As a token of gratitude

At the 5th Can Tho City Book Fair in 2026, there is a very special book display area commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Can Tho City Library, titled "The Initial Book Collection of the Hau Giang Library - April 15, 1976". These are the meaningful books that formed the foundation for the establishment of the Can Tho City Library 50 years ago.

The exhibition corner displays "The original book collection of Hau Giang Library - April 15, 1976". Photo: DUY KHOI

Even during the intense war, starting in 1959 in the North, the Ministry of Culture had a policy of establishing "Sister Libraries." Accordingly, each province in the North would establish a sister-province relationship with a province in the South, with a prominent support activity being that libraries in the North would supplement books for the "Sister Libraries" in the South.

In October 1975, amidst the joy of the reunification of North and South Vietnam, the Department of Culture and Information of Ha Tay province (a sister unit of Can Tho province) on behalf of the Party Committee and people of Ha Tay brought 15,000 books and some equipment to the Department of Culture and Information of Can Tho province in Vi Thanh town. At the same time, a staff member from the Ha Tay Provincial Library stayed behind to advise and guide professional work, supporting the development of the Can Tho Provincial Library sector during its early, challenging days. This is a beautiful and meaningful image of the great socialist rear area supporting the great front line after the war.

The early provision of books, equipment, and professional support by the Ha Tay Provincial Library was a crucial initial foundation, paving the way for the early establishment of the Can Tho Provincial Library. This met the directives of the Can Tho Provincial Department of Culture and Information during that period, and also helped to partially satisfy the people's need to learn about and study the policies and guidelines of the revolutionary Party and State.

Furthermore, during this period, Can Tho province was very proactive in preparing the necessary infrastructure and human resources for the establishment of the provincial library. In June 1975, immediately after its establishment, the Can Tho Provincial Department of Culture and Information initially formed several specialized departments, including library operations. In December 1975, the Department of Culture and Information decided to send three young cadres from the resistance war to attend a library training course in Ho Chi Minh City, organized by the Ministry of Culture: Dang Hong Quang, Nguyen Phi Nhan, and Nguyen Van Chien. After nearly two months of study, these cadres returned and became the core group in implementing the policy of building the library and developing the reading movement in Can Tho at that time.

In February 1976, the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam issued a resolution establishing Hau Giang province, based on the merger of Can Tho province, Soc Trang province, and Can Tho city. To perfect the organizational structure and affiliated cultural institutions, in April 1975, the Hau Giang Provincial Department of Culture and Information issued a decision to establish the Hau Giang Library Group, the predecessor of the Can Tho City Library today. Through various stages, generations of librarians have strived, working and learning professional skills simultaneously, creating a solid foundation for the library's development to this day.

Within the Can Tho City Book Fair space, there is an exhibition corner as a tribute. “Fifty years, half a century has passed, and the initial collection of books from the solidarity of Ha Tay remains a source of pride and an invaluable spiritual value in the development journey of the Can Tho City Library. Furthermore, it is a beautiful testament to the strategic vision for culture and the unwavering solidarity between North and South Vietnam,” the Can Tho City Library emphasized.

DANG HUYNH

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/nhu-loi-tri-an-a202464.html