Established in 1956, the principal public library of Thanh Hóa Province administers the provincial network of libraries, which comprises Thanh Hóa city library, Bỉm Sơn town library and 21 rural district libraries. It contains a total of 300,000 books and 202 different magazine and newspaper titles. With advice and assistance from the National Library of Việt Nam in Hà Nội, Thanh Hóa Provincial Lbrary is in the process of establishing a small book and document restoration and conservation facility and has been working with a local family to restore a valuable private collection.