As of now, Hanoi Library holds a total of 662,361 printed materials, including Vietnamese, Han-Nom documents, inscriptions, village conventions, photographs, maps, etc.; 395 types of newspapers and magazines; 3,204 Braille books; 3,860 CDs/DVDs; and 3,877 documents on Hanoi’s local geography. The library regularly adds valuable collections on the history, culture, and society of the capital.
Exhibitions in Response to Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day
With the completion and operation of the Dream Plus Library project, aimed at serving children readers, and the “Recreating Public Libraries for 2021-2022” project, which supports cultural exchange and information dissemination, Hanoi Library has transformed into a modern cultural space meeting the reading needs of Hanoi’s residents. New and renewed reader cards in 2022 increased by 183.5% compared to 2021, and in 2023 by 365.9%. The number of visitors in 2022 rose by 59.7% over 2021, and in 2023 by 83.7%. The volume of materials served in 2022 grew by 134.5% compared to 2021, and in 2023 by 248.7%.
The library emphasizes promoting reading culture through various forms, including book and newspaper exhibitions, specialized reading rooms, Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day, author-reader interactions, competitions, and book introductions. These meaningful activities have garnered attention and participation from readers.
From 2022 to 2024, the library organized 25 exhibitions of books and newspapers and thematic reading rooms to serve political tasks of the nation and locality. Competitions like the Hanoi City Reading Culture Ambassador Contest, Online Book Introduction Contest, and the Capital’s Children’s Book Promotion Contest have drawn significant participation from youth, etc.
Reading Culture Ambassador Contest
In 2024, the library organized the Hanoi City Reading Culture Ambassador Contest to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Hanoi’s Liberation Day. Themed “Promoting the Spirit of Thang Long – Hanoi, Building a Civilized, Modern Capital,” the contest saw participation from all 30 districts (100% participation). The “Family Reading – Developing Family Bookshelves to Foster Love” contest was held for the first time, attracting 74 exemplary families in the city with lively video clips, spreading the culture of reading in families and communities, and fostering a learning society.
The library has efficiently circulated books and newspapers to enhance the collection at local libraries, reading rooms, school libraries, private libraries serving communities, and prisons, meeting local reading demands. Reader visits in 2022 increased by 51.2% compared to 2021, and in 2023 by 163.5%. The total materials served in 2022 rose by 51.2% compared to 2021, and in 2023 by 163.5%.
“Family Reading – Developing Family Bookshelves to Foster Love” Contest
Annually, Hanoi Library collaborates with cultural, information, and sports centers, and district education departments to select elementary and middle schools in Hanoi’s suburban areas for the “Mobile Library – Knowledge on Wheels” program. In 2022 alone, the library served 40 schools with 36,000 reader visits and 108,000 materials.
To continuously innovate and diversify services, making knowledge accessible in more engaging ways, the library launched a pilot mobile library model in parks and gardens across inner-city districts in 2023, catering to the learning, entertainment, and reading culture needs of Hanoi’s people.
Mobile Library Model in Parks and Gardens
In the coming years, Hanoi Library will continue implementing the “Developing the Book Reading Model in Hanoi for the Period 2021-2025” under Program 06-CTr/TU of the City Party Committee. It will enhance communication, invest in facilities, equipment, and materials, strengthen on-site and off-site reader services, and boost the application of IT, digital libraries, and digital resources. The library will also continue developing and improving the quality of the library system and reading rooms, expanding effective reading models, and promoting family, lineage, and school bookshelves, and the “Family Reading – Fostering Love” model.
Thao Nhi