On 2^nd March, 2016, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) held a Board meeting of evaluation and acceptance of science and technology subject at Ministerial level "Renovating managerial organization and operation methods of Vietnam libraries ". Deputy Minister of MoCST Mr. Huynh Vinh Ai holds the Chairman position of the board. Managerial organization and library operation play important roles which are crucial to the library performance efficiency. In recent years, library operation in our country is dramatically affected by the achievements of science and technology, especially information technology and communications, plus the trend of increasingly profound international integration that is making Vietnam libraries face new challenges in the organization of management and operation. Therefore, innovations are necessary in order to meet existing and future users’ requirements, fulfill the missions of libraries well to the society and the country.

In the afternoon of January 15, 2016 in Ha Noi, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and Ministry of Education and Training (MET) signed a Cooperation Program on improving the efficiency of national management in library and enhancing activities about education, lifelong learning at libraries period 2016 – 2020. Attending the Ceremony there were Mr. Pham Vu Luan, member of Party Center, Minister of MET; Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh, member of Party Center, Minister of MCST; Mr. Huynh Vinh Ai, Deputy Minister of MCST, together with representatives from Departments, Bureaus, Units of MET and MCST. The Signing Ceremony of Cooperation between MCST and MET expects to increase the cooperation between the two Ministries in order to enhance the quality, effectiveness of public library and school library system’s operation, promote maximum the existing resources, abilities of two fields to develop programs, organize educational activities through this system. Besides, to promote propaganda activities, exchanges, serving books and newspapers to create reading habit, increase the sense of self-study, initiative, positive, creative of learners, help to promote the quality and effectiveness of education, meet the need of life-long learning of the people; Collaborate to solve difficulties, limits affect negatively to the school library’s activities.

To celebrate the 12^th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the 86^th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (3/2/1930 – 3/2/2016), in the morning of January 15, 2016, National Library of Viet Nam (NLV) – Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) organized the Book, documentary exhibition: “Communist Party of Viet Nam – From Congress to Congress”. The exhibition displays more than 800 books, newspapers, documentary photos and films, digital documents… has reappeared lively the 86-year journey history of establishment and development of the Communist Party of Viet Nam; the role of President Ho Chi Minh in founding and training the Party; the Party’s guidelines and policies through 11 Congresses; the milestones and glorious achievements of the country in which special emphasis the Nation Revolution initiated and led by the Party, which turns 30 years with 6 tenure of the Congress. In addition, the exhibition also introduces some memoirs and documents about life, career of the Party’s Leaders through periods, and many articles, talks that were gathered and published as books.

On the morning of January 12, 2016, National Library of Viet Nam (NLV) held the 2015 Conference for Officials and Employees to summarize 2015’s working activities and plan the orientations and tasks for the year of 2016. Attending the Conference, from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) there were Mr. Huynh Vinh Ai – Deputy Minister, Mr. Nguyen Huu Gioi – President of Labor Union, Mrs. Vu Duong Thuy Nga – Director of Library Department, Mr. Trinh Ngoc Canh – Deputy Head of the Party Organization Committee, Mr. Quan Van Hai – Office Manager of Youth Union, and leadership representatives from Division 5, Department of Information- communication security (A87), Ministry of Public Security. In 2015, under the attention and guidance from the MCST, with the cooperation and efforts between the related Ministries, Departments and Divisions, the NLV’s Management Board, officials and employees have striven to accomplish effectively every assigned tasks following the scheduled plans, demonstrated by the outstanding achievements as follow:

To celebrate the 70^th Anniversary of Viet Nam’s first General Election Day (06/01/1946 – 06/01/2016), on the afternoon of January 4^th, 2016, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) solemnly opened the exhibition of books, documents: “70 years of National Assembly of Viet Nam” at the National Library of Viet Nam (NLV). The exhibition displays more than 1.000 significant items which were selected out of over 2 million NLV’s items about National Assembly of Viet Nam, it aims to reappear the historical years, operation process and the great achievements that the National Assembly and Vietnamese people have achieved over 70 years. These documents mostly published as books, newspapers. Especially, documents of films and photos are considered as the very important, original evidences for the exploring, studying of the National Assembly, are also displayed at the event.

