The Reading Festival themed “Sharing Knowledge - Sending Love,” organized by the Provincial Library on August 16, turned the library into a lively meeting place for children, students, parents, and readers of all ages. A wide range of activities, from learning history and sharing life skills to drawing inspired by books, created an exciting atmosphere where participants could learn, play, read, and explore at the same time.

Hoàng Lê Phương Thảo, a student at Hanoi-Điện Biên Phủ Primary School, said she particularly enjoyed the history quiz because it helped her learn more about national heroes. She was also excited to draw pictures based on books, which allowed her to freely imagine and retell what she had read through colors. She expressed her wish for more events like this so that she and her friends could read and play together.

Students were eager to join in meaningful activities, while parents were pleased to see their children stepping away from phones, computers, and televisions to immerse themselves in the world of books. Lê Thanh Thúy, a resident of Điện Biên Phủ ward, shared that she was glad to see her children actively participate, from answering questions and drawing to listening to life skills lessons. She emphasized that such activities not only helped them learn while playing but also nurtured the habit of reading, something parents deeply wish for in today’s context where technology and social media are so prevalent.

To make reading culture spread more widely among young people, especially students, many schools in the province have launched diverse and creative activities linked with the development and effective use of school libraries. Through each page, students expand their knowledge, enhance communication and social skills, and cultivate humanistic values, thereby fostering personal growth.

At Him Lam Primary School in Điện Biên Phủ ward, aside from scheduling reading sessions after recess or at the end of each school day, the school also frequently organizes book festivals to celebrate Vietnam Book Day and Lifelong Learning Week. These efforts aim to inspire students to love reading and appreciate its value. Principal Nguyễn Thị Bích explained that book festivals serve as meaningful activities that raise awareness of the importance of reading, instill respect for books, and promote preservation. The school hopes to make reading a regular habit, guiding students to choose age-appropriate, educational, and wholesome books, while also giving them access to a wide knowledge base that supports more positive learning practices.

Recognizing that reading culture plays a crucial role in raising intellectual standards, fostering creative thinking, and building a learning society, especially amid rapid digital transformation, the provincial People’s Committee issued a plan in 2021 titled “Developing Reading Culture in the Community for 2021-2025, with orientation to 2030.”

After four years of implementation, the plan has achieved notable results thanks to the involvement of the entire political system. The rate of students accessing and using information and knowledge in school libraries has reached 90 percent, surpassing the 85 percent target. Twenty percent of rural residents and 15 percent of people in disadvantaged areas have been able to access resources in public libraries, community learning centers, post office cultural points, and legal bookcases. All educational institutions now have libraries with suitable collections, with 60 percent of school libraries meeting official standards.

A major highlight is the investment in the provincial Library. The application of information technology and the introduction of digital library management software such as Mylib 2020 and Dilib 2025 have diversified access to resources. Alongside traditional print books, readers can now easily reach electronic and digitized documents. The library has built a digital collection with more than 300,000 pages of rare and local documents. Meanwhile, community bookshelves, post office cultural points, and legal bookcases continue to be maintained, bringing knowledge closer to people, particularly in remote, mountainous, and ethnic minority areas.

According to Mai Thế Mạnh, Director of the provincial Library, several creative models have been launched during the 2021-2025 period, such as the mobile library “Lighting Up the Highlands,” the “Seeds of the Soul” program, and the introduction of books and newspapers on islands and the sea to highland and border residents. These efforts have helped raise public awareness about the importance of reading and spread the spirit of lifelong learning.

Alongside these institutional efforts, widespread book donation campaigns have also been launched. Since 2021, the provincial Library has collected more than 12,960 books, donating them to border guard bookcases, school libraries, and prison libraries. The education sector has also mobilized social contributions to enrich school libraries with more books, stories, and newspapers. These donations have expanded and diversified library collections, bringing not only spiritual value but also encouraging reading habits, enriching knowledge, enhancing life skills, and contributing to the foundation of a learning society.