“Mother's Balcony”: Where love continues through the pages of a book

“If books just lie on the shelves, they are no different from dead books.” Stemming from that simple concern, Ms. Nguyen Thu Huong (born in 1987) removed the familiar sofa in the middle of the living room to make room for wooden shelves, building “Mother’s Balcony” - where books are not forgotten and children have the opportunity to “hungry for books” happily without worrying about the cost.

When books must be “alive”

The roots of Nguyen Thu Huong's love for books were sown from her family's intellectual heritage. Growing up in a house with a grandfather who was a diplomat , her childhood was surrounded by a special space: a massive family bookshelf. For little Huong in her childhood years, that was the first treasure in her life, a place that silently nurtured her soul through each page of a book.

Among that treasure, she still remembers clearly the pure emotions when reading “Totto-chan at the Window”. Although that precious printed copy was lost over time, the story of the little girl Totto-chan still planted in her heart an immortal belief: The world in the pages always contains miracles.

“If a book just lies on the shelf, it is no different from a dead book.” With that philosophy, Ms. Nguyen Thu Huong has devoted all her heart to building “Mother’s Balcony”.

She still remembers the feeling of guilt when she was a child, because she was so passionate about buying so many books that at the end of the month her mother had to pay a bill of 500,000 VND - a huge amount 25 years ago. That memory deeply engraved in her the feelings of a child who longed for knowledge but was limited by economic conditions.

When she became a mother of two young children, the old feelings urged her to do something. Looking at the increasingly large family bookshelf, she saw an invisible waste. “I thought, if I just left the books on my shelf and read them by myself, it would be a waste,” she shared.

The idea of ​​a community library called “Mother’s Balcony” (36 Lot B, 7.2 hectare area, Vinh Phuc street, Ngoc Ha ward, Hanoi) began to take shape as a perfect solution. For her, only when books are “circulated”, passed through the hands of many readers, will their life cycle be extended and their value multiplied.

The small balcony corner in Ms. Huong's mother's house, where the love of books of two generations intersects, has become a symbol for the community library "Mother's Balcony".

She decided to sacrifice the common living space in her mother's house, removing the familiar sofa to make room for the first bookshelves. That bold action not only met with no resistance, but also received unhesitating support from her mother, Doan Thi Bich Van. Because for her, the philosophy of "knowing how to give and help others" is the most important thing she wants to teach her children.

The name “Mother’s Balcony” was born, encapsulating two generations of love. It is both the balcony of her mother - who has always protected and supported her, and the place where she, as a mother, builds a foundation of knowledge and sows the seeds of sharing with her children.

Meeting point for the book-loving community

The first visitors to “Mother’s Balcony” were mainly Ms. Huong’s Facebook friends, who came out of curiosity and support. At first, the library was quite quiet.

She honestly recalls: “In the first few years, I felt that people were a bit indifferent. Reading books for free didn’t seem to be enough to create the great attraction I expected.” It wasn’t until 2023 that mothers and families she had never met began to reach out, which, according to her, was probably thanks to the quiet sharing in the groups.

Although the space is not too large, every small corner in the library can become a private world for mother and child to explore the pages of books together. Photo: Source Fanpage Mother's Balcony

However, as the community expanded, a practical challenge arose. Ms. Huong shared that during the operation, there were times when she received books that were torn or had graffiti on them, which made her startled: “Children are innocent, they can crumple books, tear them, draw on them or stick stickers on them.”

Since then, she has started posting articles reminding parents to guide their children to turn pages properly, not to draw on books, and calling on everyone to "refurbish" damaged books.

The change came naturally. When mothers borrowed books, they would help her fix any bent corners. The children, after being reminded by their mothers, also knew how to preserve and be more careful.

She realized that a sustainable community cannot only have receivers, but also givers. “Give the spirit of preserving books, join hands to repair damaged and defective books,” she said. From this connection, small meetings and exchanges are organized naturally, turning “Mother’s Balcony” into a lively connecting space, where families not only borrow books but also together cultivate a sense of community responsibility.

A meeting at the "Mother's Balcony" library. Photo: Source: Mother's Balcony Fanpage

The spread of a heart

When asked about what she received in return, Ms. Huong did not talk about words of thanks, but about stories and changes.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga, a parent in Hoang Dao Thuy area (Thanh Xuan ward, Hanoi), came to the library through social networks with a very practical need: Finding a source of quality books for her child without spending too much money.

“In Hanoi, finding a source of books that is diverse, suitable for children’s needs, and free is not easy. Therefore, finding “Mother’s Balcony” is truly a great fortune for my family,” Ms. Nga shared.

Thanks to a rich source of books and her mother’s perseverance, her second child was able to read books when he was just over two years old. She explained that it was not the usual way of reading and spelling, but the child’s brain’s amazing ability to memorize images. “He memorizes letters very well, like taking a photo. Every time he sees that letter again, he recognizes it and reads it.”

From a small idea, the library has now become a common space for a community of book lovers, where fathers, mothers and children together cultivate a reading culture. Photo: Source: Fanpage Mother's Balcony

The appeal of “Mother’s Balcony” does not stop in Hanoi’s inner city. Because there are not many libraries with a wide range of books in the provinces, Ms. Hoang Thi Dam, a mother of four children in Bac Ninh, does not mind the long distance and regularly goes to Hanoi to borrow books. “Because my house is far away, every time I come, I usually borrow a large box of books, about 100 books for my children to read gradually over a few months,” Ms. Dam said.

And perhaps, the most miraculous thing, the most meaningful “return” for Ms. Huong, comes from the recipients themselves. From being an inspired person, Ms. Dam is now cherishing the idea of ​​building a similar small library in her hometown with her friends.

The seed sown in a Hanoi library is now preparing to sprout in a new land. That is perhaps the greatest recognition for Ms. Huong’s journey, when “giving” not only brings the joy of reading, but also lights the fire of sharing, so that other libraries can continue to be opened.

Article and photos: YEN NHI

 

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/ban-cong-cua-me-noi-tinh-yeu-noi-dai-nhung-trang-sach-840994