Following the principle of planned development for all phases of economic and cultural institutions, library planning and the resultant library legislation in socialist countries emanates from the supreme legislative authority of the state. Historically, existing legislation derives from the date of establishment of socialist governments. Library legislation changes in accord with tasks society imposes on libraries and reflects the government's concern for the development of libraries and the raising of their role in society. A regular component of long range planning, such legislation is most frequently developed in the form of five year plans which acquire the validity of law upon implementation. Library laws derive from the specific conditions of a country, its cultural features, and these traits of socialist librarianship: (1) libraries are important ideological and information institutions which promote education in general, communistic education of the working people, dissemination of scientific Marxist-Leninist ideology and the achievements of science and technology; (2) the state system of library service is available to all in a library network evenly distributed throughout the country; (3) the overwhelming majority of libraries are subsidized and centrally directed by the state; and (4) broad sections of the working people are active participants in the establishment and use of libraries. (RAA)