Expanding the library network

Over the past 5 years, the Project "Developing the public library system of Da Nang city, period 2021 - 2025 and orientation to 2030" has opened a journey of spreading knowledge, building modern reading spaces, connecting people with knowledge and knowledge with the future of the city.

Da Nang General Science Library has become a favorite destination for many students in the city. Photo: NGOC HA.

Create new space

When the project started in 2021, the entire city of Da Nang (old) had 1 central library, 6 district libraries; 66 grassroots libraries and 12 commune and ward reading rooms. By June 2025, 7 more commune and ward reading rooms would be in operation, bringing the total number of communes and wards with reading rooms to 19 and 3 private libraries serving the community. These are Triet Nhan Library (old Son Tra district), Olive Gallery Library (old Ngu Hanh Son district), Van Hanh Library (Quan The Am pagoda, old Ngu Hanh Son district).

Commenting on the results of the project, Ms. Le Thi Bich Phuong, Director of the Danang General Science Library, said that after only 5 years, the appearance of the library system has changed significantly. Not only has the number increased, but libraries from the center to the base have also been invested in modern facilities, developing electronic libraries to meet the needs of readers.

Students read books at Hoa Khanh ward library. Photo: NGOC HA

Of which, 6 district libraries have been invested in information technology infrastructure, network connection and shared iLib-Web software, forming a modern data connection network. On average, each year the public library system of Da Nang city (old) is granted an additional budget of 17,650 paper books, 550 e-books, 235 newspapers and magazines. Up to now, Da Nang General Science Library has become a symbol of reading culture of the city on the Han River, attracting a large number of people, especially students.

“This is the first time I have experienced a modern library like the Da Nang General Science Library. There are many books here, and the reading rooms are equipped with computers and tablets for studying. In the future, the library will be a place I often come to study and read books,” said Tran Thi Khanh Vy, a first-year student at the University of Foreign Languages ​​(University of Da Nang).

Building smart libraries

Not only investing in facilities, developing an electronic library is a direction that the Da Nang cultural sector has been implementing in recent years. Ms. Le Thi Bich Phuong added that from 2022, the library will be comprehensively upgraded: redesigning the website interface, expanding the e-book collection with more than 2,500 books in Vietnamese and English, connecting the digital database with libraries at home and abroad.

Many activities were held at the Da Nang General Science Library attracting readers and students to participate. In the photo: Students participating in the painting contest with the theme "Homeland through books". Photo: NGOC HA

From 2023, the RFID system (radio frequency identification technology) will be deployed in the Lending Room, English Language Room and Children's Room, creating a strong change in book warehouse management.

The first time the 24/7 book return system was put into operation marked a turning point in the transition to a smart library model, allowing readers to return books at any time, even outside of working hours. From the control gate, library card, to the automatic inventory machine - all are connected synchronously, making borrowing, returning and managing documents fast, accurate and convenient. This is an important step on the journey to build a smart library, serving readers continuously, anytime, anywhere.

In addition, 6 district libraries of Da Nang (old) are also invested in information technology infrastructure, connected to the internet, using the common Ilib-web library software to connect book data throughout the system and access and use the common electronic library from the Da Nang General Science Library.

Currently, 100% of libraries are connected to the Internet, applying information technology in management and service, gradually transforming from the traditional model to an electronic library. Connected software, websites and separate fanpages help readers easily look up, borrow books, and update information anytime, anywhere.

The entire public library system of Da Nang city (old) has 467,235 copies of paper books; 3,939 copies of audio and video documents, 5,564 copies of e-books, 972,068 digital documents. The library continues to digitize geographical documents, rare documents, and on-site scientific research projects with a total of nearly 500 documents.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoi An, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the biggest gain after 5 years of implementing the Project "Developing the public library system of Da Nang city" is that the city-wide library system has been invested in modern equipment and information technology platforms, thereby sharing data from the city library down to the communes and wards.

In addition, on average, each Da Nang resident has about 1.2 copies of books (the target for the 2021 - 2025 period is 0.8 copies/person); 50% of the city's population uses public library services.

“We are not only building the Da Nang library system to become a place to store documents but also a destination for the city’s residents, including tourists, especially children, pupils and students. On that foundation, we will build a learning society, lifelong learning and contribute to improving the knowledge of the city’s residents,” Ms. Hoi An shared.

As of the end of June 2025, Da Nang city (old) has 1 city-level library, the Da Nang General Science Library; 6 district libraries; 66 grassroots libraries and 19 commune and ward reading rooms.

The entire Da Nang public library system (old) has 467,235 paper books; 3,939 audio and video documents, 5,564 e-books, and 972,068 digital documents.

The entire Quang Nam province (old) has 1 provincial library, Quang Nam Library, 17 district-level libraries; 1 community digital library; 2 commune-level libraries; 77 basic reading rooms; 398 commune and village bookcases, 237 law bookcases, 9 border station bookcases, 104 commune cultural post office bookcases, with equipment such as computers, tables and chairs, internet connection...

The total number of books in district, town and city libraries was previously 118,797, welcoming 198,189 readers each year.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/mo-rong-mang-luoi-thu-vien-3306853.html