JOINT CIRCULAR No. 05/1999/TTLT-TC-TP GUIDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT TO BUILD AND MANAGE LEGAL BOOKS SHELVES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, WARD, AND TOWN

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for implementing the project to build and manage legal bookshelves

at communes, wards, and towns tại xã, phường, thị trấn

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Pursuant to Decision No. 1067/QĐ-TTg dated November 25, 1998 of the Prime Minister approving the Project on Building and Managing Legal Bookshelves at Communes, Wards, and Towns, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance provide guidelines for implementation as follows:

A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Legal bookshelves at communes, wards, and towns must be built, organized, and managed according to a unified model with appropriate steps and measures suitable to practical conditions and the specific characteristics of each region.

Legal bookshelves at communes, wards, and towns must be effectively utilized to serve management work of grassroots cadres and create conditions for the people to understand the law.

Article 2. Regarding the purchase of various types of books, newspapers, and publications: The People's Committee of communes, wards, and towns is responsible for purchasing sufficient quantities of books and materials according to the supplementary list provided periodically by the Ministry of Justice.

The People's Committee of communes, wards, and towns is responsible for properly preserving the Legal Bookshelf and arranging specialized staff with professional qualifications to manage it.

Article 3. Each commune, ward, and town shall annually plan to supplement additional types of books, newspapers, and legal materials and include the budget for the Legal Bookshelf in their annual commune, ward, and town budget.

I. LEVELS OF MIGRATION SUPPORT

Chapter I. REGARDING THE CONSTRUCTION AND USE OF LEGAL BOOKSHELVES AT COMMUNES, WARDS, AND TOWNS

1. The time frame specified for implementing the Project on Building and Managing Legal Bookshelves is three years (1999-2001), followed by consolidation and maintenance in subsequent years. Therefore, in 1999, communes, wards, and towns must commence building and organizing the use of Legal Bookshelves to ensure maximum effectiveness. The initial content of the Legal Bookshelf must at least include the following four components:

- Books containing normative legal documents issued by the central government and localities;

- Books providing guidance on grassroots administrative and judicial work;

- Books answering questions, commenting, and explaining laws;

- Specialized legal newspapers and magazines published by the central government and localities.

2. The Legal Bookshelf must be placed in a convenient location for cadres to consult, apply, and for the people to borrow and read conveniently, prioritizing its placement at the People's Committee offices of communes, wards, and towns.

3. The Ministry of Justice will provide detailed guidelines on the management and use of legal books, newspapers, and materials in the Legal Bookshelf. Based on these guidelines, communes, wards, and towns need to establish rules for using, lending, and reading legal books, newspapers, and materials to ensure good management of the Legal Bookshelf. Readers have the responsibility to preserve and maintain the materials; if they cause damage or loss, they must compensate according to regulations.

4. Annually, communes, wards, and towns must conduct an inventory of the Legal Bookshelf and report to higher-level management agencies (Legal Departments and asset management agencies).

5. The procurement of legal books, newspapers, and materials for the Legal Bookshelf should widely seek opinions from the Fatherland Front, other political-social organizations, and the local population to meet service requirements.

Chapter II. MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS FOR BUILDING LEGAL BOOKSHELVES

1. Funds for constructing, maintaining, and managing Legal Bookshelves at communes, wards, and towns are sourced from the commune, ward, and town budgets.

2. The annual expenditure for Legal Bookshelves in each commune, ward, and town is determined based on the characteristics of each region and the population of each commune, ward, and town, specifically set by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee at the provincial level, with a minimum amount of 1.2 million VND per year and a maximum of 2.2 million VND per year. For remote and mountainous areas where literacy levels are still low, higher amounts may be stipulated to ensure adequate circulation of books between villages and hamlets. When preparing the budget and implementing it, it should be recorded under the Sub-item - Expenditure on Legal Bookshelves of communes, wards, and towns according to the current State Budget Classification.

3. Funds for managing, training, and enhancing skills related to Legal Bookshelves are included in administrative management expenses and recorded under the corresponding Item and Sub-item according to the current State Budget Classification. The Chairman of the People's Committee of communes, wards, and towns bases decisions on the salary system for staff, training duration, specific tasks, ensuring that the staff completes their duties.

4. The preparation, execution, and settlement of funds for constructing and managing Legal Bookshelves at communes, wards, and towns must comply with current legal documents on state budget management, including Circulars guiding the management of income and expenditure at communes, wards, and towns.

Specifically, the construction fund for Legal Bookshelves in 1999 is not large (averaging 2.2 million VND per commune, ward, and town), provinces and centrally-administered cities should allocate funds based on actual circumstances within the budget already assigned by the Government.

C. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

This Circular takes effect fifteen days from the date of signature and applies to all communes, wards, and towns throughout the country.

During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, units are advised to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice for guidance, supplementation, and amendment to ensure suitability./.