What is library? 05 things you should know about libraries in Vietnam

What is library? 05 things you should know about libraries in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. What is library?

According to Clause 1, Article 3 of the Libraries Law 2019, library means an institution of culture, information, education and science that develops, processes, stores, preserves and provides information resources for its users.

2. Types of libraries in Vietnam

According to Clause 1, Article 9 of the Libraries Law 2019, the types of library are 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.

3. Functions and duties of libraries in Vietnam

The functions and duties of the library are specified in Article 4 of the Libraries Law 2019, specifically 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.

4. Rights and responsibilities of libraries in Vietnam

4.1. Rights of libraries in Vietnam

Libraries have the following rights:

- Determine their operational contents and forms as appropriate to their functions and duties.

- Exchange information resources and join domestic and foreign library information systems according to regulations of laws.

- Reject requests for information resources that are against regulations of laws or library regulations.

- Charge library services in accordance with regulations of laws

- Conduct research, apply scientific and technological advancements, and establish technical infrastructure meeting library modernization requirements.

- Attract and receive sponsorship and donation to libraries as prescribed by law

- Expand targeted groups of users in compliance with regulations of laws and library regulations.

- Carry out international library cooperation.

- Determine amounts of compensation for damage caused by library users and methods for payment thereof according to procedures of laws and library regulations.

- The National Library of Vietnam, special libraries of Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Governmental agencies, Office of the National Assembly, Supreme People’s Courts and Supreme People’s Procuracies and provincial libraries may store the information resources prescribed in Point a Clause 1 Article 7 of the Libraries Law 2019 for research purpose.

(Article 38 of the Libraries Law 2019)

4.2. Responsibilities of Libraries in Vietnam

Libraries have the following responsibilities:

- Ensure exercise of right to access information and to use library services prescribed in this Law, other relevant regulations of laws and library regulations.

- Use library resources effectively.

- Organize specialized library activities according to regulations in this Law and other ex officio activities.

- Provide library services; schedule operating time as appropriate to living, working and learning conditions of library users.

- Announce library regulations and provide library guides.

- Exercise transparency regarding information resources and library activities.

- Submit reports on an annual basis and upon request.

- Manage and store restricted information resources and organize provision thereof as prescribed in this Law, other relevant regulations of laws and library regulations.

(Article 39 of the Libraries Law 2019)

5. Prohibited acts in library activities

According to Article 8 of the Libraries Law 2019, the following acts are strictly prohibited in library activities:

- Taking advantage of library operations to distort State guidelines, policies and legislation; to oppose the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; to separate the block of great national solidarity; to incite violence or hatred between ethnicities or religions; to propagate invasion war; to erode the good traditions and customs; to spread superstitious beliefs; or to attract library users to social evils.

- Provision of information resources within the scope of state secrets, unless otherwise provided for by law.

- Impeding access to and use of information resources of library users against regulations of laws.

- Provision of information on library users, unless requested by competent authorities.

- Appropriating, swapping, destroying or causing damage to information resources.

- Unauthorized access to library information systems or library databases; modification, disruption or destruction of library information systems or library databases.

Thanh Rin

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE