Books find new home at mobile library in Myanmar

Students eagerly browse bookshelves filled with 536 titles on Chinese culture, literature, science, technology, and storybooks as a newly launched mobile library launched on Saturday at Bowen Chinese School in Yangon, Myanmar.

The initiative, launched by the China Cultural Center in Yangon, marks the first step in a program that will later expand to other Chinese schools and relevant organizations nationwide, according to the center.

For 18-year-old Yoon Mi Mi Kyaw, the mobile library offers an opportunity to strengthen her Chinese language skills while learning more about the culture.

"We can learn about Chinese culture and society through books without even visiting China," she says.

"Since we are learning Chinese, having these books at our school creates a Chinese-language environment and helps us stay connected with the language," she adds.

"As a student attending Myanmar, English and Chinese schools, finding time to visit a library has always been difficult," she says. "Now we don't have to spend extra time going to a library because we can study Chinese and enjoy reading at school."

Seventeen-year-old Myat Yati, who prefers reading novels, says the mobile library has given her access to a wider variety of books.

"I usually read storybooks at home, but now I can read at our school," she says. "I'm excited to learn about different cultures through books."

Another student, 17-year-old Aye Myat Thiri, says she prefers reading print books to reading on a mobile phone.

"Reading a physical book gives a different feeling," she says. "The library provides a peaceful environment where I can concentrate better," she adds.

Cho Cho Myint, principal of Bowen Chinese School, welcomed the initiative, saying it would save students time while encouraging reading.

"Our students no longer need to visit a separate library," she says. "There are many types of books here, so they can choose what they like to read and learn."

The mobile library is not only a collection of books but also a bridge connecting them with new knowledge, languages and cultures, she says.

The initiative aims to help students learn more about Chinese culture and literature beyond the classroom while fostering a stronger reading culture, says Han Jiajun, director of the China Cultural Center in Yangon.

"The books will be replaced every six months so students can continue exploring new reading materials," he says, adding that the mobile library will also be open to people learning Chinese outside the school.

He hopes that the mobile library will encourage students to develop stronger reading habits, improve their Chinese language skills, and achieve better academic results.