28 October
OFFICIALS from MoI and the literary sector organized a work-shop to review the Public Library Law at UMFCCI, Yangon, yesterday.
The workshop was attended by Deputy Minister for Informa-tion U Aung Hla Tun, Yangon Region Minister for Rakhine Ethnic Social Affairs U Zaw Aye Maung, Kayin Ethnic Social Affairs Minister Daw Naw Pan Thinzar Myo, officials from the Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD), Myanmar Library As-sociation (MLA), Myanmar Li-brary Foundation (MLF), Myanmar Publishers and Distributors Association (MPDA), Save the Library, MBAPF, and organizations related to library matters.
The Deputy Minister first delivered an address. He said the state and regional governments have the authority to supervise library matters, as pertained in Schedule Two of the Constitution. He said this allows each state and region to enact library-related laws for their own jurisdiction. He said they have drafted nine laws so far and upon careful analysis some laws are found to be either excessive, contradicting with existing laws or already included in other existing laws thus making them unnecessary.
The Deputy Minister said the fourth industrial revolution has gained momentum in the past 10 years and the benefits of digital technology has never been more pronounced now, especially as Myanmar’s economic system changes.
He said the number of readers for printed media has decreased and those for social media has increased and this is something to put into consideration. He said social media has the advantage of influencing a wide range of people and thus, it is important to consider the role of a digital online library.
The workshop discussed the three topics of (i) public library development and the role of the public library law, (ii) challenges faced by public libraries, and (iii) reviews and suggestions on the public library law. The Deputy Minister said drafting a law will take more than one attempt and it must reflect the practicality of the changing times.
The workshop then commenced with the first topic dis-cussed by MBAPF Executive Director Dr Thant Thaw Kaung, IPRD Deputy Director-General U Aye Kywe, Save the Library’s U Maung Maung Soe and MPDA Vice Chairman U Myint Tun.
The second topic was dis-cussed by MLA Vice Chairman (1) Daw Myat San Nyein, MLF Executive member U Maung Maung Oo (Hein Latt), U Kyi Win from Lawka Amon, IPRD Director U Kaw Sint, and Tagaung Youth Development Center’s Executive member of Thati Library U San Naing Oo. The third topic was discussed by MLA Chair-person Daw A Win, MoI’s legal advisor U Maung Maung (a) U Kyi Shun, IPRD Director U Kyaw Zin Soe, Lecturer U Zaw Aung of the Yangon University’s Library and Research Department, and U Maung Zaw (Thabyay) from Child Education and Health Assistance Group.
MNA (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
