Ms. Hoang Thi Kim Oanh, Director of Thua Thien Hue General Library

Ms. Oanh acknowledged: Many readers, mainly young people, have used online reading applications to maintain their love for books. That is also the way young people approach books and reading culture in the current digital age.

So, madam, regarding libraries, what innovations have there been in recent years in attracting readers in general and spreading reading culture in particular?

Over the years, in addition to focusing on supplementing quality resources and investing in physical facilities and equipment, we have focused on understanding readers' reading needs in order to have a direction for building a collection of documents and organizing appropriate services for readers.

We also focus on arranging, changing and expanding reading room space, organizing online card issuance, enhancing innovation and creativity in serving readers, ways of propaganda, and spreading reading culture among all classes of people. In particular, depending on each reader, there are different propaganda methods and models, in order to create favorable conditions for readers to access more information.

Can you elaborate on the changes towards digital technology to serve readers?

To keep up with the trend of reading in the current digital age, in addition to innovating, diversifying and improving the quality of activities, attracting readers to the library, we are focusing on building an "Electronic Library". In particular, focusing on promoting the digitization of documents, regularly updating information into the library's specialized software system to serve readers' search on the network environment.

Readers can look up documents in the digital libraries and read books online through the library's online reading channels. In addition, on the occasion of events and major holidays of the homeland and country, we also create video clips introducing specialized books and new books available at the library on social networking platforms to promote events as well as introduce related books to readers.

On the other hand, to promote the development of reading culture, we maintain and innovate activities to develop reading culture in the community, and strengthen reading promotion activities. Every year, we have proactively coordinated with units to organize well activities related to books such as Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day, Book Festival, Reading Culture Ambassador competitions, online book introductions, book painting competitions, book quizzes, book presentation and introduction competitions, book storytelling, new book introduction seminars, etc. At the same time, we also always focus on innovating the method of "fun reading, fun learning" to create a friendly playground, especially for children and students.

Books still have their own value, still exist with an irreplaceable position and place.

From both a professional and personal perspective, what do you see in young people's reading habits recently?

In the digital age, I see that young readers have focused on using various forms of technology to maintain a new passion for reading. Not only reading traditional paper books, digital technology has supported young people a lot in the present time, of course reading culture is also included in it.

In recent years, book festivals have been held more frequently and are always crowded with readers, mostly young people, coming to read and buy books at the booths. In big cities, there are book streets and book cafes where young readers also come to read books. Young people also actively participate in reading promotion activities, organizing many community reading spots in parks, schools, etc. This shows that young readers are also very interested in traditional paper books and the reading culture has gradually returned.

But there are still many young people and children who do not have the habit of reading books. What do you think is the reason?

Children today do not like to read books for many reasons. Firstly, the attraction of smart electronic devices, technology tablets that provide many entertainment programs such as online games, cartoons... makes children attracted and do not spend time reading books. Secondly, in some families, parents or the elderly today tend to reduce, less interested in guiding children to explore and read books on their own. Thirdly, paper books are increasingly less attractive, not creating interest for children compared to when children use electronic devices such as phones, iPads, TVs... Fourthly, the fear, feeling pressured by the expectations of parents who want their children to read books to become talented people.

Children enjoy reading books in the children's space inside Thua Thien Hue General Library

In all, the reason children do not like reading books is because parents have not created a habit for them from an early age, which is also a very important factor.

So where should we start to instill a love of reading in children?

To create a reading habit for children, we first need to understand why children are not interested in this. Parents should help children access books and form a reading habit from an early age, seeing reading as a good thing. And if children are aware that reading is good and form a reading habit from a young age, then when they grow up, no matter how busy they are, they will still take time to read.

It is necessary to create a comfortable reading space for children. In the house, there should be a small bookcase and a separate bookshelf for books and newspapers for children so that they can easily access them. Find out your children's reading interests, do not put pressure on them and guide them to read a variety of books. And you yourself must set an example for your children, read books often and read books with them. The whole family reads together and parents must practice reading skills for children.

So does that mean that developing an important reading culture must start from the family?

Nowadays, many children do not have the habit of reading as mentioned above, partly due to the influence of the family. When parents and adults in the family do not have the habit of reading and reading with their children, children will not be able to form the habit and enjoy reading. If your children never see their parents reading, it is very difficult to force them to read. Therefore, if you want your children to read, you must be a role model for them. If children often see their parents reading, they will be more likely to pick up books to read themselves.

If parents do not guide their children to appropriate activities such as reading, the risk of children abusing digital devices will be very high. Therefore, family members need to discuss with each other about reading and the content of the books they are reading. When parents and adults in the family guide their children to read good books with good content, read books with their children to create interest in reading, it will be very helpful in promoting the development of children's thinking and personality in the future.

Reading books can improve children's language expression and stimulate their communication skills, can broaden their horizons and knowledge, intelligence, emotions, creativity... When they have a passion for reading, it will help children form good people, useful to the community and society. At the same time, it is necessary to create conditions for children to be exposed to activities to develop a reading culture in the community, participate in associations, groups and book clubs... to help children have a close, friendly and healthy working environment.

Thank you for the chat!

Nhat Minh (Implementation)