JOINT CIRCULAR No. 02/2015/TTLT-BVHTTDL-BNV ON THE CODES AND STANDARDS FOR PROFESSIONAL RANKS OF LIBRARY SPECIALISTS IN THE LIBRARY SECTOR

JOINT CIRCULAR

Regulations on the code number and standards for the position titles and vocational qualifications of library professionals

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Pursuant to the Civil Servant Law No. 58/2010/QH12 dated November 15, 2010;

Pursuant to Decree No. 29/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 12, 2012 of the Government on recruitment, utilization, and management of civil servants;

Pursuant to Decree No. 76/2013/NĐ-CP dated July 16, 2013, promulgated by the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

Pursuant to Decree No. 58/2014/ND-CP dated June 16, 2014 of the Government stipulating functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairs,

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Minister of Interior shall jointly issue a Circular to stipulate the code numbers and standards for the position titles and vocational qualifications of library professionals.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular sets forth regulations on the code numbers, standards for position titles and vocational qualifications, and the appointment and salary grading according to position titles for library professionals.

2. This Circular applies to library professionals working in public service units.

Article 2. Code Numbers and Classification of Position Titles for Library Professionals

The occupational titles for library professionals include:

1. Library Officer Level II                                  Code Number: V.10.02.05

2. Library Officer Level III                                 Code Number: V.10.02.06

3. Library Officer Level IV                                 Code Number: V.10.02.07

Article 3. General Professional Ethics Standards for Library Professionals

1. Demonstrate high responsibility towards assigned tasks, always comply with laws; strictly fulfill all obligations of a civil servant in professional activities.

2. Strictly implement regulations on specialized knowledge and professional skills in the library sector. Have a sense of improving professional expertise and work capacity. Do not abuse job positions or assigned tasks for personal gain.

3. Love the profession, always strive to improve the quality of library services to meet the information and knowledge needs of all social strata.

4. Respect the right of all social strata to use libraries as prescribed by law. When serving, maintain a friendly, attentive, thorough, and meticulous attitude; dress neatly and appropriately for the job; have a quick, scientific, and careful demeanor.

5. Be aware of cooperation, assistance to colleagues, and sharing of experience in work.

Chapter II

OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS

Article 4. Library Officer Level II - Code Number: V.10.02.05

1. Duties:

a) Participate in developing policies, guidelines, orientations, and plans for national, ministry, and local library development;

b) Lead and participate in organizing and implementing certain specialized and professional activities of the library as prescribed by relevant laws and regulations of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

c) Participate in developing national standards, projects, research topics at provincial and ministerial levels in the library field; lead and participate in formulating long-term and medium-term development plans for the library where the civil servant works; lead in drafting annual plans for the library, long-term, medium-term, and annual plans for assigned professional tasks, and organize their implementation after approval;

d) Directly carry out certain procedures in library professional activities, specifically: organize and participate in the process of selecting and collecting materials; handle content of materials with relatively deep content in one or several fields of science; organize retrieval and service systems in the reading room; restore rare and valuable materials that are severely damaged; participate in reviewing the content of materials proposed for purging and suggest handling methods for materials allowed to be purged according to regulations of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; prepare content for scientific conferences on library operations at provincial and ministerial levels; provide library services to meet user requirements while leading provincial and ministerial level research projects or thesis writing for a master's degree; compile selective information publications and special topics with summaries of material content; organize cultural events in the library at provincial and ministerial levels;

e) Participate in compiling professional guidance materials for the library system; organize training and professional guidance for lower-level library officers.

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Hold a bachelor’s degree in library science or a related field. If holding a bachelor’s degree in another field, must possess a certificate of professional knowledge and skill training in library science issued by an authorized agency or organization;

b) Have a foreign language proficiency level of B1 as specified in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT dated January 24, 2014 of the Ministry of Education and Training on the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for Vietnam;

c) Possess basic computer technology skills as stipulated in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014, of the Ministry of Information and Communications on Computer Technology Skill Standards;

d) Hold a certificate of professional training for Library Officer Level II.

3. Standards for professional competence:

a) Proficient in the Party's policies and State laws regarding library work and capable of applying them in the development of the library profession;

b) Proficient in the reality of library operations, trends in development, and the specialized field being handled; have comprehensive knowledge of other fields;

c) Participate in at least one provincial or ministerial level research project or lead two institutional research projects that have been accepted with satisfactory results;

d) Proficient in the application of information technology in the specialized field being handled and other necessary computer skills in assigned professional activities.

