Beyond bringing knowledge closer to the blind, the library has defined its mission as ‘Serving the blind – Understanding the blind’, aiming to foster empathy, attentive listening, and greater companionship from society.
Serving the blind
The Huong Duong talking book library, part of the Talking Book Fund for the Blind, was founded in 1998. Over 27 years, it has produced nearly 5,000 titles, expanding access to knowledge and nurturing a reading culture among visually impaired communities across the country. This has established its reputation and distinctive role in social life.
Alongside book production, the Library has launched two major scholarship programmes. The Lotus Light Scholarship, established in 2001, has awarded more than 4,500 grants worth over 7.4 billion VND. The Huong Duong Scholarship, initiated in 2000, has provided over 1,000 grants totalling more than 4.7 billion VND, supporting the long-term education of visually impaired students.
Recognising the importance of technology, the Library has also organised computer certification courses for visually impaired students. In addition, more than 40 smartphone training classes have been held across seven provinces and cities, equipping over 500 visually impaired people with essential skills.
Beyond knowledge, the Library has developed activities linked to spiritual and cultural life, such as organising chess tournaments for the blind, donating white canes, offering medical check-ups and free medicines, and taking visually impaired students to the seaside for new experiences.
A particularly memorable initiative is the show ‘Light from the Heart’, where visually impaired performers share the stage with renowned artists. The event not only raises funds for talking books but also spreads a message of resilience, talent, and the cultural value of the visually impaired community.
Through its steady and diverse efforts over 27 years, the Huong Duong Talking Book Library has built a solid foundation. From its vast audio collection and scholarship programmes to training courses and community events, the Library has provided not just knowledge but also faith, opportunities, and hope for a better life for the visually impaired.
Understanding the blind
According to Tran Anh Khoi, Director of the Huong Duong talking book library centre, the library is now expanding beyond its long-standing goal of serving the blind towards a new mission of understanding the blind.
Guided by this vision, the library aspires to become a common home for the blind, a place for learning, nurturing the spirit, affirming abilities, and strengthening community bonds. It also aims to raise public awareness of the lives of the blind, creating opportunities for them to showcase their talents, learn, and contribute to society.
In recent months, the library has introduced several grassroots initiatives such as the ‘Portraits for the blind’ project and the cultural series ‘Singing with the blind’.
We have many ideas, but we cannot do everything on our own. To realise this mission and vision, we need the companionship of the public and the support of benefactors.
Tran Anh Khoi,
Director of the Huong Duong Talking Book Library Centre
So far, the events have attracted widespread support.
According to Khoi, beyond regular cultural events, the library also plans to enrich its activities by organising reading sessions for the blind, building a reading pavilion, and creating spaces where visually impaired people can perform music for visitors at the library.
The longer-term goal is to share these performances on online platforms, giving visually impaired artists greater opportunities to be invited onto bigger stages, while spreading a positive image and boosting confidence within the community.
“We have many ideas, but we cannot do everything on our own. To realise this mission and vision, we need the companionship of the public and the support of benefactors,” Khoi said.
With these diverse and community-driven activities, the library is not only a repository and promoter of knowledge through talking books, but also gradually becoming a shared cultural space for the blind.
Here, art is not merely entertainment but a bridge of empathy, helping the wider community better understand the inner world and resilience of the blind. It is a place where lives without light can still find joy, companionship, and opportunities to walk alongside society.
