Ordinance No. 31/2000/PL-UBTVQH10 on Libraries

GENERAL PROVISIONS

In this Ordinance, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Literary heritage means the entire books, newspapers, handwritten documents, maps, paintings, photographs, and other types of materials that are currently circulating;

2. Materials refer to a physical form that records information in written, audio, or visual formats with the purpose of preservation and utilization;

3. Library resources refer to materials collected and compiled according to specific themes and contents, processed according to scientific rules and procedures of library operations to organize efficient service for readers and preserved.

This Ordinance regulates:

1. The organization and operation of libraries; the rights and responsibilities of state agencies, political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, occupational associations, economic organizations, public institutions, and people's armed forces units (hereinafter referred to as organizations) in library activities;

2. The rights and responsibilities of domestic organizations and individuals in utilizing library resources and participating in activities organized by libraries;

3. The rights and responsibilities of overseas Vietnamese residents, foreign organizations and individuals residing and working in Vietnam in utilizing library resources and participating in activities organized by libraries.

The State invests budget funds to develop libraries and library resources; expands interconnectivity among domestic libraries and cooperates and exchanges materials with foreign libraries; encourages domestic organizations and individuals, overseas Vietnamese residents, and foreign organizations and individuals to participate in developing various types of libraries, implementing socialization of library activities; trains, enhances, and builds a team of library professionals to meet the development needs of various types of libraries.

Strictly prohibit the following acts:

1. Illegally storing materials containing:

a. Content opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; undermining the unity of the entire people;

b. Propaganda for violence, aggressive war, inciting hatred between ethnic groups and peoples of different countries, spreading reactionary thoughts, cultural products, decadent lifestyles, criminal acts, social evils, and superstitious beliefs; undermining traditional customs and morals of the nation;

c. Distorting history, denying revolutionary achievements, slandering great men, national heroes, defaming the reputation of organizations, and insulting the dignity and personality of citizens;

2. Disclosing state secrets and personal privacy of citizens;

3. Swapping, destroying library materials;

4. Exploiting library operations to illegally disseminate the contents prescribed in this Article.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

Organizations in Vietnam have the right to establish libraries in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance.

2. Domestic organizations and individuals, overseas Vietnamese residents, and foreign organizations and individuals residing and working in Vietnam have the right to participate in activities organized by libraries.

Users of library resources have the responsibility to:

1. Adhere to the library's internal regulations;

2. Protect library resources and assets;

3. Participate in building and developing libraries;

4. Bear legal responsibility for violations in the use of library resources.

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF LIBRARIES

1. Organizations in Vietnam that meet the conditions specified in Article 9 of this Ordinance may establish libraries.

2. Within thirty days from the date of establishment, the organization establishing the library must register its activities with the competent state agency as prescribed in Article 11 of this Ordinance.

3. The organization establishing the library shall issue operational regulations for the library.

The Ministry of Culture and Information shall specify the registration procedures and provide guidance on issuing library regulations.

1. The National Library of Vietnam and libraries of central-level organizations shall register their activities with the Ministry of Culture and Information.

2. Libraries of provincial-level organizations shall register their activities with the Provincial Department of Culture and Information.

3. Libraries of district-level and commune-level organizations with offices located within the registered operating area shall register their activities with the District, County, City, or Provincial Culture and Information Office.

1. The organization establishing a library has the right to decide on dividing, separating, merging, dissolving the library, or changing the registered content of its activities.

2. When dividing, separating, or merging libraries, the organization establishing the library must re-register its activities.

3. When changing the name, address, regulations, content of activities, or dissolving the library, the organization establishing the library must notify in writing the competent state agency.

Article 13.
Libraries have the following tasks:

1. Meeting the requirements and creating favorable conditions for readers to use the library's collection of materials and participate in activities organized by the library.

2. Collecting, supplementing, and processing the library's collection of materials; preserving the collection of materials and removing outdated or damaged materials from storage according to the library's regulations.

3. Organizing information dissemination and introducing the library's collection of materials; participating in building reading habits among the people.

4. Processing information to compile scientific information publications.

5. Implementing interconnectivity between domestic libraries; cooperating and exchanging materials with foreign libraries as prescribed by the Government.

6. Researching and applying advanced scientific and technological achievements to library work, gradually modernizing the library.

7. Organizing professional training for library staff.

8. Preserving the technical infrastructure and other assets of the library.

Libraries have the following rights:

1. Exchanging materials and participating in domestic library information networks; exchanging materials and participating in foreign library information networks as prescribed by the Government.

2. Refusing requests from readers if such requests contravene the library's regulations.

3. Charging fees for certain library services as stipulated in Article 23 of this Ordinance.

4. Accepting sponsorship and assistance from domestic organizations and individuals, and from foreign organizations and individuals.

5. Participating in domestic and international professional associations related to libraries.

6. Storing materials containing content specified in Clause 1, Article 5 of this Ordinance as prescribed by the Government.

1. Library staff have the following rights:

a) Being provided opportunities to study and improve cultural, professional, and vocational qualifications; participating in scientific research, professional activities, and social-professional organizations as prescribed by law.

b) Enjoying preferential policies and other state policies regarding their profession.

