Vietnam: Are primary schools required to have a school library?

Are primary schools required to have a school library?

According to Article 42 of the Charter of Primary Schools issued with Circular 28/2020/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, the regulations for the primary school library are as follows:

Library

1. Each school must have at least one library organized and operated according to the Regulations on Standards for School Libraries issued by the Ministry of Education and Training; each school site should have a communal bookshelf, and each class is encouraged to have a classroom bookshelf.

2. The school library serves the studying, teaching, scientific research, and entertainment needs of students, teachers, officials, and staff.

3. The school library is arranged safely and scientifically, with open space and a separate reading area for students that suits their age psychology.

4. Develop electronic libraries in areas with conditions and needs.

5. Implement private investment in the contribution and development of the library according to regulations.

Thus, primary schools are required to have a school library, specifically: Each school must have at least one library organized and operated according to the Standards for School Libraries issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

How to build and develop a reading culture according to the Charter of Primary Schools?

According to Article 24 of the Charter of Primary Schools issued with Circular 28/2020/TT-BGDDT, the construction and development of reading culture are as follows:

- Build and develop a reading culture and reading habits among officials, teachers, and students in the school. Organize for students to read in the library, classroom, or borrow materials home; organize reading periods in the library; organize reading promotion activities and educational activities using information from the library.

- Implement various library forms, encouraging the establishment of electronic libraries in areas with conditions and needs. Decorate and arrange the library to be friendly, vivid, suitable for the psychological characteristics of the students' age.

- Regularly supplement books and reference publications in Vietnamese and foreign languages suitable to the needs and actual conditions at the school. Facilitate easy access for students to books and reference publications; allow the exchange of books and reference publications among classes and school sites.

- Guide students to manage library activities in classes and schools independently.

- Effectively carry out socialization, mobilizing community participation in building and organizing library activities; regularly organize the donation of books and reference publications to the library.

Are primary schools required to have a school library? (Image from the Internet)

What are the conditions for establishing a library in primary school?

According to the provisions of Article 17 of Decree 93/2020/ND-CP of Vietnam's Government, requirements for establishment of libraries of primary schools are as follows:

- Setting the goals of organizing and operating a library which are appropriate and fit into the functions and tasks specified in clauses 1, 2 and 3 of Article 15 in the Library Law 2019 of Vietnam; accepting target users, including teachers, learners and employees of education institutions and other persons, wishing to use libraries according to library's rules and regulations.

- Having the following available information resources:

+ Textbooks, teachers’ specialized books and reference books, meeting the needs of learners and teachers at educational institutions: Ensuring at least 03 volumes/student and 01 volumes/teacher, depending on grade levels;

+ Newspapers, magazines, educational maps and visual aids, audio and visual materials, e-books, and other types of documents, which are suitable for students' age, learning needs and teacher’s reference requirements; ensuring that, as a minimum requirement, materials providing information closely connected to the school's teaching and learning programs according to the list of materials approved by the Ministry of Education and Training must be processed according to the library's operational rules and regulations.

- Having library facilities and amenities conforming to the following requirements:

+ Being located at the center of an educational institution, providing facilitation for users, especially people with disabilities;

+ Having enough space for storing information resources, implementing library operations, reading service areas, working zones for librarians and meeting other needs concerning processing of other library-related services;

+ The reading space for library users must be at least 50 m2; connected with audio-visual rooms, computer labs, classroom bookcases. Open libraries and friendly reading spaces are encouraged;

+ Having facilities and equipment designed for operational and functional activities performed by librarians and meeting library users’ needs;

+ Ensuring the installation of specialized equipment and means designed for information resources preservation, security, fire safety and prevention purposes.

- Librarians must hold at least associate degrees in information - library or other majors provided that they manage to obtain certificates of completion of information – library professional training courses issued by competent authorities or organizations.