Expanding the library network

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

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

Create a new space

When the project was launched in 2021, the entire city of Da Nang (formerly) had 1 central library, 6 district libraries, 66 community libraries, and 12 reading rooms in communes and wards. By June 2025, an additional 7 reading rooms in communes and wards will be operational, bringing the total to 19 communes and wards with reading rooms and 3 private libraries serving the community. These are the Triet Nhan Library (formerly Son Tra district), the Olive Gallery Library (formerly Ngu Hanh Son district), and the Van Hanh Library (Quan The Am Pagoda, former Ngu Hanh Son district).

Commenting on the project's results, Ms. Le Thi Bich Phuong, Director of the Da Nang General Science Library, said that in just 5 years, the appearance of the library system has changed significantly. Not only has the number increased, but libraries from the central level to the grassroots level have also received investment in modern facilities and developed electronic libraries, meeting the needs of readers.

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

Of these, six district libraries have been invested in information technology infrastructure, network connectivity, and share the iLib-Web software, forming a modern data interconnection network. On average, the public library system of the former Da Nang city receives an additional budget of 17,650 paper books, 550 e-books, and 235 newspapers and magazines annually. To date, the Da Nang General Science Library has become a symbol of reading culture in the city on the Han River, attracting a large number of people, especially students.

“This is the first time I’ve experienced a modern library like the Da Nang General Science Library. There are quite a lot of books here, and the reading rooms are equipped with computers and tablets to support my studies. In the future, this library will be a place I frequent for studying and reading,” shared Tran Thi Khanh Vy, a first-year student at the University of Foreign Languages ​​(Da Nang University).

Building a smart library

In addition to investing in physical infrastructure, developing an electronic library is a direction that Da Nang's cultural sector has been pursuing in recent years. Ms. Le Thi Bich Phuong added that since 2022, the library has undergone a comprehensive upgrade: redesigning the website interface, expanding the e-book collection with over 2,500 titles in Vietnamese and English, and connecting digital databases with libraries both domestically and internationally.

Many activities are organized at the Da Nang General Science Library, attracting readers and students to participate. In the photo: Students participate in a drawing competition on the theme "Homeland through the pages of books". Photo: NGOC HA

Since 2023, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology has been implemented in the Lending Room, the English Language Room, and the Children's Room, creating a significant transformation in book inventory management.

The launch of the 24/7 book return system marks a turning point towards a smart library model, allowing readers to return books at any time, even outside of working hours. From access control gates and library cards to automated inventory machines, everything is seamlessly connected, making borrowing, returning, and managing materials quick, accurate, and convenient. This is a significant step forward in building a smart library that serves readers continuously, anytime, anywhere.

In addition, six district libraries in the former Da Nang area have also been invested in with information technology infrastructure, internet connectivity, and the use of the shared Ilib-web library software to link book data across the entire system and access the shared electronic library from the Da Nang General Science Library.

Currently, 100% of libraries are connected to the Internet, applying information technology in management and services, gradually transforming from a traditional model to an electronic library. Interconnected software, websites, and dedicated fan pages make it easy for readers to search for, borrow books, and update information anytime, anywhere.

The entire public library system of Da Nang (formerly) city had 467,235 paper books; 3,939 audio and video materials, 5,564 e-books, and 972,068 digital documents. The library continued to digitize local history materials, rare documents, and on-site scientific research works, totaling nearly 500 documents.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoi An, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the biggest achievement after 5 years of implementing the "Development of the Public Library System in Da Nang City" project is that the entire city's library system has been invested with modern equipment and information technology platforms, thereby enabling data sharing from the city library down to the commune and ward levels.

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

"We are not only building the Da Nang library system into a place for storing documents, but also into a destination for the city's residents, including tourists, especially children, students, and university students. On that foundation, we aim to build a learning society, promote lifelong learning, and contribute to raising the knowledge level of the city's people," Ms. Hoi An shared.

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

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

The entire former Quang Nam province had 1 provincial-level library (Quang Nam Library), 17 district-level libraries; 1 community digital library; 2 commune-level libraries; 77 grassroots reading rooms; 398 village/commune book cabinets, 237 law book cabinets, 9 border guard post book cabinets, and 104 commune cultural post office book cabinets, equipped with computers, desks, chairs, and internet access…

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

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