Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2024: Positive signals from the community

"Reading books, eyes like a thousand mile lamp" - Cao Ba Quat

In response to the 3rd Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day in 2024 , the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has launched many rich and attractive activities to spread the reading culture and encourage the reading movement. The series of activities are organized from April 15 to May 1, with the message: Good books need readers, Precious books for friends, Giving good books - Buying real books, Good books: Eyes to read - Ears to listen. Widespread activities to encourage reading culture On the occasion of Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day in 2024, many activities are organized such as: seminars, discussions, knowledge exchange on reading trends; sharing information on how to use technology and digital platforms to encourage reading digital books, audio books, interactive books and new technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality...; Organize online book clubs, create online book groups to discuss works through online platforms such as Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, etc. In addition, there are annual activities widely deployed across the country such as: promoting and introducing books; storytelling, drawing pictures based on books; honoring readers, writers, librarians; organizing book introduction spaces of publishers; book signing; donating, supporting and giving away books, exchanging old books for new books, etc.

Activities in response to Book Day and Reading Culture are held in many provinces and cities across the country.

To develop the reading movement, in July 2023, Hanoi city issued a Resolution on free use of public library services in the city. This decision has received the support of many people and readers in the capital, and at the same time encouraged readers who love reading paper books to visit the library more. According to statistics from Hanoi Library: The number of library cards in 2023 is 40,255, an increase of 30% compared to 2022 (28,028 cards); The number of readers coming to the library in 2023 is 2,845,109, an increase of 15% compared to 2022 (2,426,339 visits). According to Ms. Kieu Thuy Nga, Director of the Library Department, the implementation of the Project "Developing reading culture in the community until 2020, with a vision to 2030" approved by the Prime Minister since 2017 has achieved certain results. Awareness of all levels, sectors, families, schools and the whole society has been raised, realizing the role and importance of reading culture for people; arousing the love of reading, forming reading habits and skills of people, especially young people; the development of technology, diverse and attractive audio-visual products have significantly changed the reading habits of many people.

“To attract and retain readers to use the library regularly and continuously, the public library network in Hanoi must constantly innovate, increase the attractiveness of library activities and services, and develop quality information resources to meet the needs and tastes of the people of the capital,” shared Ms. Kieu Thuy Nga, Director of the Library Department.

Previous statistics show that only 21% of Vietnamese people read books in a year and the reading rate is 1.4 books/person/year. However, the latest report of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shows that the indicators for serving readers have shown positive signs: The number of cards issued, the number of readers using the library, and the number of documents circulated have all increased by 10 - 15%, in which the index of the number of readers visiting the library has increased significantly; 70 - 75% of the number of students have access to public libraries and about 80% of students have access to libraries ineducational institutions; the number of publications published annually has increased by more than one million copies/year; the forms of publishing are more diverse and attractive, the total number of books/person has increased to 4.6 copies/person. Nurturing a love of books in the countryside "Children can create miracles when they read books" - That is the guiding principle for a community library in Duong Lieu commune, Hoai Duc district, Hanoi to operate for the past 10 years. The library was established by a group of young people who always look back to their homeland, pioneered by Mr. Phung Ba Hung. Currently, Mr. Hung is studying library science in the US, so the work is assigned to colleagues and volunteers in Vietnam to maintain. Looking back at the founding day, the modest numbers of books, volunteers and readers, few people can imagine the achievements at the present time: 10 years of service, staff size up to 100 people; organizing more than 200 events; issuing 3,500 reader cards; 9,000 book loans/year; owns more than 10,000 documents... Besides maintaining library activities, young people often inspire each other through outdoor programs, group activities, life skills training, office computer classes... Up to now, Duong Lieu library has become a familiar meeting place for people, from children to the elderly in Hoai Duc district, Hanoi.

Duong Lieu Library with modern space attracts many children, young people and the elderly to read books.

The tree library at Vinh Tuong Town Primary School, Vinh Phuc is a typical example of developing a reading culture at school. This unique library has more than 1,000 diverse books, modern design, combined with play and exercise corners such as climbing walls, simple climbing ropes, etc., attracting students during recess. The impressive thing when coming to this school is also the love of books and the enthusiasm of the teachers. The teachers themselves are people who love to read, grow up from books, so they always have the desire to help their students access many good books. Teacher Tran Thi Chung, Vice Principal of Vinh Tuong Town Primary School happily shared: “This library is the passion and affection of children far from home who were once students of Vinh Tuong Town Primary School. After they grew up, they wanted to develop a reading culture for the school. Since having a beautiful outdoor library, the rate of students coming to read books has increased, 100% of students come many times in a school year.” The tree library with a space close to nature and lots of sunlight has inspired students to play, read books, and exchange with friends. As a result, many students have won high prizes in provincial storytelling competitions, becoming Ambassadors of reading culture to continue spreading that good spirit to everyone around them.

Unique tree library inspires reading for students in Vinh Phuc.

“Spring Library” brings books to children in the Central Highlands

In the city, access to books is easy and there are many choices. But in remote villages, books seem to be a precious and new gift for children. That is also the reason why many community volunteer projects about books have been born. Since 2022, "Spring Library" with the typical image of a mobile book cart has brought warm sunshine to students in the Central Highlands. The founder of this project is Mr. Pham Thanh Tuan, born in 1985, from Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak. In 2019, Mr. Tuan left Ho Chi Minh City to return to his hometown Buon Ma Thuot to work in a media and event company. He had the opportunity to work on a project to renovate the road in the center into Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Book Street, and since then has been attached to books. In 2020, after collecting books from the city to remote villages, Mr. Tuan found himself suited to community activities, so he decided to open a social enterprise related to education.

Mr. Pham Thanh Tuan - founder of the "Spring Library" project has attached his mission to developing a reading culture for children in mountainous areas.

Sharing about the idea of ​​choosing a mobile book cart, Mr. Tuan said: “The rainy season in the Central Highlands lasts 6 months, the roads are red dirt and muddy, so I thought of a cart that can both carry books and gifts. After researching, I found that there are mobile sales carts that can be converted very appropriately. Starting to roll out in June 2022, the cart has so far visited more than 50 schools in the Central Highlands provinces”. On average, each month, the “Spring Library” will go to a school, donating 300-500 books to make small bookshelves in each classroom. In addition, the mobile cart carrying about 2,000 books will be placed in the school yard for children to freely explore . In particular, the project focuses on experiential and interactive activities, because according to Mr. Tuan, games with gifts will stimulate children's reading much more. Accordingly, for each program, the Organizing Committee will arrange 7 colors corresponding to 7 different experience stations such as: playing chess, assembling, drawing, asking questions, etc. After reading the book, students will harvest by writing their feelings or interacting with volunteers to receive gifts. The homeroom teachers are also effective volunteers in running the game.

Many activities are organized for children to have fun and access books naturally.

Small bookshelves are placed in classrooms to stimulate students' love of reading.

After trips to bring knowledge to students in disadvantaged areas, Mr. Thanh Tuan realized that he could not impose his own interests on children but had to have clever ways to help them get interested in reading. If they do not like reading, it is necessary to integrate side activities so that they actively want to touch books. The necessary factors to develop a reading culture are: environment, book resources and especially people. Teachers and volunteers who love books and children will help inspire and encourage children to learn. Someone once said: "Giving children a box of gold is not as good as teaching them a good book". Each book will become a good friend, helping to nurture the soul, develop thinking and open up new skies for children. Hopefully, there will be more library projects implemented to help fulfill the dreams of generations of students across the country.

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