4. Promotion to the position title of Library Officer Level II:

A civil servant promoted from the position title of Library Officer Level III to Library Officer Level II must have at least nine years of work experience in the position title of Library Officer Level III or equivalent, including at least two years in the most recent period in the position title of Library Officer Level III.

Article 5. Library Officer Level III - Code: V.10.02.06

1. Duties:

a) Implement certain procedures in library professional activities as prescribed by specialized laws and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism regarding library professional activities, specifically: collecting, inventorying, purging materials; processing the form and content of materials containing basic and general knowledge; managing traditional catalog search systems; organizing and preserving materials; providing original material services; searching for information and finding materials according to user requests; guiding the use and exploitation of library products and services; compiling library information publications in the form of catalogs to introduce and announce newly added materials and thematic materials; compiling excerpts from newspapers and magazines; exhibiting materials; soliciting public opinions on library activities and services; conducting library statistics;

b) Participate in building annual work plans for the library; develop annual plans for assigned professional tasks and organize their implementation after approval;

c) Participate in research projects at the institutional and provincial levels within the field of libraries;

d) Participate in organizing professional training for Library Officers Level IV;

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Hold a bachelor’s degree in library science or a related field. If holding a bachelor’s degree in another field, must possess a certificate of professional knowledge and skill training in library science issued by an authorized agency or organization;

b) Possess a level 2 (A2) foreign language proficiency as stipulated in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT dated January 24, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on the six-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam;

c) Possess basic computer technology skills as stipulated in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on the standards for computer technology skills;

3. Standards for professional competence:

a) Understand the Party's guidelines and policies, state policies and laws, and industry regulations concerning library work;

b) Master basic knowledge about library professional activities and the specific professional fields assigned;

c) Be familiar with the applications of information technology in library operations and other relevant computer skills in assigned professional fields;

Article 4. Promotion to Library Officer Level III:

A staff member promoted from Library Officer Level IV to Library Officer Level III must meet all the provisions set out in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of this Article and have served in the position of Library Officer Level IV for the following periods:

a) In cases where the initial recruitment has a college degree, they must have served in the position of Library Officer Level IV for a minimum of two years;

b) In cases where the initial recruitment has a secondary vocational degree, they must have served in the position of Library Officer Level IV for a minimum of three years;

Article 6. Library Officer Level IV - Code: V.10.02.07

1. Duties:

Carry out one or more procedures in library professional activities as prescribed by specialized laws and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, specifically: processing technical and formal aspects of materials; classifying simple and general content materials; arranging catalog description slips in traditional catalog search systems; arranging materials in storage areas, reinforcing and binding materials; participating in some procedures in the inventory, purging, and exhibition of materials as assigned; issuing library cards, introducing and guiding users on library rules; operating common library equipment;

2. Qualifications regarding education and training:

a) Hold a secondary vocational or college degree in library science or a related field. If holding a secondary vocational or college degree in another field, they must possess a certificate of professional knowledge and skill training in library science issued by an authorized agency or organization;

b) Possess a level 1 (A1) foreign language proficiency as stipulated in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT dated January 24, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on the six-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam;

c) Possess basic computer technology skills as stipulated in Circular No. 03/2014/TT-BTTTT dated March 11, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications on the standards for computer technology skills;

3. Standards for competence and professional qualifications:

a) Understand the Party's guidelines and policies, state policies and laws concerning library work;

b) Understand basic knowledge about library professional activities;

c) Be familiar with the applications of information technology in library operations and other relevant computer skills in assigned professional fields;

Chapter III

APPOINTMENT AND SALARY GRADING ACCORDING TO PROFESSIONAL TITLES

Article 7. Principles for appointment and salary classification according to occupational titles for library professionals

1. The appointment to occupational titles for library professionals must be based on the job position, responsibilities, and specialized vocational qualifications currently held by the professional, in accordance with Article 8 of this Joint Circular.

2. When appointing from the current civil servant grade to the corresponding occupational title of library professional, it shall not combine with an increase in pay grade or promotion in occupational title for civil servants.

