Mekong Delta Library discusses ways to become a “worth-visiting place”

Audio-visual culture is increasingly dominating over reading culture, causing many people to move away from the habit of reading, posing a challenge for librarians in the Mekong Delta region.

Bringing books closer to people, especially students, will help reading culture spread and develop.

Must change from purely traditional to smart library model

In recent years, the library system in the Mekong Delta region has tried to innovate and improve working methods to achieve efficiency in providing information, serving the research, study and entertainment needs of the people, contributing to improving people's knowledge and creativity. The application of digital transformation has created many changes in the way readers access and use library information products and services. Library activities need to be changed from a purely traditional library model to a smart library model.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nha, Deputy Director of Can Tho City Library, said: “With today’s traditional libraries, the reading space must be modern, attractive, with comprehensive information resources, professional service, and enough attraction. Particularly in implementing a digital library, the prerequisite is to have a diverse and rich source of digital information resources, meeting the needs of readers anytime, anywhere. The digital database system is provided by publishers, distribution centers, bookstores, and self-digitized information such as local records, rare documents, theses, dissertations, scientific research documents, etc.” As of 2023, Can Tho City Library has more than 26,000 digitized documents, including over 19,000 digitized articles and magazines, nearly 5,000 specialized digitized documents, about 400 Spring publications, nearly 3,000 Ebook titles, 408 digitized documents of Can Tho - Mekong Delta geography...

At Nguyen Dinh Chieu Library (Ben Tre province), digital technology is also actively applied to improve operational capacity and form a modern library network. The application of technology is carried out in cataloging, document processing, reader card management, searching, borrowing, returning and renewing documents, setting up websites, zalo OA... After nearly 3 years of implementation, over 200 documents have been digitized and served; 3,525 reader cards have been registered online using barcodes and QR codes in reader management, documents, login, and digital data registration; 37 audiobooks, 9 reading lessons, 27 audio stories; organizing livestreams, online minigame programs...

Mr. Duong Tan Phat, Director of Nguyen Dinh Chieu Library ( Ben Tre province), shared: “In my opinion, each library needs to change its service methods, try to maximize the strengths of communication work, and operate diversely on digital platforms to bring many practical values, in line with trends. At the same time, promote digitalization, standardize digital data, and move towards connecting libraries not only with printed resources but also with digital information resources on the basis of voluntary connection and sharing.”

Bringing books closer to everyone

To make reading culture always present in everyone's life, encourage and promote the reading movement in schools and communities, form habits, and improve reading skills, Bac Lieu Provincial Library has promoted the implementation of book services using multimedia mobile library vehicles. Although only 80 million VND was allocated for this activity in 2023, the library has carried out 133 mobile trips in the area. The results stem from the proactive planning of coordination with the education sector throughout the province to implement mobile book carts at schools. Every week, on the afternoon of Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, Bac Lieu Provincial Library also arranges mobile vehicles at Hung Vuong Square because this place is crowded with people, students, tourists, etc.

Ms. Luu Thi Hong Lieu, Director of Bac Lieu Provincial Library, said: “The library determines that bringing books to remote areas through mobile vehicles is a necessary condition for reading culture to advance further and become closer to the people and students. It helps children access books, answer questions in books, have more joy and love reading more. The library always creates prestige, trust and has good relationships with schools.”

With the motto "Books enhance knowledge, strengthen the future", Kien Giang Provincial Library focuses on coordinating with kindergartens and primary schools to build extracurricular classes at the Provincial Library so that students can get acquainted with books and love reading at a young age. In particular, secondary schools, high schools, colleges and universities often contact the library to organize monthly field trips and thematic activities. Thanks to that, students can experience many activities such as listening to fairy tales, introducing good books by topic, assembling STEM models, participating in folk games, etc.

Each library researches, learns from experience and proposes solutions and initiatives to attract readers such as adding more trees, arranging, renovating service spaces, allocating new book sources suitable for each time, reforming card making procedures, building a friendly reading environment, a cheerful, enthusiastic attitude, opening for service on Saturdays, Sundays and evenings...

Ms. Kieu Thuy Nga, Director of the Library Department, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: “Libraries in the Mekong Delta need to continue to implement approved decisions and programs to develop a reading culture in the region. Promoting the development and implementation of digital transformation in the library sector is a common trend today. Despite many difficulties, libraries need to persevere and make efforts to build databases and improve the capacity of library staff in applying technology to ensure connectivity.”

In order for reading culture to spread more and more strongly in community life, it is necessary to have the joint efforts and consensus of all levels, sectors, organizations and individuals. Aiming to arouse the passion for reading, helping reading become a conscious and voluntary activity!

Conference to review activities of the Mekong Delta Library Association

Last weekend, in Hau Giang, the Mekong Delta Library Association held a conference to review the activities of the Mekong Delta Library Association for the 2022-2024 term. Attending were about 100 delegates, including leaders of the Library Department, Library Association, National Library of Vietnam, Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of provinces and cities... to exchange models and good practices to develop a reading culture in the community. In 2023, the Mekong Delta Library Association served 15,083,066 readers with 29,747,309 books and newspapers; issued 35,053 new library cards to readers; displayed 2,652 specialized book and newspaper exhibitions; provided 123 extracurricular services at the library; provided 939 mobile services....

Article and photos: HONG NHUNG

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