Relocation of the National Library is being postponed to next year because construction is not progressing to plan, according to an official.
The new National Library of Laos is situated in Sivilay village, near the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum in Xaythany district, Vientiane.
Deputy Director of the National Library of Laos, Mr. Bounpasith Voradeth told Vientiane Times yesterday that construction of the new building was about 97 percent complete but the interior still had to be finished and then the collection relocated.
“Chitchareun Construction Co., Ltd started work on the building in 2013, which originally was to take two years to complete, so they should have been finished by mid-2015. But now the move to the new National Library will be next year,” he confirmed.
Once complete the new library should contain around 700,000 books while the existing public facility has only about 400,000 books.
The 700,000 books will be made up of the old library’s collection along with donations from companies and individuals in society.
“We welcome any support from interested sponsors who would like to provide books relating to ASEAN topics and agriculture along with social science and history because we want to broaden students’ knowledge of the history of the country and the regional bloc” Mr. Bounpasith said.
Although the library would contain thousands of books eager readers shouldn’t find it difficult tracking down titles as an e-library system would be used for searches, he said.
The new National Library is four storeys in height, measuring 83.1 by 41.6 metres and being built on an area of 11,780 square metres. The exterior features Lao style designs while the interior will have modern European decor.
According to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, the construction will cost about 40 billion kip (US$5 million).
Under the terms of the agreement the ministry will give the existing downtown library to the contractor for redevelopment purposes.
Source: Vientiane Times
