PV:Our ancestors used to say: "Leaving gold and silver is not as good as leaving books for children", or "A treasure of gold is not as good as a bag of books". And the world-famous writer, the great Russian poet M. Gorki said: "Books open up new horizons before my eyes". Through these famous quotes, how can we understand the role of books in human life, sir?
Mr. Nguyen Vinh Quang:It can be said that books play an important role in human life. Books give us knowledge about many issues in life. Only with the pages of books, the next generation can understand what the previous generation has done, inherited and continued to develop, making human life more civilized and modern.
Along with that, books are great teachers, having a great effect on educating human personality. Each book represents noble human values, teaching us how to live, love, and share with those around us. Because when writing books, the writer has sent experiences, thoughts, feelings, aspirations in life and in all social relationships, thereby helping readers understand, feel and change themselves.
In addition, books also help us have moments of relaxation that are comfortable and effective, bringing us refreshing and useful laughter. In addition, good books also give useful advice and ways to overcome pressure and fatigue to live a happier and more joyful life.
Therefore, reading is one of the activities that plays a decisive role in the intellectual development and personality improvement of an individual, a community and the whole society. When reading reaches a certain standard and that standard is spread, developed and becomes popular in the community, then people call it "reading culture".
PV:Over the years, Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day has been an important cultural event for book lovers and the entire community, an opportunity to honor the value of books, affirm the position, role and importance of books in social life. Could you tell us more about this? What are the outstanding activities in Nghe An every year in response to Book and Reading Culture Day?
Mr. Nguyen Vinh Quang:On February 24, 2014, the Government signed Decision No. 284/QD-TTg to designate April 21 as Vietnam Book Day. The choice of April 21 as Vietnam Book Day is very important. Because on this day, in 1927, the first book of Vietnam, “Duong Kach Menh” by President Ho Chi Minh – the first work in Vietnamese printed by Vietnamese printers, was published. In addition, April is also the time for World Book and Copyright Day (April 23), to honor reading culture, encouraging people around the world to discover the love of reading. Organizing Vietnam Book Day on this occasion demonstrates the integration of Vietnamese reading culture with world culture.
By 2021, Vietnam Book Day was renamed Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day in Decision No. 1862/QD-TTg dated November 4, 2021 of the Prime Minister. Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day aims to encourage and develop the reading movement in the community, raising people's awareness of the great significance and importance of reading for the development of knowledge, skills and thinking, education and self-development.
In response to Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day, in recent years, many meaningful activities have taken place in Nghe An such as: organizing book donations to give to bookcases in disadvantaged mountainous districts; organizing experiential activities, granting free cards to students to visit the Provincial Library; organizing book displays and exhibitions, arranging artistic book models; organizing book promotion and storytelling competitions for students of schools; serving book circulation and serving mobile library vehicles at schools in the province...
PV:In recent times, what notable changes have there been in the reading movement in general and library activities in particular in Nghe An, sir?
Mr. Nguyen Vinh Quang:In recent times, the cultural sector in general and the Library in particular have always received attention from our Party and State, which have promptly issued laws, directives, and projects to encourage and facilitate the development of reading culture. Regarding the public library system, since the Library Ordinance was issued, now the Library Law, relevant departments have issued many decrees, circulars, etc. to direct and guide the library system to develop in the right direction.
In particular, Decision No. 324/QD-TTg dated March 15, 2017 of the Prime Minister on developing reading culture in the community until 2020 with a vision to 2030; Plan No. 567/KH-UBND dated October 8, 2021 of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on developing reading culture in the community in Nghe An province for the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030 are the levers that create momentum for the Nghe An public library system to perform well its functions and tasks to develop reading rooms in general and library activities in particular. All of these documents create favorable conditions for libraries to invest in facilities, funding for activities, and for the reading movement to develop more reading culture in the community.
In recent times, Nghe An Provincial Library has tried to innovate its content and methods of operation, improve the quality of services and service models to attract readers such as: Promoting the promotion of books and newspapers in the library; organizing Book Promotion and Introduction Contests, Storytelling through books, Reading Culture Ambassador Contests from district to central level; circulating books to grassroots reading rooms and building many grassroots libraries and bookcases to develop the reading movement, especially promoting the role of "mobile library" vehicles serving schools in the whole province to develop the reading movement in schools.
From these changes, Nghe An Provincial Library and the system of grassroots libraries in the whole province are gradually affirming their position as an information, cultural and educational center outside of school - a friendly and close common home for readers and the community. With the shift and diversification of activities as well as the promotion of propaganda work, the Provincial Library is attracting more and more readers, more people know about the Library. Every year, we attract tens of thousands of readers and millions of circulations of books, newspapers and magazines.
PV:During your time working in the library, can you share some good stories and memorable memories about spreading reading culture?
Mr. Nguyen Vinh Quang:Compared to many other staff at the Provincial Library, my time working in the library is not long. However, I have accumulated many memorable memories. For example, during the process of serving reading books at Team 10, Sub-camp No. 2, Prison No. 3 located in Tan Ky district, a prisoner named Le Ngoc Quy wrote a letter to the Board of Directors and staff of the Provincial Library to express his gratitude for the cooperation between the Provincial Library and Prison No. 3 in bringing good books to prisoners. The humanistic meaning of the books has helped people who have made mistakes like Mr. Quy to reflect on themselves, strive to reform well, and soon be rehabilitated to become useful people for society.
Another interesting memory is that at Nghe An Provincial Library, an old war invalid named Thanh came to find the poetry collection “Camouflage Leaf Circle” by author Hong Dung, which according to him contained many good poems about a heroic time of war. But at the Provincial Library, this book had been borrowed by a reader before. Realizing Thanh’s earnestness, with the connection and sharing of document sources, the librarian asked the library of the neighboring province to find and photocopy the poem for him. Before the enthusiastic service spirit of the library staff, Thanh was very touched. A few days later, he came to the library and brought a bamboo flute to play for the cadres to listen to as a thank you.
In addition, in Vietnam, there has not been a specific and long-term strategy for developing a reading culture. Reading mainly falls on groups of readers such as students, researchers working in environments related to books and knowledge. On the other hand, the group of readers in urban areas accounts for a much higher proportion than the group of readers in mountainous and rural areas.
However, the development of science and technology has created conditions for digital publishing to develop. Thanks to technology, publications are published faster and reach readers more easily. Readers have gotten closer to books through websites and applications on smart devices. In addition, there are currently many forums on the internet for reading, sharing, and introducing books, attracting millions of participants. In addition, most researchers, critics, writers, social activists, and educators have accounts on social networks. They participate in the reading culture by introducing their reading experiences, thereby inspiring and spreading them to the public.
In my opinion, to develop a reading culture in the current digital age, it is necessary to promote digital transformation of the library system to diversify and improve the quality of services for readers; develop express delivery services, bring books to remote areas, contributing to building healthy reading tastes for the public. In addition, it is necessary to promote the socialization of reading culture through suitable spaces such as book cafes, private libraries, etc.; encourage businesses to participate in activities to support libraries and activities to develop a reading culture in businesses and the community. In addition, increasing the introduction of books on social networking platforms helps readers easily search and read.
For young people, reading requires proper guidance and direction from family and school from a young age, including promoting and orienting online reading and forming a culture of online reading in a timely, accurate and effective manner. Schools need to develop reading habits and reading skills for students as a necessary subject at all levels.
PV:Thank you for this interview!