In 1956, at Thuy Ta house on Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Library was established with the original name of the People’s Reading Room. Up to now, the Library is located at 47, Ba Trieu Street, Hoan Kiem District. The library was built with superficial and impressive architecture, consisting of two 9-storey blocks and simulating an open book image as embracing the endless flow of human knowledge. This is one of the cultural works to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi. Hanoi Library is also located at 2B Quang Trung – Ha Dong to serve the readers.
Book and newspaper exhibition on the occasion of Hanoi’s 64th Independence Day Anniversary
With a long history of foundation, Hanoi Library is considered a massive book treasure of the Capital people. The library provides readers with nearly 600,000 books, more than 400 newspapers and journals in Vietnamese and foreign language, and many Hanoi monograph documents (maps, epitaphs, stories of the gods, spirituality and village conventions …) , arranged scientifically for the search. In order to meet information needs of the Capital readers, Hanoi Library has constantly renovated its operation methods, improved the reader serving quality such as: Simplifying card-making procedures; expand the system of service rooms including children’s rooms; newspaper reading room; borrowing room; reading room on demand; foreign language book reading room; reading room for visually impaired people; reading room for documents about Hanoi and multimedia reading room … The LibaLIBOL has applied LIBOL 6.0 software for operations, management and reader serving: issuing cards online; compiling thematic directory and new book introduction directory; digitizing monograph documents; producing books for the visually impaired readers (Braille books and audio books); completing database and search system to meet the needs of information exploitation and use for the readers … The Library is open at 8 am – 5 pm on weekdays.
To Hanoi Libarary, the readers freely search and read the books they love
With these advantages, Hanoi Library is very suitable for study, research and relaxation of many people at all ages. Here, older people like to read historical and geographic books …; scientific researchers read and learn about precious materials; and young people read book and newspapers, study materials or bring books to study in a quiet and cool space. In summer, the children’s room organizes many useful and practical activities to serve “small” readers such as organizing games to identify works and writing about the reading experience. The Library organizes examinations and awards prizes for the most moving and beautiful examination papers for the children … These activities have contributed to encouraging the children to love the books and open the surrounding world through the books. Besides improvement of service quality for the readers, Hanoi Library has also promoted propaganda activities: Vietnam Book Day (April 21), World Book and Copyright Day (April 23); introduction to new books; special-theme talk; and display of books and newspapers on holidays, anniversary …
For more than half a century, Hanoi Library has become an attractive destination and made good impressions on many generations of the Capital people.
Hương Giang