In an increasingly high-tech, need-for-speed society, we often forget that in some places around the world, books and libraries remain a luxury. Up until recently, people living in the village of Hoi An in Vietnam had to pay for a library card, then leave a deposit before borrowing a book. This proved to be problematic, given that the average citizen didn't make much money.

As today's story by Advertiser writer Gordon Pang shows, that all changed when two local librarians, Karen Chun with Campbell High School, and Susan Smith with August Ahrens Elementary School, decided to make a difference. They applied for and received grants from the Disney Co., which allowed them to go back and form a library club with children from the Hoi An orphanage and Hoi An Street Center. They taught these children storytelling techniques, and trained them on book maintenance.

"These youth then become the teachers in their communities, reading to children from poorer areas, or to 'boat children' of Hoi An," said Chun.

No doubt, the public library will help improve the lives of many of these children whose parents could not afford to buy them books. As if that weren't rewarding enough, Chun and Smith have made social action a lesson for local youth as well.

"We got together with Rotary clubs at our schools and taught them about Vietnam. They've raised money by selling pencils and candy. They've also come up with literary projects for the kids in Vietnam, which we implement when we go back."

This is about more than fundraising, says Chun. This is about teaching our youth the value of social action.

That's a lesson we all should learn.