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)