Children's reading room at Ho Chi Minh city’s General Sciences Library.

The increasing application of advanced technologies in the library industry has altered its traditional practices. Many libraries in Vietnam are shifting to become e-libraries to better preserve and archive their data while offering their customers more comfortable services. Challenges are facing Vietnamese libraries on this path as they struggle to narrow their development gaps with libraries worldwide in this very context, according historian Duong Trung Quoc.

"We’re amazed to see how several foreign libraries have digitalized their archives in a very professional way. As we’re working on Vietnam’s modern history, we’ve kept  a keen eye on France’s national library. This has helped us closely follow every step of the digitalization of its archive. We can sit in Hanoi and read books from the French national library," said Mr. Quoc. 

In addition to archiving national documentary heritages, libraries also serve as a cultural and learning space for the community where positive reading habits are nurtured and encouraged, especially for the young people. Many libraries in Vietnam have created a special reading space for children.

"Our library has just opened a special mobile space of arts and literature for children to help them get all the information and knowledge they need for their study and research. This project was upgraded from a previous library for children," said Vinh Quoc Bao, Vice Director of  Ho Chi Minh City’s General Sciences Library.

"We’re focusing on developing several models like multi-functional libraries and outdoor libraries or green libraries. We arrange these libraries at schools with respect to the different needs of children, especially visually impaired and disabled children, by creating a space where they can listen to audio books," said Tran Van Thanh who works for the Lao Cai provincial Department of Education and Training.