Article 8. Cases for Appointment to Professional Titles

Civil servants who have been appointed to the grades of library professionals as stipulated in Decision No. 428/TCCP-VC dated June 2, 1993, issued by the Minister - Head of the Organizational Cadre Department of the Government (now the Ministry of Home Affairs) regarding the standards for the library professional grade within the Cultural and Information sector, now may be appointed to the occupational titles of library professionals as prescribed in this Joint Circular, as follows:

1. Appointment to the occupational title of Library Professional Grade II (code V.10.02.05) for civil servants currently holding the Library Chief Librarian grade (code 17.169).

2. Appointment to the occupational title of Library Professional Grade III (code V.10.02.06) for civil servants currently holding the Librarian grade (code 17.170).

3. Appointment to the occupational title of Library Professional Grade IV (code V.10.02.07) for civil servants currently holding the Junior Librarian grade (code 17.171).

Article 9. Salary Grading Method

1. The occupational titles of library professionals prescribed in this Joint Circular shall apply the Specialized Vocational Pay Scale for State-run Public Service Units (Table 3) promulgated together with Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP dated December 14, 2004, of the Government on the remuneration system for cadres, civil servants, public officials, and armed forces personnel, as follows:

a) The occupational title of Library Professional Grade II shall apply the pay scale coefficient of type A2, group 2 (A2.2), ranging from coefficient 4.00 to 6.38;

b) The occupational title of Library Professional Grade III shall apply the pay scale coefficient of type A1, ranging from coefficient 2.34 to 4.98;

c) The occupational title of Library Professional Grade IV shall apply the pay scale coefficient of type B, ranging from coefficient 1.86 to 4.06.

2. Determination of salary upon completion of the probation period and appointment to a professional position:

After completing the probationary period as prescribed and being appointed to the occupational title by the competent authority managing civil servants, the following steps shall be taken to classify the pay grade within the appointed occupational title:

a) In cases where the individual holds a doctorate in library science, they shall be classified at pay grade 3, coefficient 3.00 of the Library Professional Grade III occupational title (code V.10.02.06);

b) In cases where the individual holds a master's degree in library science, they shall be classified at pay grade 2, coefficient 2.67 of the Library Professional Grade III occupational title (code V.10.02.06);

c) In cases where the individual holds a college degree in library science, they shall be classified at pay grade 2, coefficient 2.06 of the Library Professional Grade IV occupational title (code V.10.02.07).

3. The classification of pay into the occupational title of civil servants prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article for those who have already been classified into the grades of library professionals as stipulated in Decision No. 428/TCCP-VC dated June 2, 1993, issued by the Minister - Head of the Organizational Cadre Department of the Government (now the Ministry of Home Affairs) regarding the standards for the library professional grade within the Cultural and Information sector and Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP dated December 14, 2004, of the Government on the remuneration system for cadres, civil servants, public officials, and armed forces personnel shall be implemented as follows:

a) In cases where the civil servant meets the conditions for appointment to the occupational title of library professional and has the same pay grade coefficient in the old grade, the pay grade and percentage of seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling (if any) currently enjoyed in the old grade (including the time for the next pay grade review or the enjoyment of seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling if any in the old grade) shall be applied to the newly appointed occupational title.

Example 1: Mr. Nguyen Van H was appointed and classified to the Librarian grade (code 17.170), pay grade 5, coefficient 3.66 since January 1, 2013. Now, he meets the conditions and is authorized by the competent authority to be appointed to the occupational title of Library Professional Grade III (code V.10.02.06), then he shall be classified at pay grade 5, coefficient 3.66 of the Library Professional Grade III occupational title from the date of the decision; the time for the next pay grade review shall be calculated from January 1, 2013.

b) In cases where a civil servant with a college degree in library science was classified under type A0 when recruited according to Decree No. 204/2004/NĐ-CP, and is now appointed to the occupational title of Library Professional Grade IV (code V.10.02.07), the classification of pay grade within the Library Professional Grade IV occupational title shall be based on the years of service with mandatory social insurance contributions according to the state-prescribed wage scale (excluding the probationary period) as follows:

Starting from pay grade 2 of the Library Professional Grade IV occupational title, every two years (24 months), the pay grade shall be increased by one level (if there are interrupted periods without enjoying social insurance benefits, these periods shall be accumulated). If during the service period, there is a year in which the assigned tasks were not completed or disciplinary action was taken, the time for the next pay grade review shall be extended accordingly.

