Engrossed in every page

This summer, the children’s reading and borrowing room at the provincial library is always bustling with children. Holding their favorite books, each child is deeply engrossed, carried away by the images, content, and stories in the pages. Some children smile softly, some giggle, while others are tense with the twists in the story. There are also those who are excited and amazed by the new lands and discoveries. With a diverse selection of books, every choice is a magical adventure.

Lê Khôi Nguyên, a 10-year-old from Mường Thanh ward, Điện Biên Phủ city, is engrossed in reading the book “Tý Quậy.” Despite having a broken leg, Nguyên continues to visit the library every day, carried by his mother and hopping on one foot to find books. Holding the book in his hands, Nguyên excitedly shared: “Tý Quậy is about Tý, a mischievous boy who loves to play. His naughty antics lead to bad consequences, which taught me a lesson about apologizing, correcting mistakes, the importance of learning, and how to handle situations. The story also includes family love and friendship, it’s really interesting.”

Tòng Bách Diệp, a 15-year-old from Noong Bua ward, Điện Biên Phủ city, reads a wide variety of books, from detective stories and entertainment novels to books about psychology, life skills, and communication skills. Diệp has been a regular visitor to the library for over a year now. During the summer break, Diệp comes to the library every day. Diệp held: “The library has many types of books, and there are so many interesting ones. It’s so comfortable here, spacious and cool, with no noise. I like the feeling of choosing a book from the shelves, sitting down, reading, or sometimes lying down while reading. That’s why I come to the library every afternoon.”

Among the many readers absorbed in books, sometimes there are also parents accompanying their children. Hà, a mother from Noong Bua Ward, Điện Biên Phủ, brings her children to the library and stays to read a few pages with them. She has two children, one 16 years old and the other 11 years old, both of whom have developed a habit of reading books.

Hà told: “My older child enjoys reading books about science, the animal world, and plants. The younger one reads a variety of genres, sometimes choosing stories, history books, or books about science and creativity. Whenever I have free time, I read with them; when I’m busy with work, I take them to the library and pick them up later. I’m very comfortable letting them go to the library because the books are carefully selected, the content is suitable, educational, and high-quality. Going here to read books helps my children reduce screen time with unfiltered content, develop good habits, cultivate a love for books, and gain valuable knowledge and skills.”

Meeting the demand for reading

With a shared passion for books, the children’s reading and borrowing room at the provincial library serves around 160-170 young readers daily. Most of them read on-site. Compared to last year, the number of visitors has increased by 50%. The library now manages nearly 5,000 reader cards, indicating an increasing interest in books among parents and students, who are making reading a habit and turning to the library during the summer.

To meet the growing demand for reading, the provincial library operates every day of the week. The children’s reading room has over 16,000 book titles with 41,788 copies, offering a diverse selection of content suitable for children from kindergarten to middle school. The books range from literature, fairy tales, history, science exploration, to life skills and soul-nourishing books, as well as popular comic series. The library also provides dozens of magazines for students, such as “Hoa học trò,” “Văn,” “Nhi đồng,” “Măng non,” and “Khoa học.” To meet summer reading needs, the library has added 3,000 more books, catering to entertainment and educational interests for all ages.

In order to make the library more appealing and provide better service, the children’s reading room has been designed to be “open.” Children can choose and read books on-site or borrow them. The room is spacious, covering over 200m2, with natural light, air conditioning, and fans to create a comfortable space. In addition to six long bookshelves arranged conveniently and scientifically, the library also added low shelves with playful shapes, making it easy for children to find their favorite books.

The reading space is equipped with 13 square and round tables, and the floor is covered with clean, soft carpets. Children can freely sit, read, or even lean back or lie down when they get tired. Lê Thị Hồng Ngọc, Deputy Director of the provincial Library, stressed: “This reading space was invested in and completed earlier this year. We want to create a friendly and welcoming environment for children so they can read comfortably and relax. This helps them access many great books and absorb valuable knowledge.”

With this vision, the library has truly become a favorite and familiar destination for many children in the area. Đỗ Thị Vân Anh, the librarian at the children’s reading room, says: “Since the summer break started, both morning and afternoon, many children come here to read. Most are between 6 and 15 years old. Some come from faraway villages like Noong Hẹt and Thanh Yên, others come from districts or neighboring provinces for the summer break. Many children come here every day, sometimes both morning and afternoon, so we’ve become very familiar with them. They’re so engrossed in reading that sometimes when their parents come to pick them up at the end of the day, they’re reluctant to leave.”

Some children who are new to the library are still unfamiliar with how to select and read books and lack reading skills. The librarians often talk to them, guide them in choosing books, and teach them how to read and preserve books. “The reading room is planning to organize activities to explore culture and history, drawing related to these topics, and linking them to the books available, to attract and create connections between young readers and the books,” added Vân Anh.

Reading is a healthy form of entertainment that not only helps children enrich their knowledge and nourish their souls but also limits the negative influence of smartphones, computers, TV, and social media. The provincial library not only meets the demand for reading but also contributes to nurturing and spreading the love of books and the reading culture in the area.