Rules for library operations in Vietnam

Rules for library operations in Vietnam (Internet image) 

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Rules for library operations in Vietnam

Library operating principles are stipulated in Article 24 of the Law on Library 2019 including:

- Taking library users as the center; create a friendly and equal environment; Ensure the right to access and use the library for organizations and individuals.

- Information resources are collected, processed, stored, preserved and disseminated in compliance with national standards, technical regulations and relevant professional standards in the library field.

- Regularly innovate processes, information products, and library services based on the application of advanced scientific and technological achievements.

- Implement library interoperability.

- Comply with the provisions of law on intellectual property, science and technology, information technology, network security and other relevant laws.

2. Prohibited acts in library operations in Vietnam

- 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.

(Article 8 of Law on Library 2019)

3. State policies for library development in Vietnam

- 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.

- The State shall formulate incentive policies to encourage organizations and individuals to participate in the activities prescribed in Clauses 1 and 2 Article 5 of Law on Library 2019.

- The Government shall provide for the important libraries mentioned in Point a Clause 1 Article 5 of Law on Library 2019, and the ancient and precious documents and document collections of significance to history, culture and science mentioned in Point c Clause 1 Article 5 of Law on Library 2019.

(Article 5 of Law on Library 2019)

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