Public unaware of free law libraries

Published: 02/09/2009 05:00

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LookAtVietnam – Plans to give people at grassroots level access to law books were not working up to expectation, officials said.

Law books are seldom read at community libraries as many people claim they are unaware they exist. They prefer books to be stored nearer residential areas and available daily.

When the Government decided in 1988 there was a need to raise awareness of the law, bookcases were provided at communes, wards and towns nationwide.

But the books are seldom read as many people claim they are unaware they exist.

“No one told me about them,” said Nguyen Thi Mai from Ha Noi’s Bach Mai ward. The 50-year-old said she hired a private law company to help her complete divorce papers two years ago.

“It would have saved me a good sum if I’d known about the books,” Mai said.

To access information about Marriage and Family Law, a Viet Nam News reporter went to the Ngoc Khanh Ward People’s Committee.

“The books only serve for cadres here,” said legislation staff member Doan Thi Vy.

The reporter learned the bookcase was on the first floor of the committee office. No books were available and there were only some files.

“All have been given to different sections in the committee to manage,” said a receptionist.

Books at communal and ward People’s Committee offices were only available to the public during office hours.

Officials said many people were not in the habit of learning law by themselves and demands for knowledge only arose when they were in trouble with the law, or wanted to protect their interests.

Up to 60 per cent of the 160 people surveyed recently in Ninh Binh province had accessed law information through radio, television and by asking people they assumed had legal knowledge.

Ta Thanh Oai Commune People’s Committee official Nghiem Binh Thinh, who has worked as a mediator for families involved in divorce, said the more he worked with people the more he realised they had limited law knowledge.

When Thinh had suggested residents borrow law books they said it was inconvenient to visit the communal People’s Committee.

It would be better if the books were stored nearer residential areas and available daily, Thinh said.

Despite having been the chief of Residential Area No 54 in Ba Dinh district’s Ngoc Khanh ward since 1991, Tran Ngoc Dan said he was unaware of the books’ existence.

Ha Noi Justice Department statistics show the city has 4,177 law bookcases, which department director Truong Thi Nga said were an effective tool for local officers to study and apply the law.

Vu Thi Khang, an office staff and bookcase keeper at Thanh Xuan Ward People’s Committee, said ward officials had a tool to help people understand and abide by the law.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News

Provide by Vietnam Travel

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