To implement the Library Law in the operations of the Hanoi public library system, based on the directives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the City People’s Committee, and the Department of Culture and Sports, Hanoi Library has adhered to the Library Law and its associated documents to carry out specific tasks across the public library system through conferences, professional seminars, and training programs with the participation of leaders and district library staff, as well as local cultural officers and library workers, ensuring consistency and effectiveness in law enforcement.
An Open Reading Room at Hanoi Library
The Department of Culture and Sports directed Hanoi Library to comply with the Library Law effectively within its internal conditions, combined with support, sponsorship, and collaboration from international organizations, various departments, unions, and the socialization of libraries, achieving positive results in implementing the Library Law.
Regarding library development, Hanoi Library has strengthened and consolidated the library system, developed information resources, and preserved valuable collections of historical, cultural, and scientific materials. The annual budget for supplementing books has increased by 19% compared to before the law was enacted, adding 13,152 book titles, an average of about 20,000 copies per year; 395 types of newspapers and magazines; 59,274 Braille pages; and 558 CDs, etc.
Activities Celebrating Book and Reading Culture Day
Hanoi Library regularly assesses readers’ needs for information resources to formulate policies that ensure adequate and quality resources appropriate for different age groups and reader categories.
All 29 district libraries process materials according to professional standards. Most district libraries maintain both traditional and modern information retrieval systems.
Communal libraries and local reading rooms process materials following library guidelines, serving readers through available book catalogs.
In developing a reading culture, Hanoi Library continuously innovates its operations and improves service quality to foster and develop a reading culture among the people of the capital. With free library usage policies and upgrades to modern, creative cultural spaces, along with improving the librarians’ skills from technical expertise to soft skills, Hanoi Library meets the evolving demands in the era of globalization, IT application, and transitioning from traditional to modern libraries, enhancing service quality and attracting more readers.
Book and Newspaper Exhibitions
Hanoi Library provides convenient services such as online card registration, book borrowing, and online renewal services via application software. These services align with the current trends in IT application and development in library operations, ensuring professional activities and catering to the public’s reading, information retrieval, and usage needs.
The library has compiled 20 specialized bibliographies on various topics from local history and culture to notable figures and historical events, contributing to historical education and promoting library materials across major libraries and information centers in the capital. It has organized 33 large-scale exhibitions, including book and newspaper displays and online competitions about history and culture, attracting many readers, especially young people, and promoting a reading culture in the community.
Most district libraries organize open-access book collections. Some libraries have separate service areas according to reader categories or document types. Libraries offer combined on-site reading and home borrowing, suitable for current conditions of limited library premises, staff, and resources.
The Reading Culture Ambassador Contest
From 2020, the Hanoi People’s Committee, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea, funded two projects for the Hanoi Library: the Dream Plus Library Project and the “Recreating Public Libraries 2021-2022” Project. The projects, once operational, attracted an increasing number of readers to the library with its modern equipment and friendly spaces, marking a significant step for Hanoi Library in meeting reading culture demands in the globalization era and transitioning from traditional to modern libraries, which bring many benefits and improve the quality of library services.
Hanoi Library has become an ideal destination for readers in the capital.
The library has enhanced its promotional activities for new books and specialized bibliographies, integrating online card registration and book renewal services. The number of readers and materials served has increased significantly: in 2019, 512,491 readers and 225,624 materials; in 2022, 1,878,885 readers and 2,818,327 materials; and in 2024, 2,885,090 readers and 5,770,180 materials.
20/29 district-level libraries have applied information technology to library operations: 17 libraries use Library Management software (ISIS); 2 libraries use INPOLIB software, and 1 library uses VIETBIBLIO software.
On the Development of Reading Culture: Annually, the City Library organizes the Book and Reading Culture Week to celebrate Vietnam’s Book and Reading Culture Day at the Hanoi Library. This event has attracted thousands of students, pupils, and library patrons. The Capital Children’s Book Promotion and Introduction Contest is held yearly, alongside the first, second, third, and fourth Hanoi City Reading Culture Ambassador Contests.
In 2024, marking the 70th anniversary of the Capital’s Liberation Day (October 10, 1954 – October 10, 2024), the fourth Hanoi City Reading Culture Ambassador Contest with the theme “Promoting the Spirit of Thang Long Hanoi, Building a Civilized and Modern Capital” was organized, attracting thousands of student participants. This event introduced the rich resources and documents about Hanoi available in libraries across the city, fostering a widespread reading culture and developing the reading movement throughout the area. For the first time, the “Family Reading – Developing Family Bookcases of Love” contest was held in the form of video clip submissions, with 22 out of 30 districts participating, contributing 74 video clips to the competition.
For External Library Services: Annually, the Library collaborates to rotate resources twice a year to 130 points with nearly 30,000 book copies rotated, serving over 700,000 readers and nearly 2 million document interactions. Mobile library services were provided at primary and secondary schools in Hanoi’s suburban districts and parks in the urban districts, attracting tens of thousands of city residents to participate and read books.
Resources circulation activities
Despite the positive outcomes, some challenges remain in implementing the Library Law. The vast area of the city, especially remote districts like My Duc and Ba Vi, hampers the dissemination, promotion, and guidance on the Library Law and its implementation documents, as well as professional activities in the public library system throughout the city.
Hanoi Library lacks modern equipment to develop digital libraries and modernize library services. There are no specialized vehicles for mobile library services and resource rotation to districts and towns.
The operation of the network of district, commune and community libraries still faces difficulties and needs investment from authorities at all levels.
To enhance the effectiveness and implementation of the Library Law, Hanoi Library proposes several solutions: Increasing communication and promotion of the 2019 Library Law and library activities across the city to draw attention and participation from various levels, sectors, social organizations, and the public of the capital.
Boosting investment in funding and human resources for developing the reading culture in the public library system, especially in district and commune libraries and community bookcases, ensuring annual operational funding and stable funding sources for supplementing library resources.
Regularly coordinating with related departments, district and commune People’s Committees, and other entities to organize reading culture development activities, gradually forming a reading habit among all city residents.
Encouraging the development of community library models, mobile bookcases, and diverse reading spaces to better meet the public’s needs.
Innovating library activities, enhancing the quality of library information products and services, participating in national and international organizations to exchange materials and integrate with other libraries to enhance digital resource availability, etc.