National Library Conference Paves Way for Vietnam Library Globalization

Professor Patricia Oyler (middle) and Leslie Burger (far right) with conference attendees

On August 28-29, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and U.S. Embassy in Hanoi with the Northern and Southern Academic Library Associations successfully held the National Library Conference at Vietnam National University’s College of Natural Sciences in Ho Chi Minh City.  Over 200 Vietnamese librarians, educators, and American library experts gathered to discuss the steps needed to improve library practices, standards, and technology.  Leslie Burger, President of the American Library Association, shared her expertise on the practices of American libraries and the value of library associations in an information society.  Vietnamese participants raised their concerns and unique challenges that Vietnamese libraries face in modernizing their system.  The conference provided a forum for learning and discussion amongst Vietnamese librarian leaders on how to adopt and adapt to international standards, such as the Dewey decimal system to satisfy the needs of Vietnam’s libraries.