Ministry of Information and Culture, Department of Publishing, Printing, Distribution and Libraries

The Department of Publishing, Printing, Distribution and Libraries of the Ministry of Information and Culture is responsible to the Minister for the state management of the publishing, printing and distribution sectors and for the state management of the National Library and its national library network. Its activities include: (i) developing and formulating laws, ordinances and regulations relating to publishing, printing and sign board advertising and monitoring their implementation; (ii) reviewing and issuing permits for books, cassettes, discs and other media to be published in Laos; (iii) reviewing and issuing permits for foreign works to be distributed and sold in Laos; (iv) issuing permits to and monitoring the activities of publishers, printers and related enterprises throughout the country; (v) encouraging international investment and overseeing import-export activity in the publishing field; and (vi) developing the National Library and its branches and facilitating the restoration and preservation of library collections and the promotion of reading. The Department is also responsible for publishing the weekly literary magazine Vannasin. The Department comprises four offices: (i) the Publishing and Book Distribution Management Office; (ii) the Printing Management and Development Office; (iii) the Library Management and Reading Promotion Office; and (iv) the Culture and Tourism Periodicals and Newspapers Management Office.