Decree No. 93/2020/ND-CP detailing the Law on Libraries

DECREE

Detailing a number of articles of the Law on Libraries^[1]

Pursuant to the June 19, 2015 Law on Organization of the Government;

Pursuant to the November 21, 2019 Law on Libraries;

At the proposal of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

The Government promulgates the Decree detailing a number of articles of the Law on Libraries.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation

This Decree details important state-funded libraries prioritized for investment by the State specified at Point a, Clause 1, Article 5; ancient, precious and rare documents and collections of special historical, cultural or scientific value invested by the State specified at Point c, Clause 1 of Article 5; grassroots reading spaces and reading rooms specified in Clause 1 of Article 6; conditions for establishment of libraries specified at Points a, b, c and d, Clause 1, Article 18; order and procedures for suspension and termination of operation of libraries specified in Clause 5, Article 22; and interlibrary collaboration specified in Article 29 of the Law on Libraries.

Article 2. Subjects of application

This Decree applies to Vietnamese agencies, organizations and individuals and foreign organizations and individuals engaged or involved in library activities in the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Chapter II

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Section 1

IMPORTANT STATE-FUNDED LIBRARIES PRIORITIZED FOR INVESTMENT BY THE STATE

Article 3. Criteria for determination of an important state-funded library prioritized for investment by the State

1. Being fully eligible and capable to perform the tasks specified in Articles 25, 26, 27 and 28 and assume the prime responsibility for building, sharing and exploiting common-use information resources among libraries specified in Clause 1, Article 29, of this Decree; and connect and coordinate with other libraries of the same group, speciality or field within the country, field, sector, region or locality.

2. Having modern physical foundations, facilities and techniques meeting the needs of library users and expansion of interlibrary collaboration within a field, sector, region or locality, specifically as follows:

a/ There are at least 500,000 stored units, including at least 200,000 books and at least 5,000 digital documents; and common-use databases up to national standards in accordance with the laws on intellectual property and cyber security;

b/ Information resources are stored, preserved and managed by modern technical infrastructure and equipment and technologies: The library has advanced software used in professional activities and library management; has its portal or website enabling online public access catalog and providing digital documents; provides online consultancy services to users; and has computers and other modern equipment and devices to serve library users;

c/ Reading spaces are user-friendly, enabling access to the library by users of all categories; and ensuring environmental sanitation, and equipment and devices for security, safety, and fire prevention and fighting;

d/ There are at least 50 computers to serve library users;

dd/ Interlibrary collaboration has been carried out within a region, locality, field or sector or on an international scale.

3. Librarians must satisfy the following requirements:

a/ Possessing information-librarianship qualifications satisfying the criteria on their working positions as prescribed by law;

b/ At least 70% of librarians possess university or higher degree in information-librarianship major, or in another major but possess a certificate of information-librarianship knowledge and skills granted by a competent agency or organization;