Decision No. 01/2003/QD-BGDDT on issuing the Standards for School Libraries.

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the issuance of the Standards for Secondary School Libraries

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MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Pursuant to the Government Decree number 86/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 5, 2002 of the Government stipulating functions, tasks, authorities, and organizational structure of Ministries, agencies at the ministerial level,

Pursuant to Decree No. 29/CP dated March 30, 1994 of the Government on tasks, authorities, and organization of set a) The drafters of the exam are scientific experts, specialists, researchers, lecturers at central agencies and universities, having good moral qualities and high scientific reputation, solid professional expertise, not belonging to the teaching staff or contractual visiting lecturers in secondary schools (including specialized and non-specialized schools), and not participating in training students for competition teams in any form. Education and Training, Training,

On the proposal of the Director of the Political Work Department,

DECISION:

Article 1The Standards for Secondary School Libraries are hereby promulgated along with this Decision.

Article 2. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of signature and replace Decision No. 659/QĐ-NXBCD dated July 9, 1990 of the Minister of Education and Training on library standards applicable to secondary schools.

Article 3The Heads of the General Departments, Heads of relevant Departments, Deputy Ministers of units under the Ministry, and Directors of Provincial Departments of Education and Training are responsible for implementing this Decision./.

REGULATIONS

STANDARDS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL LIBRARIES
(Issued together with Decision No. 01/2003/QĐ-BGDĐT dated January 2, 2003 of

 the Minister of Education and Training).

Chapter 1:

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1Scope and objects regulated:

1. This document stipulates the standards and procedures for recognizing libraries meeting the criteria of secondary schools: primary school; lower secondary school; upper secondary school (hereinafter referred to collectively as secondary schools)

2. Secondary school libraries must meet the standards set out in Chapters II, III, IV, V, and VI of these Standards to be eligible for recognition.

Chapter 2:

STANDARD ONE: BOOKS, MAGAZINES, JOURNALS, MAPS, EDUCATIONAL POSTERS AND AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS

EDUCATION, AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS

Article 2.Books, comprising three parts

1. Textbooks: Before the start of each new academic year, the school must have a "common textbook cabinet" to ensure that each student has one set of textbooks (through purchasing, renting, or borrowing).

Ensure that 1,000 students from disadvantaged social groups and poor students can rent or borrow textbooks.

2. Professional books for teachers:

a) Resolutions, Party documents, state regulatory documents, sectoral regulations, inter-ministerial regulations, and industry guidance materials suitable for the educational level and teacher management.

b) Books for professional development.

c) Books to enhance professional expertise, foreign languages, information technology, and regular training materials according to cycles.

Each professional book must be available for each teacher to have one copy and three copies stored in the library. For middle and high school libraries, the number of books is calculated based on the subjects taught directly by the teachers.

3. Reference books

a) Reference tools and lookup materials: dictionaries, classic works (each title must have at least three copies).

b) Subject reference books (each title must have at least five copies).

c) Books expanding knowledge and enhancing proficiency in subjects, consistent with the curriculum of each grade level (each title must have at least three copies).

d) Books serving the needs for broadening general knowledge, competition materials, and outstanding student examination papers (each title must have at least five copies).

e) Secondary schools should base their plans to supplement reference books in the library on the annual list of recommended books for secondary school libraries issued by the Ministry of Education and Training (starting from 2000).

The library should supplement reference books according to the financial capacity of each unit and the selection guidelines provided by the relevant Departments managing education levels and grades of the Ministry. Limit the supplementation of books, magazines, and journals that are purely entertaining and not closely aligned with the teaching and learning programs in schools.

The quantity of reference books in the library must meet the following average requirements: Primary Schools:

In urban areas, districts, and plains, there must be at least two books per student. In mountainous, remote, and extremely difficult economic and social conditions, there must be at least one book per two students. The library must have all titles listed in the annual recommended book list for secondary school libraries issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Lower Secondary Schools: In urban areas, districts, and plains, there must be at least three books per student. In mountainous, remote, and extremely difficult economic and social conditions, there must be at least one book per student. The library must have all titles listed in the annual recommended book list for secondary school libraries issued by the Ministry of Education and Training. Upper Secondary Schools:

In urban areas, districts, and plains, there must be at least four books per student. In mountainous, remote, and extremely difficult economic and social conditions, there must be at least two books per student. The library must have all titles listed in the annual recommended book list for secondary school libraries issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Article 3Magazines, maps, educational posters, and audiovisual materials.

1. Magazines and newspapers: People's Newspaper, Education and Times Newspaper, Education Journal, New World Journal, and other types of newspapers, magazines, and periodicals suitable for the field of study and grade level.

Additionally, there should be other types of newspapers, magazines, and periodicals suitable for the age group and grade level of the school.

2. Maps, educational posters, and audiovisual materials: Ensure the availability of various types of maps, educational posters, and audiovisual materials published and distributed by the Educational Publishing House since 1998.

Each title of maps and posters must be available for every two classes.

Chapter 3:

STANDARD TWO: PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Article 4Library Room.

1. Secondary school libraries must be located centrally or conveniently within the school premises to facilitate reading and borrowing of books and magazines by teachers, students, and educational administrators.

2. Each library must provide a minimum area of 50 square meters for reading and storage rooms (which may consist of one or several rooms) to ensure adequate conditions for library operations.² for setting up reading rooms and book storage areas (which may be one or several rooms), with sufficient conditions for the library to operate.

Article 5Special equipment.

1. There must be specialized shelves and cabinets in the library for storing books, magazines, journals, maps, educational posters, and audiovisual materials.

