"Growing Up Quietly" with Books

(GLO) - "The image of someone quietly reading a book is quite similar to what I feel when I think about someone growing up quietly" - that's the feeling of Ms. Tran Thi Kim Phung Thuy, Head of the "Gia Lai Reading Culture" project, about the enduring value that books bring.

In that sense, the love of books is being spread by many organizations and units in various ways.

Poet Ngo Thanh Van at a conversation with young people during a program of the " Gia Lai Reading Culture" project. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

1. "Gia Lai Reading Culture" is a community organization dedicated to promoting reading culture, established in January 2025 by a group of young book lovers. Despite its young age and only a few months of operation, the group has already organized 13 discussion sessions to maintain reading habits, share reading experiences, and encourage proactive learning.

The bookshelf with nearly 400 books at the "Now and Here" cafe (199/3 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Pleiku City), where the group regularly meets, demonstrates their determination to create a suitable space and inspire the development of reading culture.

One of the guests at the project was poet Ngo Thanh Van, Vice President of the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts. She felt a mixture of excitement and emotion as she immersed herself in the warm, intimate, and sincere atmosphere of the conversation with young book lovers. For poet Ngo Thanh Van, this was a positive interaction that allowed both readers and writers to empathize, understand, and share.

"I truly admire you all, from developing the idea to implementing it and dedicating your hearts and souls to running the project. From a personal interest, you have ignited, amplified, and spread a reading culture to the community."

Each book placed on the shelf reflects the care and appreciation it receives. You have created a space for yourselves and for others who share the same passion. This is truly meaningful and needs to be replicated.

There are questions being raised regarding book publishing. Perhaps this very environment will nurture future authors in the not-too-distant future," poet Ngo Thanh Van expressed.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts added: In response to Vietnam's Book and Reading Culture Day (April 21) in 2025, on the morning of April 19, the Association, in coordination with Le Loi High School (Pleiku City), organized a seminar titled "Books - My Friend," with the participation of renowned writers in Gia Lai's literary scene such as poet-journalist Van Cong Hung, writer Pham Duc Long, two female poets Ngo Thanh Van and Le Vi Thuy, along with a large number of students from high schools in Pleiku City, and teachers from the Literature Department...

2. Through tireless efforts over the years, the staff and employees of the Provincial Library have spread a reading culture to all segments of the population, especially the younger generation.

Speaking with reporters, the Director of the Provincial Library, Nguyen Thi Thuy, said: The opening ceremony of the series of activities in response to Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2025 took place on the morning of April 19th, in coordination with the Pleiku City Youth Union.

Students from Chu Van An Primary School (Tay Son Ward, Pleiku City) participate in a book introduction program to promote reading culture at the Gia Lai Provincial Library. Photo: Lam Nguyen

With the theme: "Together with books, we enter the era of national progress," the program will take place at the Provincial Library with attractive contents such as: displaying artistic book arrangement models, literary bookshelves, medical bookshelves, reference books for students… and 5,000 books of various genres on a mobile library vehicle; introducing the book "Vietnamese Aspiration"; awarding prizes to collectives and individuals who have coordinated in organizing reading sessions for students, recording audiobooks and promoting books on social media in the past.

Hundreds of high school students in Pleiku City also participated in a quiz game show about books; read books of their choice; made library cards; and especially interacted with Mr. Le Van Phuc - Head of the Fly To Sky charity group, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the National Volunteer Network in the Southern region.

According to the Director of the Provincial Library, the series of activities in response to Vietnam's Book and Reading Culture Day 2025 has been implemented since the beginning of April. Accordingly, the unit has coordinated with the Center for Culture, Information and Sports , and libraries in districts, towns, and cities, as well as departments, agencies, and schools to organize "Book Reading Festivals" and "Launching Ceremonies for Book and Reading Culture Day" at 10 locations in 7 localities in the province with diverse activities such as: organizing book displays and services at mobile library vehicles; accessing the internet to search for information; creating artistic book models; introducing new books; storytelling based on books; book reviews; answering book-related quizzes, etc.

Earlier in March, departments and agencies coordinated to organize two reading promotion competitions that have attracted book lovers for many years: "Reading Culture Ambassador" and "Online Book Introduction" in 2025.

Besides contributing to promoting and inspiring a passion for reading, and fostering the development of a learning society, these competitions also aim to diversify reading methods, spread a love of reading within the community, and meet the requirements of digital transformation to serve the people.

Someone once said something truly thought-provoking about readers: "A person who loves to read lives a thousand lives before they die. A person who never reads lives only one life." Reading is a way to quietly grow in self-awareness and self-education. Such a life is never boring.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/lang-le-truong-thanh-cung-sach-post319370.html