Vinh-The Lam
(Published in Proceedings of the NIT ’98: 10th International Conference on New Information Technology, West Newton, Mass.: MicroUse Information, 1998, p. 141-148)
ABSTRACT
In order to
maintain a steady and balanced progress in the long run, Vietnam needs to
improve ways of collecting, preserving, and disseminating knowledge. Libraries can play an important role in these
efforts. This paper discusses issues
relating to library standardization, which can contribute to the development of
the national information policy and the establishment of national information
infrastructure. In the first part of the
paper, standardization is defined as a tool for uniformity and quality
control. The second part of the paper
is an attempt to explain why Vietnam needs a library standardization program
now. The author then suggests, in the
third part of the paper, that priority be given to the creation of standards
for information organization, retrieval, and exchange. An ISBD-based national cataloguing code and
a national MARC format are suggested. In
the last part of the paper, steps to be taken in the implementation of the
library standardization program are recommended. The National Library of Vietnam should play
the leading role in the whole process.
