Students put their library on TikTok.

To make good books in the library more accessible to students, a group of young people from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH) came up with the initiative to introduce books on TikTok.

Nguyen Khanh Linh hosts podcast clips on TikTok introducing books from the school library - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

From August 2024 to the present, the group of students has created around 40 book introduction videos on TikTok. Some videos have unexpectedly attracted up to 11,000 views.

TikTok is also a channel for promoting books and libraries, increasing library awareness and encouraging students to explore available resources.

Nguyen Tran Thanh Khang is a student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology.

By students, for students

Nguyen Tran Thanh Khang, a student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, is one of the people behind this idea. Khang said that he previously worked as a library collaborator, mainly responsible for helping to organize books after students had finished reading them.

After working there for a while, Khang realized that the library had a rich collection of books, but many students were still unaware of it.

Because he was studying communications, Khang harbored the idea of ​​collaborating with other library staff on a project to bring library books closer to students. Thus, the "TikTok-ified" book project was born.

The group quickly gained the approval of the library staff, all of whom saw TikTok as a popular platform among young people, especially students. Additionally, short, creative clips would make it easier for students to access the platform.

"The group also believes that TikTok is a channel to promote books and libraries, increase library awareness, and encourage students to explore available resources."

"Creative and engaging content can spark students' interest in books. Additionally, TikTok's commenting and sharing features help students connect and discuss books," Khang said.

The line between idea and practice isn't long. Khang explained that the group split into teams, with one team selecting the books and another handling the layout. Both the format and content had to be closely linked to ensure the books were as accessible as possible to students.

The reviewers typically recommend summarizing a book within 60 seconds. Within that one-minute timeframe, the reviewer should identify 3-5 reasons why the book is worth reading. Additionally, the TikTok clip should include compelling quotes, intriguing plot points, or explanations of why the book is worth reading.

For podcasts about books, the duration can be longer than one minute. Dau Nguyen Khanh Linh - a student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology - is an "early" member who helped build the TikTok channel and is also the host for the podcasts.

On average, the channel will have one podcast clip per month. Linh said that at first she was quite confused and didn't know how to create a script that would be most engaging.

After numerous trials, Linh found that storytelling was the most effective way to present her videos. Viewers are often captivated by emotionally resonant stories.

"I often share interesting stories or memorable quotes from books. Additionally, comparing the book's content with real-world issues or movies also provides viewers with a broader perspective," Linh said.

According to Linh, during filming, the team paid close attention to the beautiful corners of the library, bookshelves, or quiet reading spots. They would calculate the use of natural light or LED lights to enhance the visual appeal.

You need to know how to choose trending background music on TikTok. And while editing the video , you'll need to use effects or visually appealing videos from your library to create highlights. It's best to post during times when students are most online, such as evenings or lunch breaks. "Little by little, we all have to learn," Linh shared.

Behind the scenes of a TikTok video promoting books by a group of HUTECH students - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

The number of students visiting the library has increased.

Mr. Chau Nguyen Anh Quoc, a librarian at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, who accompanied the students in the early days of the project, said that the impact of the project has been very impressive.

He personally noticed that the number of students visiting the library increased by one and a half or even double in a single day after the TikTok video series went viral. Many students said they had previously thought the library only contained specialized books.

By now, most of you know that our school library has more books than you imagined. According to Mr. Anh Quoc, the number of books and documents in the school library currently stands at over 276,000.

Of these, metadata, books, newspapers and magazines account for up to 90,000, open-access documents are around 72,000, books on applied science are about 26,000, and books on social sciences, economics , and law are about 16,000... "This number is much larger than students think, it's just that most of them are unaware of it," Mr. Quoc said.

According to Mr. Anh Quoc, when creating book review series on TikTok for students, choosing the right books is a key factor in ensuring the content is engaging and valuable to the target audience.

Many students tend to be interested in books that help them improve their soft skills, life orientation, or time management. Books on topics such as communication skills, life skills, and effective habits are often very popular.

In the library, books related to academics and careers are also a good option. Choose books that provide supplementary knowledge for your studies, typically books on subjects such as economics, finance, science, engineering, programming, and marketing.

Books that are entertaining and inspirational are of interest to many students. Although less common, students who seek out these types of books in the library often have a strong interest in their studies.

Another genre that students often enjoy is lighthearted stories and novels with relatable content. These books are usually of moderate length.

Students often prefer books that aren't too long or have an easy-to-read structure, such as being divided into short, easy-to-understand chapters. Additionally, they should prioritize modern, easy-to-understand translations that use language relatable to young people.

Maintain a reading habit.

Nguyen Tran Thanh Khang said that recommending books to others is also a motivation for you to read more. You not only read the books you like, but also read more content in many other fields.

"That's also how I maintain my reading habit, expanding my knowledge and understanding into other areas that I might not have thought of," Khang said.

Many valuable lessons

Nguyen Khanh Linh believes that putting in the effort to "TikTokize" her book introduction videos has given her a lot of valuable experience in her studies.

For example, presenting the content of a book concisely and clearly helps students improve their public speaking skills and convey messages clearly and engagingly.

Furthermore, coming up with unique ideas for presenting the book will stimulate students' creativity. "I've learned how to read quickly, understand deeply, and select important and interesting details from the book to present in a short amount of time," Linh said.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/sinh-vien-dua-thu-vien-len-tiktok-20241215083659985.htm