Cases of suspension and termination of library operations in Vietnam

What is library?

Based on the provisions of the Library Law 2019, library means an institution of culture, information, education and science that develops, processes, stores, preserves and provides information resources for its users.

The library has the following functions and tasks:

- 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.

Cases of suspension and termination of library operations in Vietnam (Internet image)

What are the types of libraries in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 9 of the Library Law 2019, types of library include:

- 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.

Types of library ownership:

- Public libraries, which have their investment and operating conditions ensured and ownership represented by the State, and are organized in the form of public service providers or as appropriate to the organizational model of their supervisory regulatory bodies or organizations;

- Non-public libraries, which have their investment and operating conditions ensured by Vietnamese or foreign organizations, individuals or residential communities, and are organized in the form of enterprises or non-public service providers or another model.

Cases of suspension and termination of library operations in Vietnam

Suspension and termination of library operations shall comply with the provisions of Article 22 of the Library Law 2019 as follows:

(1) A library will be suspended for a definite period in any of the following cases:

- It violates any of the regulation prescribed in Clause 1 Article 8 of the Library Law 2019;

- It has incurred an administrative penalty related to library operations but persists with its violation.

(2) A library will have its operations terminated in any of the following cases:

- It decides to terminate its operations;

- It is forced to terminate its operations due to lack of remedial measures upon end of the suspension period prescribed in Clause 1 of Article 22 of the Library Law 2019.

(3) Competence in suspension and termination of library operations:

- Regulatory bodies, organizations and individuals with competence in library establishment have the right to terminate library operations for the case prescribed in Point a Clause 2 Article 22 of the Library Law 2019;

- Competent organizations and individuals whose powers are prescribed by laws on handling of violations have the power to suspend library operations according to regulations of laws and have the right to terminate library operations for the case prescribed in Point b Clause 2 Article 22 of the Library Law 2019n.

(4) The decision on suspension or termination of operations of a library must include the reason for such suspension or termination and be posted at the library. The suspension decision must specify the suspension period. Within such period, if the library manages to remedy the violation stated in the suspension decision, the organization or individual with competence in suspending its operations has the power to decide resumption of its operations.

Mai Thanh Loi

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