In celebration of the Viet Nam Book and Reading Culture Day April 21st and the World Book and Copyright Day April 23rd, with the approval of leader of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST), on April 16, 2021, the National Library of Viet Nam (NLV) in cooperation with agencies under ministries, departments, libraries, schools, international organizations, enterprises… organized the Book Festival 2021 with the theme: “Books – Mission for Reading Culture Development.”
Attending the Book Festival 2021, there were Ms. Hoang Thi Hoa - Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents and Children; Ms. Trinh Thi Thuy - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Phan Tam – Deputy Minister of Information and Communications; Mr. Pham Van Linh – Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council; Mr. Bui The Duc – Vice Chairman of the Central Council for Theory and Criticism of Literature and the Arts; Ms. Kieu Thuy Nga – Director of the NLV, Chairwoman of the Book Festival 2021 Organizing Committee; Mr. Pham Minh Tuan – Director, Editor-in-Chief of the National Political Publishing House; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong – Deputy Director of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism; Mr. Pham Quoc Hung – Director of the Library Department; Mr. Nguyen Nguyen – Director of the Authority of Publication, Printing and Distribution; Mr. Huu Viet – Director, Head of Culture and Arts Department, Nhan Dan Newspaper; Mr. Duong Trung Quoc – General Secretary of Viet Nam Historical Science Association; Mr. Nguyen Huu Gioi – President of Vietnamese Library Association; Mr. Eligio Albeto Salas De Leon – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Panama in Viet Nam; Mr. Chékou Oussouman – Chief Representative of the Francophone International Organization Asia-Pacific Office; Mr. Philip Graovac – Deputy Chief Representative of The Asia Foundation in Viet Nam; representatives of leaders of the authorities and departments under the Central Propaganda Commission, the Party Central Office, Government Office; representatives of leaders of the office department, authorities, departments, institutes, associations under the MoCST, MIC, Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Defense; news agencies, newspapers and radio stations; publishers, bookstores, enterprises; representatives of libraries and information centers, universities and colleges, elementary and secondary schools; speakers, writers, poets, researchers, critics, scientists, administrators and teachers; organizations and individuals, and readers of different ages…
Inheriting and promoting the successes of many years organizing the event, the Book Festival 2021 continues to be held to encourage and develop the reading movement in the community, affirm the position, role and importance of reading culture and value books in social life; honor those doing the work of collecting, composing, publishing, printing, distributing, storing and promoting books; raise awareness of the community about the great significance and importance of reading and developing reading culture for building a knowledge society towards building Vietnamese people being developed comprehensively, with intelligence, personality, healthy lifestyle, receptive capacity, thinking ability, creativity, constant knowledge update, adapting to the development of modern society. Thereby, it creates a driving force to promote the responsibility of the people and entire society to participate in promoting the reading culture, making reading become a habit and an indispensable beauty in the community.
The Book Festival 2021 was held with many rich and diverse activities. Attendees have the opportunity to meet and exchange with authors, literary critics, historians, librarians, readers… in a series of activities with social and educational significance as follows:
(1) Documentary exhibition “Books – Mission for Reading Culture Development.”: Display and introduce more than 800 books in 4 contents: (1) Books – Path to Knowledge, (2) Books – Spirit-nourishing Gifts, (3) Reading Skills and Methods, (4) Arousing Passion for Reading. With the message that Each book is a wonderful picture of life, the exhibition affirms the mission of books as a tool to keep the progress, civilization and development history of people, is the source of supply and spread knowledge, foster soul and bravery, share happiness and sadness, support dreams, aspirations and passions, thereby perfecting human personality, bringing people to the peak of truth – goodness – beauty. Reading is the shortest way to approach and absorb the quintessence of human knowledge, creating a premise for the development of each individual and the whole society. The exhibition is also an opportunity to introduce publications of Vietnamese publishers to the public and readers; promote copyright transactions and expand international cooperation in publishing activities.
(2) Seminar: Youth with Reading Culture: With the rich real-life experiences, each speaker have brought stories and insightful sharing to exchange and orient toward building the reading habits, skills and interests among young people; propagating and guiding effective reading methods and promoting healthy reading movements towards valuable cultural, artistic and scientific products, helping young people find the joy in books, expand knowledge, nurture the soul, develop life skills and well prepare for the future.
The program drew the participation of guest speakers: Historian Duong Trung Quoc - General Secretary of Viet Nam Historical Science Association; Poet, Journalist Huu Viet – Director, Head of Culture and Arts Department, Nhan Dan Newspaper; Doctor of Literature Le Thi Bich Hong – Former Deputy Director of Culture and Arts Department, Central Propaganda Commission; Ms. Khuc Thi Hoa Phuong – Director, Editor-in-Chief of Women Publishing House; Mr. Nguyen Quoc Vuong – a researcher returning to Vietnam “peddling books” after studying abroad.
