An online audio library opened on Aug. 9, making it easier for visually impaired people across the country access local and foreign books.

The Thu Vien Sach Noi (Speaking Book Library) has nearly 200 titles including textbooks for all 12 schools grades, materials to prepare for university and college entrance exams, and general knowledge books on science, medicine, tourism and other subjects.

The translated ‘Seeds for the Soul’ series and other local and foreign literature works have also been uploaded on the library’s website www.sachnoionline.com .

The online audio library would meet the desire of visually impaired people to again knowledge from different sources more easily, said Pham Duc Trung Kien, head of the Vietnam Foundation (VNF) who supported the library’s establishment.

VNF donated a server worth 2,000 USD and 57 million VND (3,170 USD) for the library’s operation while the DCC Communication Joint-Stock Company helped to create and upload audio books on the website.

The VASC Software and Communication Co provided free ADSL internet network for the library,

It is not only visually impaired people but also normal people, especially students, who can now access textbooks and various local and foreign titles, said Nguyen Huong Duong, head of Thu Vien Sach Noi, who initiated the online version.

“Our children as well as children who are living in foreign countries now can learn their mother tongue thanks to the library,” said Kien, an overseas Vietnamese.

The Speaking Book Library was set up in 1998 by the HCM City Women’s Charity Association. Until now, the library has provide CDs and cassettes of nearly 600 titles to 75 associations and schools for visually impaired people across the country./.