LookAtVietnam – Most schools have libraries, but students never visit because they cannot find what they need in the libraries’ holdings.

Most schools have libraries, but students never visit because they cannot find what they need in the libraries’ holdings.

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The Xuan Dinh High School library in Hanoi is located in a “classroom” that holds some 13,000 books and offers a reading room for students and teachers.

Bui Kim Chi, the library manager, complained that, due to the poor material facilities, only 50 percent of the school’s students come regularly.

Nguyen Lan Huong, a 12^th grade student, noted that the library is too small and there are not many books. Students do not want to come to the library, she revealed, and only three out of 45 students in her class has a library card.

Phuong Anh, a student of Tay Ho High School, observed that their library has many kinds of books, but not those that students need, such as physics or chemistry exercise books. Anh explained that most schools have libraries because they are required to have them. Very few schools have good libraries, since many of the books are collected from students, which cannot assist student studies.

Other students maintain that they do not want to use the libraries because they despise lengthy procedures. Le Thi Mai from Tay Ho High School detailed that, in order to get library cards, she needs to submit a photo with the signature of her teacher and the stamp of the school. She would rather ask friends to borrow books for her. “The library is too small, so students must stand in line, which takes too long,” Mai added.

According to Hanoi Education and Training Department, all high schools in Hanoi have libraries, but only 30.5 percent can meet standards.

“Students in modern times have become used to reading information on the Internet, therefore, to attract students, it is necessary to have computers with Internet access,” acknowledged Le Hong Vu, Tay Ho High School Headmaster.

Vu admitted that it is still difficult to modernize libraries because of low investments, about 40-60 million dong per annum.

Chi from Xuan Dinh High School agreed, estimating that the school spends 10 million dong every semester to purchase new books. “School libraries are now simply “book storage” areas,” Vu mused.

He went on to say that his school is building a new library of 120 square meters, which will become operational in July 2010. The new facility will offer computers with Internet access to allow students to search for information in the most effective way.

Source: Dat Viet