General Secretary To Lam's wife visits Oodi Central Library (Finland) and presents 'Vietnamese Bookshelf'

According to the special correspondent of the Vietnam News Agency, within the framework of the official visit to the Republic of Finland by General Secretary To Lam and his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, at the invitation of Finnish President Alexander Stubb, on the morning of October 21, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and the wife of the Finnish President Suzanne Innes-Stubb visited the Oodi Central Library in Helsinki, Finland.

The two ladies visited the exhibition areas, reading spaces, the "Book Heaven" area, film screenings, art exhibitions, seminars, art creations, science and technology exploration, group work, entertainment, and events for all ages, families, and especially children. Introducing the formation process, architecture, and outstanding activities of the Oodi Library, Library Director Anna-Maria Soininvaara emphasized that the Oodi Library is one of the most modern cultural works in Finland, considered a symbol of "open knowledge" and a community creative space for the people of Helsinki.

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her joy at visiting Oodi Library, thanked Madam Suzanne Innes-Stubb and the Library Board of Directors for their warm welcome; and expressed her impression of the Library's modern and massive space and document system. Madam Ngo Phuong Ly shared that in the context of rapid development of science, technology and media, knowledge can be accessed through many platforms, but Oodi Library still maintains its mission - to be a center for creativity, knowledge sharing and community connection.

This is a unique model for Vietnam to refer to. Vietnamese people have long valued reading as an indispensable part of the journey of knowledge and personality improvement, so Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly is particularly impressed with Finland's education policy and system, where books and knowledge are not only preserved but also spread, inspiring creativity and promoting community development.

On this occasion, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, on behalf of the Vietnamese Delegation, presented the Oodi Library with a "Vietnamese Bookcase" consisting of more than 120 selected books, nearly 160 Vietnamese and bilingual books in 4 main thematic groups:

Literary and artistic books with classic Vietnamese literary works, modern short stories, anthologies of Vietnamese poems and fairy tales, help foreign readers and overseas Vietnamese children understand more about the Vietnamese language and soul.

Vietnamese history and culture books introduce the journey of nation building and defense, cultural celebrities, customs and practices, and tangible and intangible heritages recognized by UNESCO.

Contemporary Vietnamese Books - Integration and Development includes books and bilingual publications introducing the country and people of Vietnam in the period of innovation and international integration, along with publications on diplomacy , education, science, technology, environment and sustainable development.

Books for children and Vietnamese language practice, a special group of books aimed at the young Vietnamese community in Finland, including translated books of famous Finnish literary works, comics, bilingual picture books and extended reading books to preserve and spread the Vietnamese language among the second and third generations of Vietnamese people abroad.

The “Vietnamese Bookshelf” is located in the “Book Paradise” area on the 3rd floor of the Library, along with other foreign language books. This will be the first Vietnamese reading corner in the Helsinki public library system, open free of charge to the public and the Vietnamese community in Finland.

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly emphasized that the Oodi Library's solemn space to receive the "Vietnamese Bookcase" is a vivid demonstration of the openness, respect and appreciation of Finland's cultural diversity; hoping that from this first bookcase, in the future there will be more bookcases and cultural exchange programs organized not only in Finland but also in many other countries around the world where Vietnamese people live. These will be sustainable "knowledge bridges", nurturing understanding, respect and friendship between nations.

The wife of the President of Finland, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, thanked Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly for her gift, emphasizing that the Vietnamese Bookcase has a very special meaning, contributing to bridging the understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries.

Library Director Anna-Maria Soininvaara expressed her deep gratitude for the meaningful gift from Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, considering it a testament to the friendship and people-to-people exchange between the two countries, and affirmed that Oodi Library will respectfully introduce and maintain the "Vietnamese Bookshelf" as part of the multilingual space at the library.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/phu-nhan-tong-bi-thu-to-lam-tham-thu-vien-trung-tam-oodi-phan-lan-va-trao-tang-tu-sach-tieng-viet-20251022060627828.htm