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HSF supports the National Assembly in revising the draft of the library law
National Conference on Recommendation and Revision of the Draft of the Library Law

The Library Ordinance, adopted by the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on December 28, 2000, has provided legislative framework for library activities that contribute to improving society’s knowledge and learning requirements. 18 years later, the library work in Vietnam has achieved great success. The public library network has grown considerably and there are more than 31,000 libraries and more than 21,000 bookcases and reading rooms in Vietnam today. Over the last years, libraries have been gradually modernized. IT application and E-libraries have been promoted to provide easier access to information.

Interview with Mrs Nguyễn Thị Kim Thoa (middle), former Director General of the Department of Criminal and Administrative Legislation, Ministry of Justice, about “Compatibility of the drafted Law on Library with the Constitution and current Vietnamese laws and legislation”

Interview with Mrs Nguyễn Thị Kim Thoa (middle), former Director General of the Department of Criminal and Administrative Legislation, Ministry of Justice, about “Compatibility of the drafted Law on Library with the Constitution and current Vietnamese laws and legislation”

HSF

The Library Ordinance has created an important shift in awareness of library management and development. Libraries have become a place of cultural activities, cultural exchange or creative learning space for the community. Therefore, libraries not only influence individual development, but also contribute significantly to the development of the country.

Nevertheless, further modernization and improvement of the Library Law is required. Library activities in Vietnam are still limited and do not yet meet the demand. In addition, many libraries only have a small budget. However, the biggest difficulty for Vietnamese libraries is the lack of resources towards standardization and modernization, which requires increasing capacities for international integration and the Digital Era. The draft of the Library Law must take into account the progressive development of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, the sharing of data resources, copyright of authors and responsibilities of readers.

The two-day conference on “Recommendation and Revision of the Draft of Library Law”, co-organized by the Office of the National Assembly (ONA) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), took place from 18 to 19 April 2019 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The aim of the conference was to provide a discussion platform on challenges and upcoming issues of the drafted Library Law.

Invited to the conference were members of the National Assembly, representatives from relevant ministries and agencies, representatives from public as well as private libraries, from publishing houses, newspapers and television.

The drafted Library Law was viewed by participants from several different angles. The compatibility with the Constitution and current Vietnamese laws and legislation, the State’s support and legislative status of private libraries, needs of the current existing library system in Vietnam and cooperation abilities between the State and private actors to provide know-how and adapting increasing reading requirements of the Vietnamese society have been discussed.

Mrs. Hoang Thi Hoa, Vice chairman of the Committee of Culture, Education, Youth and Children of the Vietnamese National Assembly, underlined that the conference was “a good practice for the Members of the National Assembly and local representatives to participate more responsibly in the legislative and law-making processes”.

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