(3) Authors – Works Exchange:Introduce readers to typical, educational, highly oriented books of publishers and bookstores. At these events, readers and book lovers have the opportunity to meet, exchange and share ideas directly with the authors. Through the guidance of speakers and writers, the work “Thăng Long Kinh Kì – Kẻ Chợ” (Kim Dong Publishing House) has outlined a vivid picture of culture – customs – history – people of the old Ha Noi in the fluctuations of the times. In the framework of the Book Festival, there are also other exchange events between the authors and readers organized by publishing agencies to introduce new books, including: the work “Nữ sĩ thời gió bụi” (Female in the dusty time) – the first historical novel by writer Le Phuong Lien about Doan Thi Diem – a talented, extremely special woman in the medieval literature history of Viet Nam (Women Publishing House); and the book “Sức mạnh chữa lành của tinh dầu” (The healing power of essential oil) – a comprehensive book on essential oils, equipping with basic knowledge about the nature, ingredients and basic properties of essential oil and instructions on how to prepare essential oil recipes for beauty, health, relaxation, home care… (Thai Ha Book JSC).
(4) Painting through books contest: The contest attracted a large number of candidates from different elementary and secondary schools in the city. The image of “Viet Nam – Country and People” through the children’s drawings appeared very lively and familiarly. Participating in the contest, the children have the opportunity to show their artistic talent, arouse their passion for reading, perceived the beauty in the books, contributing to the formation of personality, morality and lifestyle while supplementing knowledge for themselves. At the end of the contest, the Organizing Committee awarded 1 special prize, 1 first prize, 1 second prize and 5 prospect prizes to excellent pupils.
(5) Read me a book:The activity attracted more than 100 preschool children in two days April 16-17, 2021. Reading books to children helps them to build their own world – a world through rich imagination and association based on the content of each book, from which building and forming the early reading habits and the love for reading culture.
(6) Exploration of Digital Library: Attracted the exciting participation of more than 60 pupils from primary schools in Ha Noi in 3 activities: Storytelling and quizzes about the book; Exploring Let’s Read Digital Library through a reading marathon of books on Let’s Read; Bookmark design contest through characters and images in the books. The program has brought about new and exciting reading experiences to children, impart positive energy to them and create the excitement and the love for reading for kids. At the end of the program, the Organizing Committee awarded 5 first prizes, 10 second prizes and 10 third prizes to excellent pupils participating in different activities.
(7) Display of documentary photos about reading culture promotion activities: Display nearly 200 documentary photos about activities to promote reading culture by the NLV, city/province libraries and school libraries throughout the country; especially photos about collaboration activities in the field of library, competitions on book propaganda, search for reading culture ambassadors program, activities of joining hands to build community bookcases, programs to raise book donation and book support programs… The photos selected to introduce at the NLV have honestly and vividly reflected the interest in reading culture of leaders of the Party and State, of different managerial levels and people in all parts of the country.
(8) Space to introduce books won the National Book Award: Introduce 27 books and book series to be awarded in 2020, including 3 A prizes, 10 B prizes and 14 C prizes. The winning books and book series are considered as the works that are rich in creativity, carry a deep human spirit, be very elaborate and serious scientific research projects with high scientific, social and practical values.
Also within the framework of the Book Festival, there were other activities such as: The Organizing Committee introduced and gifted books of author Nguyen Nhat Anh who is loved by the young readers and teenagers; received book donation from agencies, organizations and individuals; shared books valued 500 million VND to a number of schools and libraries with difficulties nationwide; organized some bookstores selling books at preferential prizes of publishers, bookstores and publishing companies.
Through the activities of Book Festival 2021, the NLV would like to convey a message to everyone, especially the young people, that:
Each book is a wonderful picture of life. Books are not just pages but also contain a world that people always crave to discover. Pick up your book and read it, and you will see the world unfold before your eyes.
Photos of the same event:
Overview of the Book Festival 2021
Ms. Kieu Thuy Nga – NLV Director, Chairwoman of the Book Festival 2021 Organizing Committeedelivers the opening speech
Book Festival 2021 Organizing Committeepresents books to city/province libraries and school libraries
Ribbon cutting to open the Book Festival 2021
Delegates, readers and the public visit the exhibition
Seminar “Youth with Reading Culture”
The Book Festival 2021 Organizing Committeereceives books from the program “Contribute a book, spread knowledge and arouse an aspiration for Viet Nam”
Authors – Works Exchange
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dung – NLV Deputy Director takes souvenir photos with speakers and readers
Painting through books contest
Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Anh – NLV Deputy Director presents Special Prize for the Painting through books contest
“Read me a book” program
Exploration of Digital Library
Ms. Kieu Thuy Nga – NLV Director, Chairwoman of the Book Festival 2021 Organizing Committee awards First Prizes for activities of the competition Exploration of Digital Library
Display of documentary photos about reading culture promotion activities
Space to introduce books won the National Book Award
Organizing Committee presents books of favorite authors to students attending the Book Festival
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News: Hong Van, Phuong Nhung; Photos: Reference Division