Setting an agenda for library development: The role of the Vietnamese library association

The Vietnamese Library Association was established in 2006, and in the ensuing period has focused its efforts largely on the organizing of Committees and their operating procedures and regulations, in addition to taking part in organizing the CONSAL XIV conference. The Association is now becoming more outward looking, and is beginning to develop strategies and programs to enhance the role it plays in supporting libraries throughout the country. There are a number of factors, however, which combine to make genuine progress difficult to achieve. In this paper, discussion will focus on the efforts that the Vietnamese Library Association has made in the recent past to identify and overcome obstacles to full development. The paper will review the proposed development strategies of the Association ‐ which arose from a recent planning workshop with the author ‐ and will reflect on some of the issues which may be particular to the development and management of library associations in the region. Copyright © 2009 The Author.