Viet Nam Centre for Population Studies and Information

12 Ngo Tat To Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi, Viet Nam
Tel: (84-4) 843-7960, 823-7699, 823-7698, 843-8024
Fax: (84-4) 733-1246
E-mail: ncpfp@hn.vn.vn
Access to the lnternet: Yes
Web address: http://www.ncpfp.netnam.vn

The Centre for Population Studies and Information (CPSI) of Viet Nam is that country's focal point in Asia-Pacific POPIN. The Centre is in charge of collecting, processing, storing and disseminating population information for the benefit of policy makers and programme managers. The Centre also conducts studies in the field of population and family planning as well as monitors studies in that field with funding from the National Committee for Population and Family Planning (NCPFP). Further, it monitors population programmes throughout the country through its MIS (management information system) project.

Researchers in Viet Nam have access to a rich source of population data and information
at the Library of the Centre for Population Studies and Information (CPSI) of the National Committee for Population and Family Planning.

Previously, similar tasks had been assigned to the General Statistical Office (GSO) of Viet Nam through the Population Documentation and Information Centre (PDIC). CPSI carries out its duties in support of the country's family planning programme by publishing various kinds of population materials, actively disseminating population information, and conducting population information users' surveys to improve its services. CPSI also implements a United Nations Population Fund project.

The Centre's Library has an extensive collection of books, periodicals and statistical materials on population and family planning. The collection provides many essential materials for researchers, lecturers and people in charge of education and communication concerning population and family planning.

The Centre is equipped with microcomputers, which are used for information management, data processing and storage, and bibliographic and database purposes. The retrieval of information is also computerized.

An expert speaks on critical issues during a national Workshop on Viet Nam's Population and Family Planning Investments and Savings (1979-2010) project. The Workshop was organized by the Centre for Population Studies and Information with technical assistance from the Futures Group International and financial support from the United Nations Population Fund.

Besides producing a number of periodicals and publications, the Centre translates into Vietnamese various publications published originally in English.

It also produces directories in Vietnamese as reference tools for population researchers and research institutions. Directories and databases can help to prevent duplication of effort by preventing redundant research in the field of population and help users to share experiences and to co-operate in research.

Besides the office in Hanoi, the country's capital, there are sub-centres located in Da Nang Province and Ho Chi Minh City. The sub-centres conduct information activities in the provinces they cover; they maintain their own premises with small libraries attached. In 1995, three staff members of the Centre, one from each location, underwent training in advanced information processing and library technologies at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok. In the future, CPSI activities will be improved in order to serve effectively demographic research and the implementation of population and family planning programmes.

Centre for Population Studies and Information

Purpose of organization:
Conducting scientific research in population/family planning and related issues; collecting, processing and disseminating population information; serving as a counseling body for the Minister-Chairperson of NCPFP in organizing, monitoring and coordinating research and information activities in the population and family planning areas

Personnel:
25

Resource base

Size of collection:
2,100 books and references, and 40 periodical titles

Classification/cataloguing systems:
Dewey Decimal Classification/AACR

Thesaurus used:
PMT

External databases:
MIS

lnformation-handling equipment:
Personal computers, CD-ROM drivers and related equipment, projector, router and datashow, which are used for such applications as research (projections, analysis), data processing, computer programming, library management, information retrieval, word processing, desktop-publishing

Products and services

Databases:
Library (CPSI), Population Directories (PER, INS, RES), IEC materials (IEC)

Publications:
Population Bulletin (bi-monthly); Vietnam Population News (quarterly); Current Awareness (quarterly); The Population Program of Viet Nam: Achievements and Challenges (factsheet); The 1999 United Nations Population Award for Viet Nam (booklet); Adolescent Reproductive Health: KAP Survey and Assessment of Adolescents in Hai Phong City about Related Reproductive Health Issues; Population and Reproductive Health Profile of Vietnam; Population projections by target-setting for 61 provinces by 2020; Costs and benefits of Viet Nam's national investment in population and family planning from 1979 to 2020; Viet Nam: Directories of population experts, current population research and population institutions; Improving quality of care in the population and reproductive health programmes; Population projections by seven regions; Management information system and recording system of population/family planning statistics: questions and answers; Improving women's status through population/family planning and social development Viet Nam: population, environment and development

Services:
Enquiry/reference, abstracting/indexing, referral, repackaging, routing of periodicals, borrowing privileges, inter-library loans, selective dissemination of information (SDI), current awareness service, document exchange, document distribution/redistribution, information searching, CD-ROM, organization of meetings/training courses and translation

Types of users served:
Policy and decision makers, planners, programme/project administrators/implementors, researchers, lecturers/teachers, students, medical workers, media workers, information agencies and channelers, regional and international information centres