While reading culture in Vietnam’s big cities is drastically changing thanks to the internet boom, many of the country’s rural communities are still in desperate need for books.

Mrs. Dinh Thi Bach Mai, deputy director of HCMC’s Department of Culture, Sports & Tourism praised Thach at a recent introduction of Clan’s Library Model at the General Science Library in HCM

Nguyen Quang Thach, wearing glasses, at the opening of the 29th clan’s library of Nguyen Clan in Phu Tho Province

Nguyen Quang Thach, wearing glasses, is giving books to Nguyen Clan in Ung Hoa District, Hanoi

The disparity between reading materials in the city versus the country communities is even more obvious in this digital age. A project called “Clan’s Library” aims to change this by helping rural residents access vital information.

35-year-old founder and designer of the project, Nguyen Quang Thach, was born in a remote village in the central province of Ha Tinh, Thach. He knows of the shortage of books in rural areas more than most.

When he was at school, the other children used to tease him for being a bookworm. He knew that they did not understand his hobby because they had little time and money to spend reading. His dream was to make information available to those who really needed it.

The problem was how to construct a model that would work. Many other projects had tried similar things, but the Cultural Post Office, school library or communal house were proving unsuccessful in many rural areas.

Getting little interest and support from friends or relatives, Thach spent nearly ten years saving money, traveling, and seeking an effective way to carry out his idea.

He came upon his winning formula by chance one afternoon when he was visiting a cemetery. Vietnamese people, especially those in the countryside, have strong family ties, and he thought he might be able to use that.

“Clan’s Library will be able to do what cultural post offices or school libraries can’t,” he says, “Members of a clan will take responsibility for their own family members and protect their clan's pride. People are proud when their family members demonstrate a fondness for learning and reading."

In the beginning

In March 2007, Thach established the first three models in his home village. More than VND10 million was poured into these libraries which were then open for people to come and read books, newspapers and magazines free of charge.

“My first aim was to encourage rural children to study, improve the spiritual life of farmers and help them have more knowledge for their rice production and livestock tasks,” Thach wrote on his blog.

To date, his project has built more than 54 libraries and provided more than 12,000 books to 16 provinces. The books fall on different categories including agriculture and health, morality and law, literature, history, etc. With this diversity, the libraries have attracted thousands of readers at different ages. Records show that books have been checked out 30,000 times.

A widespread effect

Thach is not alone anymore. His project is being supported and assisted by many organizations and individuals, both domestic and foreign. More than 7,000 books and 700 magazines have been collected, along with donation. Among them, Dong Tay and Thai Ha Book Companies have contributed hundreds of books. Director of Thaoli and ATI Telecom companies, Mr. Alistair Sawer, also contributed $4,300 for books. “I believe this model has what it takes to achieve positive results,” he said, "I will continue to support Thach's project and help it grow by talking about it at networking discussions and on internet promotions." Alistair Sawer also helped Thach set up a web page to broadcast the project.

Clan’s library model also received VND400 million ($20,512) from the competition "Ideas to serve the community" in September 2009.

However, what has made its founder happier is that several libraries have been developed following his model. They include the Vu The Clan in the northern province of Hai Duong, which has around 1,260 book titles; the Le Clan’s library in Hung Yen with 880 books of which 700 were contributed by family member Ngo Thi Van and the remaining 180 were presented by Thach.

And onwards

In his website www.sachlangque.net, Thach shares his target of a future clan’s library. He wishes to motivate more than 250,000 clans to use their fund to open their own clan’s libraries and encourage reading.

One of his latest actions is a motorbike tour around the country during the last Lunar New Year holiday to advertise the clan’s library model through a banner "Books bring opportunity to all. Please give books to clan bookshelves in the Vietnamese countryside." During the trip, Thạch met with cultural officials and library directors in a number of cities and provinces to introduce the clan library model.

If anyone wants to donate books or money to the project or any clan wants to get free consultancy on how to built their library, contact email: sachchonongdan@gmail.com , thienson9@yahoo.com and Thach’s mobile phone number at 0912.188.644