each other. The atmosphere at the community center has therefore become warmer and more welcoming.

Mr. Han Hai Vinh, head of Phuong Mao village, said: “We determined that the bookshelf is not for display but to serve the people. When the right books are selected and arranged appropriately, people will naturally come to it. With over 200 diverse titles, the bookshelf has contributed to creating a positive cultural atmosphere at the community center.”

The transformation of the Phuong Mao village library demonstrates that, with proper attention, a reading culture can be fostered even in the most ordinary spaces. To achieve this, Hoang Giang commune has promoted the movement to build a cultural life at the grassroots level and develop a reading culture in the community. The commune has guided villages to review the number of books, survey people's reading needs, and update libraries at community cultural centers. To date, 100% of villages have focused on updating their libraries; and have intensified propaganda and mobilization efforts to build a reading culture from families to residential areas.

In Kim De village, Ha Trung commune, the community library is also a meeting place for many villagers. What sets Kim De village apart is its integration of reading activities with community life. During youth union meetings, summer activities, and women's and farmers' association meetings, reading and promoting reading culture are flexibly incorporated, creating interest for the people, especially children. As a result, the library not only attracts visitors but is also used regularly. Elderly people seek out books on history and health; youth union members and young people are interested in books on skills and entrepreneurship. Le Ngoc Mai (15 years old) shared: “In the afternoons, my friends and I often go to the community center to play and read. There are many good books that help me learn many new and useful things.”

The library in Tay Ninh village has over 300 books and newspapers covering various fields such as policy, law, agriculture, and life skills, arranged scientifically for easy viewing and selection. The village library is constantly updated with books from social contributions. The village secretary and head, Mr. Pham Dinh Ba, said: “To keep the library fresh, along with the circulating books, the village has encouraged people to contribute books and increased the mobilization of social resources. These good books have provided people with more official information on law, science, and agriculture. At the same time, these books have increased connection and information exchange among people, creating unity within the community.”

Experience shows that the common characteristic of effective community libraries is that they don't follow trends, but rather stem from the actual needs of the people. Books are selected strategically, tailored to different target groups, from children and teenagers to the elderly; reading spaces are arranged neatly and conveniently, creating a welcoming and accessible atmosphere; and the book selection is constantly updated.

Another common point is the proactive role of local authorities. Instead of leaving it entirely to the villages, many communes have directly guided and supported the villages in terms of professional matters and mobilized social resources for books. At the same time, the communes have linked the evaluation of the effectiveness of the community libraries with the movement to build a cultured life and develop new rural areas; mobilizing the active participation of associations and organizations. Mr. Khuong Ba Son, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Hoang Giang Commune People's Committee, said: “Maintaining community libraries not only develops reading culture at the grassroots level but also contributes to making the cultural center truly a center for people's cultural activities. The commune will continue to focus on developing reading culture, adding suitable books, encouraging social participation, and replicating effective models and methods so that the grassroots libraries can sustainably thrive.”

In the context of rapidly developing digital technology and the habit of quickly accessing information, preserving and effectively utilizing community libraries is not easy. However, practice shows that when books are given due attention, updated appropriately, and connected to community life, they still retain their own vitality, contributing to maintaining a reading culture and improving the quality of spiritual life in residential areas.

Text and photos: Thùy Linh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/khong-gian-doc-giua-doi-thuong-275411.htm