In the context of the development of modern technology, e-book readers have brought many benefits to readers. Instead of carrying heavy books everywhere, people opt for e-books or reading online. This convenience has significantly contributed to promoting the reading culture in Viet Nam.

E-devices are useful means for young readers to read books anytime and anywhere. Photo: D.G.H

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Le Vu Kim Tuyen, who is studying in the Journalism Major of the University of Education, the University of Da Nang, said that she often spent her free time on reading e-books relating to literature on Wattpad, Waka, and Ebooks such as prose, short stories and monographs.

“With the development of digital technology, almost everyone has a smartphone to read books at any time or in any place. With many e-books, you have ability to search through an entire book in seconds. Easily search for information in an e-book, instead of turning page after page to find what you’re looking for. Besides, e-books are cheaper than paper books, so you can save a lot of money” said Tuyen.

However, she also pointed out some shortcomings in ebook reading. In particular, as compared to the genre of literary e-books, academic books have not been uploaded much on online platforms, so they still finds quite difficult to search for what they need. Moreover, the classification of books is not clear, making readers feel easily confused.

Tuyen hoped that in the near future there would be more e-libraries and many books so that readers can access quickly and effectively.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Thien Nguyen, a male resident of An Hai Bac Ward, Son Tra District, said that he started reading e-books in 2012 when he was in grade 10. He mainly read stories and novels on websites.

“Personally, I think the first benefit of reading e-books is convenience because I don't have to go to the bookstore, nor carry the book with me, just a few steps to be able to read books. The second benefit is to save time. What I need is to save the links I have read, and then I can reopen that link and read it again next time" noted Nguyen.

However, according to Nguyen, some websites only offer free reading of the first few chapters and pages, so it is quite inconvenient for readers. In addition, many pages are filled with too many ads, causing confusion. Many sites post very heavy image files, so when the network is weak, they can't be viewed.

As for PDF books, having to download them is very inconvenient. Currently, e-books are mostly inspirational and life skills books, while novels are less. Many readers also want to read the e-books of the Da Nang General Science Library but do not know how to log in, perhaps because the communication work has not reached the public.

Enhancing the capacity of serving readers

In order to enhance the capacity of serving readers in the city, the Da Nang General Science Library has actively boosted digital transformation. Included are developing e-library software and digital libraries, as well as facilitating readers to borrow and return e-books, digital books, and read digital books online.

Till date, about 90% of the archive of geographical books in the library has been digitised and uploaded on the website at http://opac.thuvien.danang.gov.vn/pages/opac/wpid-search-stype-form-quick.html to serve readers.

In addition, readers were guided to access free of charge at https://thuviendientu.thuvien.danang.gov.vn/ and http://sachdientu.thuvien.danang.gov.vn/ to read e-books.

Also, the library participates in the Library Consortium under the National Administration of Science and Technology Information to purchase access rights to use shared database from the Vietnamese scientific and technological document, ProQuest Central, Credo Reference, etc., aimed at providing readers with digital resources in the field of science and technology research.

In her sharing about the meaning of digital transformation in the library for the development of reading culture, Director of the Da Nang General Science Library Le Thi Bich Phuong highlighted the significance of digital transformation in contributing to making the library become an open space for students to share knowledge through teamwork activities, and to develop their creative ideas and soft skills.

Mrs Phuong underlined that students can read books anytime, anywhere on digital platforms, not necessarily holding paper books or reading books at the library. Additionally, readers can search the library's documents and books easily and fast.

She noted digital transformation also allowed readers to manage their personal information, history of borrowing and returning documents and using rooms for group activities or related fees and fines. In addition, users can renew loan periods of borrowed books or schedule consulting services of the library.

“In the coming time, the city’s General Science Library will focus on promoting the implementation of projects on digitising documents and resources, and library information products on the basis of new creation and integration with existing digital databases in the direction of opening, contracting, renting and purchasing digital book databases”, revealed Director Phuong.

She added importance would be attached to maintaining the development of digital libraries and e-libraries, exchanging digital information resources between domestic and foreign libraries, and supplementing and sharing databases or accessing digital information resources.

Heed will be paid to promoting the development of applications on smart mobile devices to provide readers with services and access to the library's information resources at any time and in any place.

Reporting by DOAN GIA HUY - Translating by M.DUNG