The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in Vietnam, in cooperation with the Global Digital Library and the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, will build a free digital library with high-quality books for all children, especially those who are from ethnic minorities and children with disabilities.

Children visit Hanoi Book Street. Photo: Lai Tan

The library will feature 3,000 books in different formats and languages. There will be 50 augmented reality books and 40 sign language video books.

These books can be freely accessed via the website and the book reading applications of the Global Digital Library.

According to Prof. Dr. Le Anh Vinh, Director of the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, the library will focus on books in English, Vietnamese, and eight ethnic minority languages including Bahnar, Cham, Ede, and Jarai, Khmer, M’Nong, H’Mong, Thai and sign language.

“With the digital library, children can enjoy reading and listen to stories that are compiled from many publishers around the world. Children with disabilities also have the opportunity to experience reading sign language books and watching videos,” he said.

The project is funded by the Government of Norway, with the participation of experts in various fields such as linguistics, translation, ethnic languages, special education, general education, and technology, among others.

The free digital library for children is expected to be officially launched in September 2022.