In the context that electronic devices have become an attractive entertainment tool for young people, many primary schools Da Nang-wide have made renovations to their libraries in a modern direction, attracting students to satisfy their passions for books. 'Taking libraries outdours' is such an effective trend many schools have applied. 

Pupils at Thanh Khe District-located Huynh Ngoc Hue Primary School together read books during breaks at school. Photo: T.P

For the pupils of Thanh Khe District-located Huynh Ngoc Hue Primary School, short breaks during the school day offer interesting moments when they immerse themselves in an open reading space. Concrete benches and shelves are installed in what the school has dubbed as the “green library.” Children can read books whilst standing on such benches in the school yard, close to the natural space, which increases their interest and forms their reading habit.

Vo Nguyen Quynh Anh, a 4^th grader said: “I and my friends enjoy reading books in a comfortable space. We can easily get the book we want from the bookcase located right in the schoolyard. I would rather read printed books than experience those available on the phone as a way to reduce damage to my eyes.”

Principal of Huynh Ngoc Hue Primary School Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong said: ‘Different from the traditional library in the past, pupils now come to the library with an open space surrounded by green trees and airy atmosphere. Let’s make reading comfortable for children. To encourage children to be more passionate about reading, my school has built many programmes such as 'Every week a beautiful story, a bright example, a good book' and 'Each child make friends with books'. With such activities, the passion for books is also multiplied and widely spread to many others, making me feel very happy and proud of my pupils”.

Huong added that the school currently has 3 bookcases located in the schoolyard with more than a combined total of 1,550 books. The construction of an open library has created an interest in reading for students, and at the same time contributed to the development of a reading culture in the school environment, creating favourable conditions for pupils to access books and practice reading habits to acquire more knowledge.

In addition to the traditional library, the Nui Thanh Primary School located in Hai Chau District also built a library with a green space called ‘Happy Library’. Principal of Nui Thanh Primary School Huynh Thi Thu Nguyet said: “Printed books have always been a traditional beauty in reading culture from the past to the present. Therefore, we want to build an open library model so that children can really feel happy to read books freely”.  The school's message is that “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go”.

To arouse love for books, the school has built reading programmes and plans such as introducing good books at the weekly flag-saluting session, telling stories according to books, drawing pages of books you love, writing comments about the characters in the book and organising crossword puzzles.

In a similar vein, at Hai Chau District-located Nguyen Du Primary School, library teacher Nguyen Thi My Le said, the open library space has had a real attraction to students.

After school hours, the children usually go to the bookcases located in the corners of the schoolyard to read books in a very comfortable mood. In order to properly orient students on reading and selecting books suitable for their ages, the school focuses on introducing books through highly practical activities.

In addition, the school’s library sometimes organises book rotation between classes with the aim of expanding the supply of books through the movement ‘Donate a small book, read a thousand good books’.

Reporting by THANH PHUONG - Translating by A.THU