Laos Archives and Libraries

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Laos

Archives and Libraries

• Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm.
• If you plan to visit a repository, contact them and ask for information about their collection, hours, services, and fees. Ask if they require you to have a reader’s ticket (a paper indicating you are a responsible researcher) to view the records, and ask how to obtain one.
• Although the records you need may be in an archive or library, the FamilySearch Library may have microfilmed and/or digitized copies of them.

Archives

The Japanese Army destroyed the French colonial records during World War II. In 1975, the Pathet Lao gained power and destroyed the records of the former government.

Libraries

National Library of Laos
Corner Thanon Setthathirat/Thanon Pangkham
Ban Xiengyeun Thong
Muang Chanthaburi
Vientiane, Laos

P.O. Box 704, Vientiane, Laos
Telephone: 856 (0) 21 212452
Fax: 856 (0) 21 213029
Website

There are five other provinces with National Library of Laos Branches: Khammouane, Champassak, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Xieng Khouang Provinces.

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Endangered Archives: Laos

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Museums

Lao National Museum
Samsenthai Road
Ventiane, Laos
Wikipedia: Lao National Museum

Record Offices

Laos has no central registry for vital records. The Household Registry Book and National Identification Card are the only standard civil records.