Delegates attending the Conference
Attending the conference were: Deputy Head of the Propaganda Department of the Hanoi Party Committee Dao Xuan Dung; Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports Tran Thi Van Anh; representatives of the Library Department, Hanoi Department of Education and Training, and representatives from various departments and units of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports; representatives of cultural and information offices, cultural centers, and educational offices of districts, towns, and suburban areas across the city.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports Tran Thi Van Anh emphasized that the Library Law was passed by the 14th National Assembly in 2019 and took effect on July 1, 2020. The law, focusing on the development of reading culture, the modernization and updating of the library system, and inter-library connections, clearly affirms the role of libraries in the development of the country’s culture, science, and education, contributing to raising intellectual standards and building a learning society in Vietnam. The law has had a significant impact on the reading culture among various population segments and provided new momentum for the library sector.
Presenting the 5-year review report on the implementation of the Library Law, Head of the Cultural Management Department of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports Le Thi Hong Hanh noted that to implement the Library Law in the operations of the public library system in Hanoi, the Hanoi Library followed the directives from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the Hanoi People’s Committee, and the Department of Culture and Sports, implementing specific tasks for the public library system through conferences, professional seminars, and training programs. These activities involved leadership representatives from the managing units and district-level library staff, as well as commune-level cultural officials and library personnel, to ensure uniformity and effectiveness in the law’s enforcement. This approach equips library staff with essential legal foundations, tasks, responsibilities, and specific rights in management and professional activities, enabling effective application of the Library Law in practical work at libraries at all levels within the public library system, thereby enhancing service quality for readers in Hanoi.
Deputy Director Tran Thi Van Anh gave a speech at the conference.
The implementation of the Library Law was also linked to promoting the reading culture development project in the community, focusing on five groups of solutions with specific measures: 1) Strengthening information and propaganda efforts; 2) Continuing to innovate services and organize various reading promotion activities within and outside libraries and in online spaces; 3) Promoting the habit of reading and equipping readers with reading skills and methods; 4) Enhancing the efficiency of the public library system and increasing IT application; 5) Boosting socialization in library activities.
Administrative procedures in the library sector have been clearly decentralized into three levels. These include procedures under the authority of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports (three procedures), those under the authority of district-level People’s Committees (three procedures), and those under the authority of commune-level People’s Committees (three procedures).
Implementing the Library Law of 2019, the Hanoi Library advised the Department of Culture and Sports to submit to the Hanoi People’s Council the proposal to waive library usage fees at public libraries in Hanoi. This was enacted under Resolution No. 07/2023/NQ-HDND dated July 4, 2023, concerning fees and charges under the jurisdiction of the Hanoi People’s Council. The resolution positively impacted library users, with a rapid increase in library card registrations, encouraging more readers to visit libraries and engage with printed books. This is a socially meaningful and humanitarian aspect of the Library Law and demonstrates the effectiveness of Hanoi’s implementation of national and municipal policies to promote reading culture.
Le Thi Hong Hanh, Head of the Cultural Management Department of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, spoke at the conference
In his presentation, Hanoi Library Director Tran Tuan Anh shared that the public library system in Hanoi includes one provincial-level library, 29 district-level libraries, and 53 commune-level libraries. Additionally, there are 1,096 community libraries, grassroots reading rooms, and 13 private libraries serving the community. Since the Library Law of 2019 was implemented, the Hanoi Library has been restructured and modernized, with its infrastructure significantly improved. District-level libraries have stabilized, showing positive changes that contribute to enhancing the cultural enjoyment of the public, especially in terms of access to books and newspapers. The development of reading culture in the community is always a focus.
Thanks to the efforts of library staff, the system has achieved certain successes in preserving valuable documents, building a reading culture, and maintaining the reading demand among various social groups. The development of the grassroots library network has garnered attention and support from local leaders, creating favorable conditions for cultural activities. The presence of well-equipped cultural houses in villages and residential clusters is an important factor in establishing, developing, and sustaining library and bookcase operations.
Annually, district-level libraries participate in reading culture development activities organized by the city, such as Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day, the Capital Children’s Book Introduction Contest, the City Reading Ambassador Contest, the Good Library Staff Contest, and the “Family Reading – Developing Family Bookcases, Connecting Love” competition. Notably, the 2024 Reading Ambassador Contest in Hanoi, with the theme “Promoting the Spirit of Thang Long – Hanoi, Building a Civilized and Modern Capital” to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Capital’s liberation (October 10, 1954 – October 10, 2024), achieved notable results, with nearly 100% of communes, wards, and towns organizing school-level contests and 100% of districts organizing district-level finals and forming teams for the city-level contest.
Hanoi Library Director Tran Tuan Anh delivered remarks at the conference.
Additionally, various activities were organized, such as book talks, themed book introductions, and book exhibitions, enhancing effective reading culture models at libraries throughout the city. The development of grassroots libraries and reading rooms has been promoted, with an average of 30 to 40 new libraries and reading rooms established annually. Some districts with strong and efficient grassroots library networks include Hoan Kiem, Tay Ho, Phuc Tho, Thuong Tin, Ha Dong, and Son Tay Town.
At the conference, representatives from the Hoan Kiem District Education Office, Phuc Tho District Cultural Center, and Ha Dong Library shared insights on effective practices and successful models in promoting reading culture and school and village libraries.
In her closing remarks, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports Tran Thi Van Anh praised the departments and units of the Department for their excellent preparation of materials for the review session and thanked the six practical presentations from participating units. She affirmed that the Library Law has significantly influenced not only professionals but also state management agencies in the cultural sector. After five years of implementation, alongside other policies, the Library Law has opened a new chapter for Hanoi’s library system. Investment in infrastructure, facilities, and the professional quality of library staff has enhanced the system’s effectiveness, meeting the public’s need for books and information. Particularly, it has driven the development of a reading culture in the city.
Effective reading promotion models, such as “Enjoy Good Books – Fun Summer” at the Hanoi Library, “Reading Villages” in Phuc Tho District, and “I Love Books” clubs, “Reading Together with Children” and “Teen Readers” at the Tay Ho District Cultural, Information, and Sports Center. These reading models will contribute to further developing the reading culture, building a learning society, raising intellectual standards, and comprehensively developing the Vietnamese people, aiming to create an advanced Vietnamese culture rich in national identity.
Reporter