Both of Legal Initiatives for Vietnam's (LIV) publications, The Vietnamese Magazine and Luat Khoa, were selected by the United States Library of Congress to be included in their web archives, making them accessible to readers on-site. This information was sent through email to the editorial bodies of both publications on December 28, 2022, and January 20, 2023, respectively. In this correspondence, they described both websites as being “an important part of this collection and the historical record.”
The US Library of Congress was founded in 1800, making it the oldest federal institution in the United States. It is also the largest library in the world and houses more than 173 million items. It carries books and other forms of media from all over the world and in various languages; about half of its books and serial collections are in languages other than English.
Aside from archiving traditional print material, the US Library of Congress also chronicles various digital media and websites that they consider to have historical importance which can be used to foster education and scholarship. Their web archives aid them in cataloging facts and data of historical importance that could otherwise be lost in the sea of online information.
Being included in the library’s archive ensures being part of their permanent historical record. All of our work would still be available for future generations to read and learn from even if LIV or its publications were to cease to exist.
LIV takes great pride in the inclusion of our publications in the database of the US Library of Congress. This marks a major milestone in our journey to speak truth to power and will aid us in spreading awareness about the current social and political situation in Vietnam. Our editors, writers, and staff will continue to strive for a better and brighter future for Vietnam and its people through our dedication to truth, freedom, and democracy.