Following the first symposium was organized in Ho Chi Minh City, on December 29, 2015, the National Library of Viet Nam has held the second symposium “Comments and suggestions for the Draft of Vietnamese Standard: Library activities – Terms and definitions of Library Products and Services” in order to continue gather discussion exchanges, suggestions on issues to the Standard’s Draft. The Library’s Products and Services are the result of library’s activities and have great significance in bringing library’s values to users, in order to discover effectively these achievements for the benefit of community. This is the fourth professional national standard on library sector which was compiled by the National Library of Viet Nam under assignment of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

On December 24, 2015, the National Library of Viet Nam has organized the first symposium “Making suggestions on National Standards: Library activities - Terms and definitionsof library products and services” in Ho Chi Minh City in order to exchange opinions, discussion and comments on the draft. There were leader-level representatives from library – information institutions; Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality; experts in the library sector of the southern territory from Thua Thien Hue downwardly attending the symposium. The draft of National Standards “Library activities - Terms and definitionsof library products and services” consists of 132 terms and definitions which were built on the basis of reference, extension, update from the modern content, terminologies of the announced standards, dictionaries… of some countries (mostly from United States and Russia), compliance with the harmonic principle with ISO (international standard)....

In recent years, standardization of library activities has been and is an urgent matter concerned by the whole industry. In order to apply standardization, disseminating knowledge on new standards and professional competence to librarians holds a very significant meaning. With support of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, on 27^th November, 2015, at the National Library of Vietnam, Vietnam Library Association has opened a Workshop on “Knowledge dissemination and standard application, standardization of professional competence for members in library activities in Vietnam”. There were 120 delegates attending the Workshop from provincial, city libraries; information-library center of universities, special libraries, library-information training agencies. Standardization has become a trend as well as a requirement imposed to library activities, particularly in the context of globalization, international integration promotion and information technology application nowadays. Through the knowledge dissemination on standard application and standardization of professional competence, the Workshop aimed to bring together awareness and necessary content to standardize terminology, specialization; to share useful measures to promote the process of standardization; to guarantee international integration and sustainable development for Vietnam libraries.

On 26^th November, 2015, the National Library of Vietnam (NLV) held a reception ceremony of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico and National Culture and Arts Council awarding the NLV. Attending the ceremony were Mrs. Sara Valdés Bolaño - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Union of Mexico in Vietnam and Embassy's officials; Mrs. Kieu Thuy Nga - Director of the NLV, Deputy Directors and other managing officials of the library. In the framework of the welcoming activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary and official establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Mexico (1975-2015), a number of cultural programs were carried out in both countries to further tighten this traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation. To continuation of these cultural exchange programs in two countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico and National Culture and Arts Council through Mexican Embassy in Vietnam donated over 40 books introducing about the history, country, people, and unique cultures of the beautiful Mexico. This is a meaningful gift added to the collection of books in Spanish which is currently available at the NLV, also it is a valuable resources to help Vietnamese readers learn more about Mexico - the country of colors and festivals.

On 5th November, 2015, Mr. Wilfred Hulzebosch, Coordinator of the project "The EU Public Diplomacy and Outreach in Vietnam" (EU - PDO) has awarded a special publication on the 25-year cooperation relations between the European Union and Vietnam to the National Library of Vietnam (NLV). The author of the book, Professor Andrew Hardy also showed up atthe reception. The book "History of the Vietnam – European Union Relationship 1990-2015" was published on the occasion of the 25th establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the European Union (EU). The content is a vivid and engaging narrative about the key milestones in the development of relations between two sides: the initially friendly relationship that merely focuses on aids has gradually developed into a more significant partnership, including political dialogue and tight connections on investment and economy.