Librarianship, to me, is more than a profession; it is a lifelong commitment to fostering a culture of learning, curiosity, and empowerment. My journey into librarianship began in childhood with a deep love for books, nurtured by my grandmother’s storytelling and my father’s encouragement to read. This passion evolved into action when I co-founded a community library in Vietnam, and it solidified into a calling as I spent nearly a decade working as an amateur librarian. Through this journey, I have come to see librarianship as a dynamic and impactful career that merges information management, community service, education, and public engagement.

The Path to Librarianship

From an early age, books were my gateway to knowledge and imagination. My grandmother’s folk poems and my father’s commitment to ensuring I had access to reading material instilled in me the understanding that literacy is a tool for empowerment. This belief guided my decision to co-establish Duonglieu Library – a private community library in Hanoi in 2013, despite having no formal training in the field at the time. Operating a grassroots library was a challenging yet rewarding so much practical experience. It required adaptability, resilience, and a relentless commitment to learning. I explored children’s psychology, library science, and information organization independently to better serve my community.
My decision to pursue professional librarianship was driven by my realization that libraries are essential institutions that provide access to knowledge and opportunities. Witnessing how my library transformed the lives of young readers and engaged an entire community reinforced my belief in the library’s role as a catalyst for positive change. My journey from an enthusiastic book lover to a dedicated community librarian, and now an aspiring professional, has been shaped by a desire to elevate libraries in Vietnam and beyond.

“The first folk poems I ever heard were from my grandmother. When I was just a toddler, at nighttime, when our oil lamp shined, she embraced me and started her poems. I was impressed by the joke that she had a basket of poetry that could tell me forever. Her poems rhymed, were not too hard to remember, and many taught me to live kindly. As a child, I did not fully understand the meanings, yet just listened. My dad first brought me things called “magazines.” When I could read well, I read everything that I found. I was always jealous of my cousin since he had so many books. One day, my dad brought home a steel wire and a magazine. He hung the wire on my small cupboard and hung the magazine on the wire. The wire was like my first bookshelf, and the magazine was the first copy I owned. Years later, I knew that I was one of the first children in my community who had a weekly magazine subscription at that time, albeit my family was poor”

(Excerpt from my Fulbright’s Personal Statement)

Core Values and Approach

Community-Centered Service: I have traveled to many cities and countries, as well as more than 10 states in the United States. Wherever I go, libraries are at the heart of a community’s intellectual and cultural growth. I believe in the power of libraries. I believe that people from all walks of life and professions can find themselves at the library as a convergence point. Therefore, a library should be an inclusive space where individuals find a sense of belonging—especially children and young people, who should feel welcomed, valued, and inspired. My experiences with my community library have taught me that a library can bring new life to a child and transform a community by actively engaging with its users and responding to their evolving needs and interests.

Lifelong Learning and Equity in Access: Education does not stop at school, and libraries play a crucial role in promoting lifelong learning. I am passionate about designing programs that nurture literacy, knowledge, curiosity, and community-based learning, ensuring that young people develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives. As a place of equity, libraries should provide spaces where knowledge is freely available to all, regardless of socioeconomic status. In Vietnam, library distribution is uneven; in mountainous areas, libraries and schools are often difficult to access. I hope that my future work will make library resources more accessible, particularly for underserved populations.

Innovation and Adaptability: The field of librarianship is dynamic, requiring continuous adaptation. In the future, I see libraries evolving into community centers, with information being shared through a diverse range of events, activities, and mediums. I see librarians not only as information specialists but also as event organizers, communicators, and public engagement professionals. Whether through innovative programming, social media engagement, or new technology, I believe libraries must evolve to remain relevant and impactful.

Collaboration and Advocacy: Libraries thrive when they build strong partnerships. In establishing the Vietnam Local Library Network, I witnessed firsthand how collaboration amplifies impact. By integrating into the community, libraries gain not only financial support but also opportunities to become more open, diverse, and impactful. I am also committed to advocating for libraries at both local and national levels, ensuring they receive the recognition and support necessary to serve their communities effectively.

“In many respects the library has a far greater opportunity than the school. Friendly and helpful, its aid is more inviting and less formal. It makes less strenuous demand upon the attention of a man who is often very tired after a long day’s work. It welcomes those who think themselves too old for school. It is open throughout the year, where the night school at most,’ is open only seven months”

MORGAN, J. E. (1919). THE LIBRARY, THE FRIEND OF THE FOREIGN-BORN

Future Goals
Many projects in Vietnam try to improve reading by donating books and building libraries. But just building a library isn’t enough. What happens after it’s built? Many libraries, run by volunteers who mean well but don’t have much experience, struggle because they lack proper management, trained librarians, and ongoing support. They often end up abandoned because no one has the experience, help, or passion to keep them going. This realization sparked my desire to be a change maker. I plan to actively conducting training sessions, talks, and knowledge-sharing activities for untrained young volunteers and librarians, equipping and inspiring them with insights from my own library experience and MLIS education. This is not just a long-term goal—it is the work I am doing now.

I also want to work in public or school libraries so I can work directly with kids and teens. I’m determined to make a positive impact wherever I am in Vietnam’s library system through my work and my stories. I hope to continue being a leading librarian in Vietnam, supporting the Vietnam Local Library Network, and sharing my knowledge and experience to help even more people and libraries.

In short
My journey into librarianship has been one of passion, perseverance, and purpose. From my humble beginnings as a self-taught librarian to my current pursuit of professional expertise, I have remained steadfast in my belief that libraries are the agent for change and do change lives. They are not merely repositories of books but pivotal centers of learning, creativity, preserving cultures and community engagements. As I continue my path, I strive to embody and amplify the core values of librarianship, impacting generations to come.