Developing a reading culture in Hoi An

Developing a reading culture in the age of information technology and digital transformation involves many changes and is subject to complex and unpredictable impacts, especially for Hoi An - a land that once had a "golden age" of reading culture. Therefore, it requires responsible guidance to adapt flexibly and appropriately.

The "Book Fair" is usually organized by the Thanh Hoa - Hoi An Library in collaboration with organizations inside and outside the city to serve readers. Photo: DO HUAN

The Thanh Hoa - Hoi An Library was awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for its excellent organization of community library activities at the grassroots level and was recognized as a typical model in the "Skilled Public Relations" emulation movement in 2024 for its achievements in serving the community.

Initially, the library had 10,000 books donated by a delegation of officials from Thanh Hoa town during their visit to Hoi An in April 1975. Today, the Thanh Hoa - Hoi An Library has increased its collection to 47,564 books with 20,454 titles.

Every year, Hoi An City allocates a budget to acquire suitable books; the library organizes many attractive activities, so the number of readers visiting the library is increasing.

In addition to serving readers, the library also collaborates with other libraries, agencies, organizations, departments, and reading centers at the grassroots level to provide professional support and regularly donate books and newspapers. Furthermore, the library advises and coordinates with other units to organize successful "Book Fairs".

"Hoi An Reading Space" in its early days of operation at the Hoi An Museum (Tran Hung Dao Street). Photo: DO HUAN

To date, 30 "Book Fairs" have been organized by publishers and exhibition companies from Da Nang, Hue, and Hanoi, offering "Half-Price Book Fair" promotions, free reading spaces, and activities for children to draw bookmarks, contributing to the development of reading culture in Hoi An.

Besides the Thanh Hoa - Hoi An Library and the school library system which are maintaining effective operations, in recent years Hoi An City has also rapidly developed libraries and reading rooms in communes, wards, villages, and neighborhoods.

Within the community, there are also many well-organized and diverse family libraries. This provides an opportunity and a foundation to support the development of reading culture among all segments of the city's population.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Chairman of the City's Association for the Promotion of Learning, said that public libraries and school libraries have introduced books and useful materials to share information and create favorable conditions for everyone to participate in reading to improve their awareness.

Simultaneously, strengthen activities to provide advice, training, and guidance on skills for searching, exploiting, and using information on the internet in a useful and safe manner; and on how to use e-books and e-libraries effectively.

Hoi An is a city of culture. Among the criteria of a cultural city, a rich and profound cultural life is essential, and this cannot be without a reading culture. In the past, Hoi An proudly boasted a "golden age" of reading culture.

A reading spot at the community cultural center in Cam Thanh commune. Photo: DO HUAN

According to research by Master Phung Tan Dong (living in Hoi An), along with Thanh Ha port town in Hue, Hoi An in Quang Nam province was a place where the reading movement flourished from the Duy Tan era (early 20th century) with the "heartfelt letters" of Luong Khai Sieu and Khang Huu Vi, contributing to the extremely vigorous and widespread Duy Tan movement.

According to Mr. Phung Tan Dong, "In the past, Hoi An was a book market. In an article presented at a conference on the Duy Tan movement, philosopher Bui Van Nam Son spoke extensively about the reading culture in Hoi An. Students from Central Vietnam, from places like Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, etc., would come to Hoi An and wait for months to buy books to keep up with the trends of the time."

"Great revolutionaries and educators in Central Vietnam, such as teacher Tran Dinh Phong, doctor Tran Dinh Nam, the Le Dinh Duong and Le Dinh Tham brothers, poet Bui Giang, and writer Phan Tu... all read books, accumulated knowledge, and developed their thinking in Hoi An."

In the years following the liberation of their homeland, the reading movement in Hoi An remained strong and widespread among the community, encompassing various demographics and age groups, despite the difficult and impoverished economic conditions at the time.

The "Hoi An Reading Space" group collaborates in organizing activities to encourage and cultivate reading habits among young people. Photo: DO HUAN

Currently, in Hoi An, there is a group called "Hoi An Reading Space" that is operating very creatively and effectively, attracting the attention of many people, especially teenagers and children. Launched and operating since the end of 2013, the "Hoi An Reading Space" group has demonstrated the dedicated efforts of book lovers and avid readers who are completely voluntary in their pursuit of reading.

Usually held on weekends, previously in the area around the Hoi An Museum (Tran Hung Dao Street) and now flexible according to demand, the "Hoi An Reading Space" group brings about 500 books, newspapers, and magazines of various kinds to serve free of charge to locals and tourists. These books and newspapers are donated by organizations and individuals inside and outside the city.

In the current context of scientific and technological development, digital technology has impacted many aspects of life, and therefore, reading culture has also undergone many changes. The current state of books and reading culture in general in the age of information technology and digital transformation in Hoi An is similar to the general situation nationwide.

Mr. Tong Quoc Hung, Head of the City's Department of Culture, Science and Communication, believes that to further promote reading culture for everyone, especially young people in the current digital age, each individual must choose a suitable way of reading and learning. Families and schools have the responsibility to guide students of all ages to know how to select, learn, read independently, and read correctly online, as well as in books, newspapers, and magazines.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/phat-trien-van-hoa-doc-o-hoi-an-3155503.html