Improving the ability to use computers and access the internet

On the morning of May 15th, in Thai Nguyen City, Project Management Unit of improving the ability to use computers and access the public internet in Viet Nam organized a seminar to promote the implementation of project in several provinces in the country, including Thai Nguyen.

Attending the seminar were Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai, Head of Library Department, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST); Mr. Phan Huu Phong, Director of Project Management Unit; representatives of Viet Nam Post; leaders and professionals of some departments and agencies of provinces such as Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, and Ha Giang, etc.

With the theme of “Center of information, culture, local education” - a new vision of the public library and the communal cultural post, delegates presented and shared issues, concerns to each other, which related to implementation of the vision of the public library and the communal cultural post; raise of awareness, knowledge and plan of action in enhancing innovation service in the field of information technology to meet demand of people. In 2012, along with the continuation of supporting pilot places, the project will be implemented to expand at 400 libraries of districts and provinces, and 1,500 communal cultural posts, typical communal libraries in the country, contributing to creating opportunities for rural people, especially remote areas, to approach information.

The project of improving the ability to use computers and access the public internet in Viet Nam, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (USA), was signed by the Prime Minister in July 2011. The Ministry of Information and Communications was assigned to be the project owner. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and 40 provinces which were beneficiaries of the project would implement this project together. Until now, after pilot implementation at 99 communal cultural posts in three provinces of Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, Tra Vinh; the project has brought practical results, initially meeting the needs of people in accessing the internet to find information for life.