Since October, the Da Nang General Science Library has effectively operated a multimedia bookmobile for free of charge. This emergence of the ‘library-on-wheels’ has attracted a large number of residents, especially children coming from suburb areas, hereby cultivating a reading culture in remote communities.

Young people are seen voraciously reading books outside the bookmobile

The mobile, compact book truck features 4,500 books, Internet-connected computers, a projector, TVs, electronic documents, laptops and 100 chairs in service for reading and watching TVs. In particular, this mobile library can open in 3 dimensions, thereby, ensuring a comfortable feeling for readers.

Mr Pham Hong Thai, the Director of Da Nang General Science Library, this model has appeared in many provinces and cities across the country in recent times, and it has proved highly effective.

In Da Nang, as part of a project named ‘The Light of Knowledge’ initiated by the Library Department under Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, this mobile library is worth over 1.7 billion VND funded by the Kind Heart Foundation, a non-profit organisation established by mega conglomerate Vingroup.

The travelling library stops off at many schools in different parts of the city, delivering a wealth of reading material directly to youngsters who have limited access to books.

The first destination on the journey by the mobile library is the Ngu Hanh Son District-based Pham Hong Thai Primary School. The newness and friendliness of this book auto service really makes it very highly inviting and attractive to younger readers.

Pham The Duy, a Year 4 pupil from the Pham Hong Thai school excitedly said, “The car is like a miniature library. Inside is a lovely reading room showing off many audiovisual equipment, whilst outside is a row of tables and chairs for readers. We are eager to take a wide range of knowledge tests on touchscreen tablets available in the car. It is very interesting!”.

Ms Ve Thi Hanh, the Principal of Pham Hong Thai Primary School remarked that this kind of mobile library is very useful for pupils because it features many benefits, ranging from information technology to book services. The books range from literature, culture to those offering soft skills. Such a mobile library is an ideal rendezvous for those who are keen on reading books.

Besides its trips to schools, the bookmobile has made its mark at Hoa Vang and Cam Le district-hosted book festivals. The arrival of this new type of libraries immediately caught a great deal of attention from the general public.

Nguyen Cong Thuong, a 10^th grader from the Cam Le District-based Hoa Vang Senior High School said, although he had participated in many book festivals and visited many libraries across the city, this was the first time he saw a vehicle designed for use as a library.

According to Thuong, in the face of reading books considerably prevailed by many other types of entertainment services, it is necessary to renovate the operation of libraries.

“Hopefully this library will paid visits to schools and residential areas to serve readers’ growing needs.” said Thuong.

As planned, the book truck will continue its journey throughout the city, targeting schools and residential areas which are located far from the city’s centre, and locations with poor access to books and other reading materials.

By HA THU – Translated by ANH THU