Reading is important because it develops our thoughts, gives us endless knowledge and lessons while keeping our minds active. Books can hold and keep all kinds of information, stories, thoughts and feelings unlike anything else in this world. The more we read, the more we understand the world around us. And when we read books, the more we discover life beyond what we already know.

Some of Phu Dong Primary School pupils passionately reading books at the school library during break times

For that reason, over recent years, the Da Nang Department of Education and Training has focused on building modern libraries at schools across the city with an aim of satisfying the reading needs of both pupils and teaching staff there.

During break times at the Hai Chau District-based Phu Dong Primary School, many pupils usually visit the school library to read books. With a history book in her hands, a 5^th grader Linh Chi said she often visits the school library during break times because there are different types of books here. She loves reading history books which help her understand more and remember better the history lessons in her textbooks.

The Phu Dong Primary School’s library covers an area of 210m², featuring four functional rooms: reading rooms for pupils and teaching staff, a book store, and an equipment store. The library has a total collection of up to 20,222 books, in which, 2,984 are textbooks, 2,052 teachers' books, 9,189 reference books, and 5,997 children's books.

“The school library is a place not only to assist pupils to find necessary information, but also help them relieve stress after their hard-studying hours, hereby cultivating reading habits among them” said Headmistress of the Phu Dong School Truong Thi Nha Truc.

Ms Tran Thi Thuy Ha, Head of the Education and Training Office in Hai Chau District, said that 100% of schools across the district have their own libraries. She also highlighted the importance of school libraries in encouraging and developing a reading habit among teaching staff and pupils.

Likewise, many schools in Lien Chieu District have been paying special attention to constructing new school libraries or upgrading old ones.

Head of the Education and Training Office in Lien Chieu District Lu Thi Kim Hoa remarked schools in the district have taken the initiative to invest in their libraries to meet the requirements of new national training programmes, as well as to buy new books and documents in order to meet the reading demand of their pupils and teaching staff.

In a similar vein, numerous preschools, and primary and secondary schools in the districts of Son Tra, Cam Le, Hoa Vang, Thanh Khe and Ngu Hanh Son have paid special heed to building library facilities with the aim of promoting a healthy reading habit among pupils, thereby significantly contributing to enhancing the quality of teaching and learning.

By NGOC PHU - Translated by M.D