Vietnam: What informational resources are required for the establishment of a library of of a primary educational institution?

What informational resources are required for the establishment of a library of of a primary educational institution?

“Information resources” means a collection of materials or data such as printed documents, handwritten documents, audiovisual materials, digital documents, microforms, including microfilms and microfiches, special documents for people with disabilities and other types of documents and data (according to Article 3 of the Library Law 2019 of Vietnam)

According to Clause 2, Article 17 of Decree 93/2020/ND-CP of Vietnam's Government:

Requirements for establishment of libraries of preschools and universal schools

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2. Having the following available information resources:

a) Textbooks, teachers’ specialized books and reference books, meeting the needs of learners and teachers at educational institutions:

- As for preschools: Ensuring at least 02 volumes/student and 03 volumes/teacher

- As for primary schools: Ensuring at least 03 volumes/student and 01 volumes/teacher, depending on grade levels;

- As for lower secondary schools: Ensuring at least 04 volumes/student and 01 volumes/teacher, depending on subject groups;

- As for upper secondary schools: Ensuring at least 05 volumes/student and 01 volumes/teacher, depending on subject groups;

b) 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.

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To establish a library, a primary education institution library must have the following information resources:

- Textbooks;

- Teachers’ specialized books;

- Reference books.

Additionally, the primary education institution library must ensure at least 03 copies per student and 01 set of books per teacher according to grade.

Moreover, the primary education institution library should be equipped with newspapers, magazines, maps, and educational pictures, audio-visual documents, e-books, various other types of documents appropriate for the age group, learning needs of students, and reference needs of teachers; ensure at least the materials closely aligned with the school's teaching and learning programs as per the list guided by the Ministry of Education and Training and processed according to library professional rules.

What informational resources are required for the establishment of a library of of a primary educational institution? (Image from the Internet)

What are the requirements for facilities and amenities of library of of a primary educational institution?

According to Clause 3, Article 17 of Decree 93/2020/ND-CP, requirements for facilities and amenities of library of of a primary educational institution are as follows:

- 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.

What acts are prohibited in the operation of librabries of primary education institutions?

According to Article 8 of the Library Law 2019, acts that are prohibited in the operation of librabries of primary education institutions include:

- Taking advantage of library operations to distort State guidelines, policies and legislation; to oppose the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; to separate the block of great national solidarity; to incite violence or hatred between ethnicities or religions; to propagate invasion war; to erode the good traditions and customs; to spread superstitious beliefs; or to attract library users to social evils.

- Provision of information resources within the scope of state secrets, unless otherwise provided for by law.

- Impeding access to and use of information resources of library users against regulations of laws.

- Provision of information on library users, unless requested by competent authorities.

- Appropriating, swapping, destroying or causing damage to information resources.

- Unauthorized access to library information systems or library databases; modification, disruption or destruction of library information systems or library databases.