Between the lines: Visitors to the Book and Reading Culture Festival will have an opportunity to read books for free and buy them at discounted prices. — VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Vy

HA NOI (VNS)— This year's Book and Reading Culture Festival is offering visitors free e-books and providing printed books to libraries and schools in rural areas.

To be held at the Temple of Literature in Ha Noi on Saturday to mark the World Book and Copyright Day, the festival aims to promote reading and provide authors with an opportunity to introduce their work.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, head of the Library Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the festival was expected to draw large numbers of students and young people.

"The festival helps raise people's awareness on the importance of reading," said Mai.

With the theme of Books Change Life, the festival will be officially opened with an incense offering ceremony.

A large number of books covering a wide variety of fields from publishing houses across the country will be introduced to readers during the festival. Additionally, visitors will have an opportunity to participate in educational games and buy books at discounted prices.

Other activities will include poetry and short story recitals as well as an exhibition about writers who have won the prestigious Ho Chi Minh award.

On the occasion, educational activists and translators such as Bich Lan, who translated Nick Vujicic's autobiography Life without Limits, will take part in a seminar on the role of books in society.

City promotes reading

HCM City will also organise a "Reading Day" this weekend to promote reading, especially among young people.

The two-day event held at the Labour Culture Palace will feature 12 major publishers and distributors including representatives from Tre (Youth) Publishing House, Tong Hop (General) Publishing House, and the HCM City Book Distribution Company, or FAHASA, who will provide their latest books for free for visitors to read.

There will be discussions on reading habits and skills featuring speakers such as Pham Phuong Thao, former chairwoman of the municipal People's Council, and Ton Nu Thi Ninh, president of the Tri Viet Institute for International Studies and Exchange.

An exhibition of books and newspapers published between 1945 and 1954 will include the first edition of writer Nam Cao's Doi Mat (The Eyes) published by Van Nghe (Literature and Arts) Publishing House in 1954, and a special edition of Nhan Dan Mien Nam (People of South) newspaper on May 19, 1953, to celebrate President Ho Chi Minh's birthday.

Exchanging e-books for books is expected to be a big draw at the festival, allowing visitors to donate books to 56 communes in five outlying districts.

Le Thai Hy, director of the Department of Information and Communications, said the event would be the first in a series of activities to promote reading, along with the summer "reading month" event and a street book fair next spring.

The Labour Culture Palace is at 55B Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1. — VNS