Vietnam: How many types of libraries are there? What are the State policies for library development?
How many types of libraries are there in Vietnam? What is the concept of types of libraries?
Pursuant to Article 9 of the Law on Libraries 2019 on the types of libraries as follows:
- National Library of Vietnam;
- Public libraries;
- Special libraries;
- Libraries of Vietnam People’s Armed Force;
- Libraries of higher education institutions (“university libraries”);
- Libraries of institutions of preschool education, general education or vocational education and libraries of other educational institutions;
- Community libraries and private libraries open to the general public;
- Libraries of foreign organizations and individuals open to Vietnamese people.
According to Clause 1, Article 10 of the Law on Libraries 2019, the National Library of Vietnam is the nucleus library of the whole country.
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 11 of the Law on Libraries 2019, the public library is a library whose consolidated information resources are made accessible to people.
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 12 of the Law on Libraries 2019, the special library is a library containing in-depth information resources of one particular discipline or more and serving officials, public employees, and workers of its supervisory body or organization.
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 13 of the 2019 Law on Libraries, the library of the People’s Armed Force is a library of an affiliate of the People’s Army or Public Security Force that possesses consolidated information resources of national defense and security and serves officials, soldiers and people in the locality, persons serving a sentence, and persons receiving education in correctional institutions.
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 14 of the Law on Libraries 2019, the university library is a library whose information resources serve learners and teachers of a higher education institution.
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 15 of the Law on Libraries 2019, the library of an institution of preschool education, general education or vocational education or another educational institution is a library whose information resources serve learners and teachers of such educational institution.
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 16 of the Law on Libraries 2019, the community library is a library that possesses consolidated information resources and was established by a residential community at a commune-level cultural - sports center, community learning center, post office providing cultural services, cultural center, an apartment building or in a common space of the community.
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 17 of the Law on Libraries 2019, the library of a foreign organization or individual open to Vietnamese people is a financially independent library containing consolidated/specialized information resources, established by a foreign organization or individual in Vietnam and operated according to regulations of this Law and other relevant regulations of laws.
What are the functions and tasks of libraries in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Article 4 of the Law on Libraries 2019, the functions and tasks of libraries in Vietnam are as follows:
- Develop, process, store, preserve, connect and enrich information resources as appropriate to the needs of library users.
- Organize shared use of information resources, information products and library services; promote knowledge and cultural values of the country and humankind; support research, learning and recreation; and contribute to the formation and development of knowledge, skills, virtues and capacity of library users.
- Apply scientific and technological advancements, and modernize libraries.
- Promote reading culture and provide an environment for life-long learning, build a learning society, heighten people’s intellectual standards, and shape comprehensively capable Vietnamese citizens.
What are the State policies for library development in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Article 5 of the Law on Libraries 2019, the State policies for library development in Vietnam are:
- For public libraries, the State shall invest in the following areas:
+ Prioritize investment for the National Library of Vietnam, public libraries of provinces and central-affiliated cities (“provincial libraries”) and important libraries;
+ Modernization of libraries; development of digital libraries, shared information resources, and open information resources; and cooperation between domestic and foreign libraries;
+ Collection, preservation and enhancement of values of ancient and precious documents, and document collections of significance to history, culture and science;
+ Provision of mobile libraries, transfer of information resources to border areas, islands, ethnic minority areas, and areas with socio-economic difficulties or exceptional socio-economic difficulties;
+ Training and development of library staff;
+ Research and application of scientific and technological advancements in libraries.
- The State shall support investment in the following areas:
+ Provision of public library services, and reading culture promotion;
+ Maintenance and development of community libraries and private libraries open to the general public without profitable aims;
+ Cost for transfer of library materials for political purpose or to border areas, islands and areas with socio-economic difficulties or exceptional socio-economic difficulties;
+ International library cooperation.
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