Books and digital transformation – Spreading knowledge in a new era

In response to the 5th Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day in 2026, a variety of activities have been and are being implemented across Dong Nai, aiming to bring books closer to the community and spread knowledge in the digital age.

Students of Hung Loc Primary School, Dau Giay commune, read books through a mobile library service provided by Dong Nai Library in 2026.

The combination of mobile library services, reading competitions, book circulation, and digital applications is helping narrow the gap in access to knowledge, fostering reading habits, and contributing to the development of a learning society in the digital era.

Bringing books closer to readers

In early April, the Dong Nai Library’s mobile library program, themed “The Light of Knowledge,” became a familiar stop for students at many primary and lower secondary schools across the province. Each trip carries nearly 3,000 books spanning a wide range of genres, from comics and history to science, literature, and life skills. Reading spaces are set up directly on school grounds, allowing students to freely explore and choose books while gradually forming reading habits from an early age.

Going beyond reading alone, experiential activities such as book introductions, sharing sessions, and games such as guessing the story from a picture have created a lively learning atmosphere, stimulating students' thinking and creativity.

On April 16, the opening ceremony of the 5th Dong Nai Book and Reading Culture Day will take place at the Dong Nai Library in Tan Trieu ward under the theme: “Books and Digital Transformation – Spreading Knowledge in a New Era.” The event will run through April 17, featuring a variety of activities, including art book exhibitions, author-reader exchanges, book exchange programs, and free library card registration.

Nguyen Minh Khang, a 6th-grade student at Phuoc Tan 1 Secondary School, shared enthusiastically: “I really enjoy having the mobile library come to our school. What impressed me most were the interactive activities, which made reading more engaging and helped me remember what I read better. I hope the mobile library will return more often so we can continue exploring new knowledge.”

Nguyen Thi Sen, Deputy Head of the Processing, Information and IT Division of Dong Nai Library, shared, “One of the highlights this year was the mobile library’s visit to the Dong Nai Inclusive Education Development Support Center in Bien Hoa ward on April 9. At this event, the light of knowledge reached students with special needs. Visually impaired children were able to access Braille books, participate in storytelling using sign language, and join interactive quizzes for prizes.”

Across communes and wards, activities marking the 2026 Book and Reading Culture Day are being organized in diverse and creative ways. While Tran Bien ward has created a highlight with a reading space at Bien Hung Park and a book presentation contest titled “My Favorite Book,” scheduled for April 24, Binh Long ward has expanded mobile services in schools and launched donation campaigns for books and reading equipment for disadvantaged children and elderly seniors. Together, these initiatives create a vibrant picture of reading culture, reaffirming the role of books in nurturing both intellect and character within the community.

Digitalization expands access to knowledge

Alongside efforts to bring books to the public, Dong Nai Library is accelerating digital transformation, gradually building a modern reading ecosystem. Thousands of local history and geography titles have been digitized and integrated with QR codes, allowing readers to access materials remotely with ease. Notably, in addition to online reading of books and newspapers, the library has put in place a model for experiencing Dong Nai's culture and history through interactive screen systems and virtual reality simulations. This undertaking enables readers, especially younger audiences, both inside and outside the province, to access knowledge anytime, anywhere.

Vu Ngoc Bich, Deputy Director of Dong Nai Library (in charge of Branch 2 in Binh Phuoc ward), said the branch currently houses more than 140,000 books, documents, and newspapers, including over 1,000 e-books. Branch 2 has digitized all local history materials into PDF format for remote access.

“Technology not only improves preservation procedures but also supports lifelong learning more effectively. In the future, we will continue digitizing newly acquired materials, provided annually by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other publishing houses, so that remote readers can access valuable resources about Dong Nai land,” Bich said.

In addition, audiobooks and book introduction videos on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook are being actively developed by Dong Nai Library and Dong Nai Provincial Cultural Center for Youth and Children. The library’s YouTube channel currently features three main segments: Stories for Children, Reading Together, and entries from the Reading Culture Ambassador contest. Most featured content includes books about President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s seas and islands, children’s literature, and notable historical and cultural figures such as Tran Thuong Xuyen, Nguyen Huu Canh, Trinh Hoai Duc, Chu Van An, Vo Thi Sau, and Nguyen Thi Suot.

When access to books is no longer limited by space, time, or physical conditions, reading culture has greater opportunities to take root within the community. This endeavor is not only a journey of spreading knowledge but also a sustainable foundation for building a learning society, where every resident in Dong Nai can pursue lifelong learning, whether through printed pages or digital platforms.

By Cam Thanh – Translated by Minh Hong, Minho