"Lighting up" reading culture

Young people reading books at the Hoi An Bookstore.

Located within the grounds of Hoi An Park (Hac Thanh Ward) – a lush and refreshing destination – the library stands out amidst tree-lined paths, the chirping of birds, and the familiar scent of plants and trees. It appears as an "oasis of knowledge," a place where visitors can pause, read a few pages, breathe slowly, and connect more deeply with themselves. Upon entering, one is sure to be impressed by its open design, like a "garden of knowledge" close to nature and full of creative inspiration.

Arriving at the reading room on a late June day, children and parents happily participated in a litter-picking and environmental cleanup activity at Hoi An Park from early morning. After experiencing the practical activities, the children and parents, along with the "leaders," enthusiastically discussed the books and their environmental content. Ms. Trinh Thi Mai Dung (Hac Thanh ward), who participated in the happy reading session with her daughter, shared: "I learned about the reading room through friends. The reading room has many interesting and meaningful activities, not only encouraging children to love books and awaken their passion for reading, but also, through the content of each page, the 'leaders' here have combined practical activities related to life, then summarized the lessons through stories and content read. From there, it helps children develop life skills, ethics, love for family, and sharing with the community."

Ms. Pham Thi Hien, co-founder of Hoi An Bookstore, shared: "Happy Reading Hour is an activity built on three elements: morality, intellect, and perseverance, with many different themes. The themes of the reading hour are closely linked to real-life activities. Thanks to this, children not only get to read books, learn, and explore knowledge, but also develop life skills and morality through practical lessons and experiential activities."

Along with happy reading time, Hoi An Bookstore also offers free reading to readers and organizes free drawing and English classes for children during the summer. Choosing his favorite book and engrossed in exploring it , Nguyen Le Hoang, a student from Minh Khai 1 Primary School, said: “For almost two years now, I’ve regularly come here to read. It has a quiet, relaxing atmosphere, many good books, and many engaging book introductions and practical activities that help me appreciate the simplest things in life.”

With the desire to spread a reading culture in the community, the founders of Hoi An Bookstore also regularly organize activities to introduce good books on social media associated with famous people, great figures, or national events; coordinate with schools in the province to organize reading culture festivals and book reading festivals; connect with authors and speakers to organize seminars and share about the spirit of reading and the value of books for students and teachers...

In addition, the co-founders of the reading room collectively contributed books, mobilized readers, publishers, etc., to donate books to the reading room. To date, the reading room has more than 2,000 books, covering many fields such as children's stories, books on history, great figures, culture, science , skills, etc., categorized into levels: recommended reading books, good books to learn from, self-development books, Buddhist and moral books, and personal books... The books are arranged in small, open-plan corners, each featuring inspirational quotes about reading culture.

Not only is the Hoi An Bookstore unique and creative in its layout, book arrangement, and activity organization, but it also inspires students, parents, and locals alike to share a reading culture in a natural and accessible way, stemming from the passion, love, and respect for books of its founders.

Mr. Hoang Trong Thanh, co-founder of the Hoi An Bookstore, shared: “The Bookstore was built by people who are passionate about reading and have reaped the rewards from it. We all want to cultivate a reading habit, ignite a passion for reading, spread a reading culture, and enhance the awareness, ethics, and willpower of each individual.”

For the founders of the Hoi An Bookstore, reading culture is like a revolution, requiring leaders who are willing to take the lead, pioneers, and enthusiastic to build and develop it. Therefore, the first factor the co-founders prioritize is the human element. They choose partners and collaborators who not only share a passion for books but also have undergone a process of self-improvement, moral development, and perseverance; who are enthusiastic and always ready to actively participate in all activities to spread reading culture to individuals, families, schools, and society.

With the dedication of its "leaders" in the reading culture, after more than a year of operation, the Hoi An Bookstore has attracted over 6,000 visitors, 500 readers who borrowed books, and organized 10 reading culture events throughout the province, helping to ignite a passion for reading among teachers, students, and parents across the province. More than just a place to read, the Hoi An Bookstore has truly become a destination for those who wish to develop themselves holistically.

Text and photos: Quynh Chi

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/thap-lua-van-hoa-doc-254039.htm