Cambodia Mobile Library Brings Books to People
By: Rin Ousa Cambodianess Thu, March 13, 2025
Ouk Vanday will travel across 25 capital and provinces this year in his orange van, carrying 1,600 books to cultivate a reading culture in public spaces among Cambodians. Photo: Ouk Vanday
PHNOM PENH – Driven by a deep passion for reading, Ouk Vanday will travel across 25 capital and provinces this year in his orange van, carrying 1,600 books to cultivate a reading culture in public spaces.
Vanday hopes his mobile library will serve as a model for provinces to adopt or inspire similar initiatives.
He said the initiative, known as “Reading Trip” or “Mobile Library” is launched to promote reading after noting limited reading habits among the public.
Since January 7, after leaving Kirirom Mountain in Kampong Speu, Vanday has been traveling across Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep, Takeo, Svay Rieng and Prey Veng provinces.
In two days, he will head to Tboung Khmum and by December he is set to arrive in Phnom Penh before concluding his journey in Kandal province.
During his visits in these provinces, Vanday has spent time chatting with bookworms and local officials, sharing his vision and long-term goals for this mobile library project.
“I hope to inspire local officials to establish similar initiatives that promote reading such as designating particular roads for reading whether one day or three days per month. If necessary, I am willing to donate books to support these efforts,” Vanday said.
Vanday is also a founder of Coconut School on Kirirom Mountain, which has been providing free education to children for seven years.
Acknowledging the school’s stability, he has entrusted its management to a new team, allowing him to fully commit to the mobile library initiative.
He recalled receiving enormous support from communities before departing Kampong Speu with some contributed books. Others donated money and many helped with organizing the mobile library.
Although Vanday embarked on this initiative alone, he feels warmed by the strong day-to-day support from book enthusiasts and the public. However, he acknowledges that road accidents remain a significant concern that could disrupt his plans.
His mobile library operates from 3pm to 9pm on weekdays and extends its hours from 10am to 10pm on weekends.
The duration of his stay in each province varies depending on factors such as its size, population density and the number of locals in the communities. Some visits last seven days, while others extend to ten, 15 or even 20 days.
In May last year, he began his pilot phase for three days at Wat Botum Park near the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.
So What Next?
Vanday plans to distribute his collection of 4,000 books to students in Phnom Penh at the end of this year, with each student receiving two books by just showing their student ID.
“However, I encourage those who receive my books to share them with others after reading or return them to bookcases in their provinces,” he said.
This year, he aims to set up 150 bookcases across the country, making books accessible to the public, with the expectation that readers return them once finished.
For his long-term goals, Vanday hopes to hold a press conference to address concerns from those who may perceive such initiatives as unlawful and to inspire others to take similar steps in fostering reading culture.
Additionally, he envisions establishing permanent mobile libraries installed with 1,500 books in popular provinces and tourist destinations, with volunteers from the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia managing them.
Vanday believes that posting photos of people reading books on social media can bring good images to the country.
“Education is not limited to classroom learning. Cultivating reading habits is important for expanding knowledge,” he said.
Vanday encourages young people interested in similar initiatives to start small, even with just 100 books, and to remain persistent despite some challenges.
“I also hope provincial governors allocate some funding to support these initiatives,” he said.
SOURCE: Cambodianess, Cambodia, Thu March 13, 2025
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