NATIONAL LIBRARY OF VIETNAM

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.