80-year-old scientist opens a library for free

The library is opened at GS's residence. Dr. Pham Duc Duong (Former Director of Southeast Asia Research Institute) in Room 2 of C4 House, Social Sciences Collective Living Quarter, Lane 35, Kim Ma Thuong Street, Hanoi.

Stemming from the concerns about how to convey their knowledge to the generations of students, in addition to focusing on research and teaching Professor Duong decided to open the library right at the family to serve. service for everyone's reading needs, especially students.

GS Duong and his book library

The house of Prof. Dr. Pham Duc Duong was originally a collective apartment with a mere 36m2, then he had to expand and now has a total area of ​​50m2. Prof. Dr. Pham Duc Duong confided that after 3 years studying in Russia, he had accumulated 7 quintals of books to bring back to Vietnam.

In 1947, Prof. Dr. Pham Duc Duong joined the armed armed forces to propagandize and carry out combat and propaganda work in Laos. After that, he continued to study Lao in the Oriental Institute (Soviet Union). Professor Pham Duc Duong used to hold the position of Director of Southeast Asia Research Institute, who was instrumental in the founding of Southeast Asia in Vietnam. He also participated in the compilation of 3 state-level works, namely Lao history, Lao geography and Lao culture.

In order to have the current number of titles, he has to ask, buy and receive gifts from friends. After years of hard work, he now has a library of books (both in Vietnamese and a foreign language) covering many fields of natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, science and technology, books. agriculture-forestry-fishery, medical books, intensive research books, foreign language books .

The library of Prof. Dr. Pham Duc Duong always welcomes students and scientists to explore and research. Students who come here do not need a library card, do not have to pay any fees but are still comfortable reading, borrowing materials to take photos . Perhaps that is the reason why students call Duong's library as' Free library ',' student library '. The door of his library is never locked because anyone can read it whenever he can.

Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung, a former student of K49, Department of Psychology, Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said: ' Going to Thay Duong's library, I can find many valuable documents outside. difficult to find. Moreover, having something you don't understand, you can ask the teacher and be taught by the teacher wholeheartedly .

Mr. Vu Thi Hoa, a student of English Literature, K07, Hanoi University, said that because she is an in-service student, she cannot borrow documents from the school library, and she can be searched easily at Duong's home library roof.

According to GS Duong, the opening of the library comes from a passion for books, love for students but for economic or profit purposes.

Not only in big cities but also in many rural areas, there are private libraries open to the community. The most notable is the library of Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tao in Tam Hong - Yen Lac - Vinh Phuc. Currently his library has more than 13,000 books, not to mention dozens of other newspapers and magazines. His library has all kinds of books such as agricultural extension, science books, children's books for diverse readers including farmers, students, workers and intellectuals.

Or Mr. Luong Van Tang's library in Van Binh- Thuong Tin- Hanoi, a retired major major, opened a village library with over 6000 types of newspapers and magazines to serve people. home