Moldovan libraries to operate under new law

Chisinau, 17 August /MOLDPRES/- The new law on libraries will be published in the Official Journal of Moldova on 18 August.

The draft law was initiated by the Culture Ministry and worked out in the context of the implementation of the legislative programme for transposition of commitments assumed under the Association Agreement between Moldova and EU. The purpose of the new regulatory framework is to consolidate the role of the library in society as a public service.

The detailed provisions in the law are to regulate the status of territorial public libraries and their competencies. Also, the document stipulates the way of in which public libraries are set up and terminated.

An innovative aspect of the law is the creation of a state library registry. The law also presents a new approach to the library services. Thus, compared to the law in force, the new document operated with a new concept – basic library services, which will be provided free to library users.

Another new provision concerns the obligation to plan in the budget of the library amounts necessary for the purchase of library documents in the minority languages of the community.

The implementation of the new law on libraries will be ensured from the state budget and local budgets. It will enter into force within 18 months upon its publication in the Official Journal.

(Reporter A. Zara, editor M. Jantovan)