(VOVworld) – The public library in Binh Vong village in Hanoi’s outlying district of Thuong Tin has, over the past decade, become a popular meeting place for villagers. Going to the library every afternoon has improved their lives.

Every day from 2.30 to 5.00 p.m., Binh Vong library opens to the public. It developed from the village bookshelf model launched in 1999 by Duong Van Phi, a retired official.

Every day, villagers, especially the elder, gather at the library for reading and chatting.

Recognizing the interests of the bookshelf, Binh Vong villagers have contributed money and effort to developing a more professional library for the village. It has a reading room and a book storehouse. The bookshelves are systematically arranged with labels that help readers find what they’re looking for. It is also equipped with a computer. There are two special bookcases, one of which holds publications about President Ho Chi Minh and works written by Uncle Ho. The other bookcase holds writings by Binh Vong people. Tran Thi Nga, a local villager, says that since she retired, she goes to the library every day to read books, “especially therapeutic methods for old people, agriculture, and educational methods for children. I also learn about poetry. Thanks to reading, I’ve learned how to prevent diseases for myself and for others. I can repeat what I read in books and newspapers to those who can’t go or don’t know about the library.”

Books and newspapers are categorized by types that help readers find what they’re looking for.

Binh Vong’s library has contributed to local socio-economic development. Another villager Tran Kim Phung says: “There are many books about agriculture. One of the newspapers I often read is the Agriculture newspaper focusing on agricultural techniques and what is happening with our current crops. I want to see how they instruct us to treat insect pests. Or which epidemic diseases our poultry is facing and which medicine the newspaper advises us to use.”

The library now has 8,000 book titles from an initial 200 books. Its socialized form of operating ensures that every villager can contribute to the library. Luong Kim Thieu, Vice head of the library, comments: “We understand that in addition to the information on TV and radio, we can also get news updates through reading books and newspapers here. That is the reading culture. With great support from Hanoi’s library and the district library, we often get new book titles. Our children who are working far from home also send us valuable books. Reading culture has influenced people from all walks of life.”

Seven of the eight groups of 114 volunteer village elders take turns being on duty every day throughout the year except during major village events and the rest welcomes and gives tours to visitors

Over the past 15 years, the library has received 115,000 visitors - about 700 people each month. Half of them are old people, 40% young people and teenagers. Although the development of the library is a task shared by all the villagers, the core force is 114 volunteer village elders. According to Thieu, “the 114 volunteer village elders are called ‘collaborators’ and are divided into 8 groups. Seven of the groups take turns being on duty and the rest welcomes and gives tours to visitors. The collaborators work all year round except during major village events.”

Luong Khac Huyen, a retired official in Binh Vong village, has this to say: “The library has developed every passing day. It helps improve local people’s awareness and knowledge about domestic and international political and social issues. It also encourages all villagers to have a better lifestyle towards educating the children and developing a civilized village and families.”

Each year, Binh Vong library receives guests from other places like the Swedish Royal Library to share experiences.