2. There must be sufficient desks, chairs, and lighting for the reading room and for the library staff to work.

3. There must be filing cabinets or boxes, catalog registers, and boards to introduce books to readers.

4. Schools with financial conditions shall gradually equip computers, audio-visual equipment, vacuum cleaners, dehumidifiers, electric fans, air conditioners, photocopiers, etc., to facilitate property management, book capital, document management, and service conditions for readers.

5. National standard libraries of schools must have at least twenty seats in teachers' reading rooms and twenty-five seats in students' reading rooms, along with staff workspaces and storage areas for books.

6. Schools with conditions as stipulated in Clause 4 of this Article shall be equipped with internet connections to exploit data.

Chapter 4:

THIRD STANDARD: ON LIBRARY OPERATIONS

Article 6Library operations.

All types of publications in the library must be registered, described, classified, organized into catalogues, and arranged according to library standards.

, Clause 1, Clause 2 Article 7a of this Regulation.Guidance on using the library.

There must be library rules, guides for teachers, students, and educational managers on the use of library materials.

Annually, library staff must compile one to two bibliographies to serve teaching and learning activities within the school.

Chapter 5:

FOURTH STANDARD: ON ORGANIZATION AND ACTIVITIES

Article 8Organization and management.

The principal of the school assigns a leader to directly oversee library work, arranges a team or staff member for library work. The principal directs the implementation and reports to the higher-level educational management authority on the ability to mobilize internal and external funds to supplement books for the library.

Article 9On library staff.

1. Each school must allocate staff or teachers for library work. If a teacher concurrently performs library work, they must receive specialized training in school library operations, enjoy salaries and other benefits equivalent to classroom teachers. School library staff who are not teachers but have been trained in library operations shall receive salaries and allowances as prescribed by the cultural and information sector.

2. At the end of each semester and academic year, library staff or teachers must report to the principal on the organization and operation of the library and bear responsibility before the principal for all library work.

Article 10Cooperation in library work.

The library must establish a network of volunteers among teachers, students, and parent associations to assist the library team (or staff) in activities such as exploiting and developing reading habits, organizing storytelling contests, library skills competitions, and encouraging students to follow books under the guidance of the school principal and educational management levels.

Article 11Budget and activity funding.

1. Annually, the library must develop an operational program, investment plan, consolidation, and development plan, implement plans to purchase books domestically and internationally (if applicable) from supply units within or outside the industry according to the specified time frame and approved by the school leadership.

2. Annually, the library must ensure that the percentage of teachers and students regularly using library books reaches 100% for teachers and 70% or more for students, striving to increase these ratios each year.

3. Mobilize non-budgetary funds to supplement books and build up the library.

4. Manage and use the library budget and funds in accordance with established principles.

Article 12Library activities.

1. School libraries must have activities consistent with comprehensive education, teachers' work, and students' age groups. Libraries should support extracurricular activities of the school and organize appropriate forms of activities based on each school's conditions, such as book introductions, book reviews, announcements of new arrivals, book exhibitions, photo displays, etc., and cooperate with related departments to organize storytelling contests, library skills competitions, and encourage students to follow books under the guidance of the school principal and educational management levels.

2. Rent and lend textbooks according to current state, industry, and local policies, and in line with students' capabilities and needs. Cooperate with other units outside the school to enhance professional skills and improve library efficiency under the direction of the school principal.

Chapter 6:

FIFTH STANDARD: ON LIBRARY MANAGEMENT

Article 13Preservation.

Books, newspapers, magazines, maps, educational images, educational tapes and discs in the library must be strictly managed, bound into volumes, wrapped, and repaired regularly to ensure aesthetics and long-term usability.

School libraries must maintain various records and ledgers to track all library activities, such as registration books, teacher and student borrowing ledgers, rental ledgers, etc.

Article 14Inventory and liquidation.

Annually, the school must inventory library assets and process the liquidation of damaged, outdated, or expired publications according to library standards: Libraries with over ten thousand books must conduct an inventory every two years, except in cases of emergency decided by the principal.

Chapter 7:

AWARDS FOR LIBRARIES AND RECOGNITION PROCEDURES

Article 15Library awards.

1. Standard school library: These are libraries that meet all five standards set forth above. The Department of Education and Training issues a certificate of standard school library for public primary and secondary schools.

2. Advanced school library: These are libraries that meet the standards and excel in at least three standards. The Department of Education and Training issues a certificate of advanced school library for public primary and secondary schools.

3. Excellent school library: These are libraries that achieve advanced status and have particularly outstanding and highly effective activities recognized by the industry and society. The Department of Education and Training reports to the Ministry of Education and Training for review and inspection and issues a certificate of excellent school library for public primary and secondary schools proposed by the Department.

Article 16Recognition procedures for library awards.

1. Public primary and secondary schools base their self-assessment and application for library awards on the standards set forth in this Decision and submit them to the direct management authority.

2. The educational management agency directly manages general secondary schools, examines and reviews at the request of the general secondary schools to propose the Department of Education and Training for verification.

3. The Department of Education and Training shall base its verification and decision to recognize on the application files submitted by the educational management agency and the general secondary schools under the Department of Education and Training.

Library titles are among the criteria for recognizing annual competition titles for each school.

Article 17Implementation organization.

1. The Political Work Department of the Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant departments based on assigned tasks to assist the Minister in guiding and directing the Departments of Education and Training to implement.

2. The Educational Publishing House shall be responsible for coordinating with book and school equipment companies in centrally governed cities and provinces to organize the implementation of library activities in schools as prescribed herein.

The Department of Education and Training shall be responsible for guiding schools in establishing and strengthening libraries according to standards set by the Ministry./