2. Library staff have the obligation to comply with laws and regulations concerning libraries, professional and vocational regulations, and the library's regulations.

Types of libraries include:

1. Public libraries including:

a) The National Library of Vietnam.

b) Libraries established by People's Committees at various levels.

2. Specialized and multi-disciplinary libraries

a) Libraries of institutes and research centers.

b) Libraries of schools and other educational institutions.

c) Libraries of state agencies.

d) Libraries of civilian armed units.

đ) Libraries of political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, social-professional organizations, economic organizations, and public service units.

1. The National Library of Vietnam is the central library of the country.

2. In addition to the tasks and rights stipulated in Articles 13 and 14 of this Ordinance, the National Library of Vietnam also has the following tasks and authorities:

a) Exploiting domestic and foreign sources of materials to meet reader needs.

b) Receiving domestic publication materials as prescribed; building and preserving long-term national publication collections; compiling and publishing national bibliographies and comprehensive bibliographies of Vietnam.

c) Providing services to reader groups according to the library's regulations.

d) Cooperating and exchanging materials with domestic and foreign libraries.

đ) Conducting scientific and technological research in the field of library information.

e) Organizing professional training for library staff and guiding library practices according to the assignment of the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Article 18.

1. Libraries established by People's Committees at various levels play a central role in coordinating activities, exchanging materials, and guiding practices with other libraries in their areas.

2. In addition to the tasks and rights stipulated in Articles 13 and 14 of this Ordinance, libraries established by People's Committees at various levels also have the following tasks and authorities:

a. Building and preserving local material collections.

b. Participating in building community libraries and organizing book circulation to community libraries.

Article 19.

1. Libraries of institutes and research centers are established to serve the needs of cadres and staff within the institute or center and may serve other appropriate groups according to the library's regulations.

2. Libraries of schools and other educational institutions are established to serve the needs of teachers, students, and staff within the school or institution and may serve other appropriate groups according to the library's regulations.

3. Libraries of state agencies are established to serve the needs of cadres and staff within the agency and may serve other appropriate groups according to the library's regulations.

4. Libraries of civilian armed units are established to serve the needs of cadres and soldiers within the unit and may serve other appropriate groups according to the library's regulations.

5. Libraries of political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, social-professional organizations, economic organizations, and public service units are mainly established to serve members within the organization or unit and may serve other appropriate groups according to the library's regulations.

INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF LIBRARIES

The State implements investment policies for libraries as follows:

1. Investment to ensure that libraries receiving state budget operate, develop, and gradually modernize their physical infrastructure and technical equipment, electronic and automated library systems; training and enhancing the capacity of library staff.

2. Concentrated investment for certain libraries with particularly important positions; prioritizing investment in building county libraries in areas with difficult socio-economic conditions and extremely difficult socio-economic conditions.

3. Encouraging domestic organizations and individuals, overseas Vietnamese, and foreign organizations and individuals to participate in contributing to the construction and development of the Vietnamese library事业。

4. Supporting the training and enhancement of professional skills for library staff working in organizations not operating on state budget.

5. Prioritizing the resolution of land for library construction.

6. Assisting and supporting the preservation of personal and family collections of special historical, cultural, and scientific value.

The State implements preferential policies for library activities as follows:

1. Exemption or reduction of import duties on library materials, specialized equipment, and machinery according to the provisions of the law.

2. Supporting funding for the exploitation of domestic and international information-library networks, lending materials between libraries and readers.

1. Libraries operating on state budget may charge fees for services such as photocopying, reproducing materials, translation, compiling catalogues, delivering materials at home or through postal service, and other services as required by users of library resources, in accordance with the law on copyright protection.

2. Libraries of social organizations, social-professional organizations, and economic organizations not using state budget may charge fees for activities specified in Clause 2, Article 6 of this Ordinance.

The specific list of services subject to charges, fee levels, and the use of fees shall be prescribed by the Government.

STATE MANAGEMENT OF LIBRARIES

1. The Government uniformly manages state administration over libraries.

2. The Ministry of Culture and Information is responsible before the Government for implementing state administration over libraries.

3. Ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, government agencies, and other state agencies within the scope of their tasks and powers have the responsibility to implement state administration over libraries.

The Government shall specify the responsibilities of ministries, agencies equivalent to ministries, government agencies, and other state agencies in coordinating with the Ministry of Culture and Information to uniformly manage state administration over libraries.

4. People's Committees at all levels shall implement state administration over libraries within their localities according to the delegation of authority by the Government.

Specialized inspection of culture and information shall perform the function of inspecting libraries.

1. Organizations and individuals have the right to file complaints, and individuals have the right to report violations of laws on libraries.

2. State agencies with jurisdiction have the responsibility to resolve complaints and reports in accordance with the law.

REWARD AND VIOLATION HANDLING

Any person violating the provisions of this Ordinance and other laws on libraries shall be disciplined, administratively punished, or criminally prosecuted depending on the nature and degree of violation; if causing damage, they must compensate according to the law.

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

The Government shall provide detailed regulations and guidance for the implementation of this Ordinance./.