After transferring to the pay classification for the Library Professional Grade IV mentioned above, if the pay grade coefficient obtained in the Library Professional Grade IV occupational title plus the seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling (if any) is lower than the pay grade coefficient previously enjoyed in the old grade, the difference shall be retained and enjoyed until the pay grade coefficient (including the seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling, if any) in the Library Professional Grade IV occupational title. After that, if the civil servant is promoted to a higher occupational title, the retained difference shall be added to the pay grade coefficient (including the seniority allowance exceeding the ceiling, if any) currently enjoyed to classify the pay grade for the new occupational title upon promotion and cease enjoying the retained difference from the date of receiving the new occupational title salary.

Example 2: Mr. Tran Van B, with a college degree in library science, was recruited to work as a civil servant at the Library of Province H, participating in mandatory social insurance from January 1, 2008, and has been classified as a Level 3, with a salary coefficient of 2.72 for Category A0 civil servants since July 1, 2014. During his tenure, he consistently fulfilled assigned tasks and was not disciplined. Now, upon being appointed by the competent authority to the position of Library Officer Grade IV (code V.10.02.07), the classification of salary grades within the Library Officer Grade IV position will be as follows:

Mr. Tran Van B's period of service began on January 1, 2008, excluding the six-month probationary period, starting from Grade 2 of the Library Officer Grade IV position. For every two years, he advances one grade, so by July 1, 2014, Mr. Tran Van B was classified as Grade 5, with a salary coefficient of 2.66 for the Library Officer Grade IV position; the time of enjoying the new salary grade at the Library Officer Grade IV position starts from the date of signing the decision; the time for considering the next salary increase is calculated from July 1, 2014; simultaneously, he continues to enjoy a retention differential coefficient of 0.06 (2.72 - 2.66).

By July 1, 2016 (after two years), Mr. Tran Van B meets the conditions for a regular salary increase to Grade 6, with a salary coefficient of 2.86 for the Library Officer Grade IV position, and continues to enjoy a retention differential coefficient of 0.06 (total salary coefficient received is 2.92).

4. The promotion of civil servants in the library profession shall be implemented after they have been appointed to the positions of civil servants in the library profession as stipulated in this Circular and the salary classification is carried out according to Clause 1, Section II of Circular No. 02/2007/TT-BNV dated May 25, 2007, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs guiding the classification of salaries when upgrading ranks, transferring ranks, and changing types of civil servants.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 10. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from July 15, 2015.

2. Abolish the provisions on professional standards for ranks of civil servants in the library profession as stipulated in Decision No. 428/TCCP-VC dated June 2, 1993, issued by the Minister - Head of the Organizational and Cadre Department of the Government Office (now the Ministry of Home Affairs) and the list of ranks of civil servants in the library profession attached to Decision No. 78/2004/QĐ-BNV dated November 3, 2004, issued by the Minister of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Article 11. Implementation Organization

1. This Circular serves as the basis for implementing the recruitment, utilization, and management of civil servants in the library profession working in public institutions.

2. Non-public organizations and non-profit institutions may apply the provisions of this Circular to recruit, utilize, and manage staff in the library profession.

3. Authorities responsible for managing and utilizing civil servants have the responsibility to create conditions for civil servants to supplement the missing criteria for the positions of civil servants in the library profession as stipulated in this Circular for those who have been appointed to ranks of civil servants in the library profession according to Decision No. 428/TCCP-VC dated June 2, 1993, issued by the Minister - Head of the Organizational and Cadre Department of the Government Office (now the Ministry of Home Affairs) promulgating the professional standards for ranks of civil servants in the culture and information sector.

4. The heads of public institutions directly managing and utilizing civil servants shall be responsible for:

a) Review job positions within the unit, develop plans for appointing library profession positions within their jurisdiction, submit to the competent authority for examination and decision-making or decide according to the delegated authority;

b) Decide on appointing library profession positions corresponding to public institutions according to the delegated authority or according to the delegated authority after the plan for appointing positions has been approved by the competent authority.

5. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, provincial People's Committees, and centrally-administered city People's Committees have the responsibility:

a) Direct subordinate units under their management to implement the appointment of positions and salary classification for civil servants in the library profession;

b) Approve plans for appointing positions and salary classification for civil servants in the library profession within their management scope from the current civil servant rank to corresponding library profession positions as stipulated in this Circular; resolve issues arising during the process of appointing positions and salary classification according to their authority;

c) Decide on appointing positions and salary classification for civil servants in the library profession within their management scope to corresponding library profession positions in subordinate units;

d) Annually report the results of appointing positions and salary classification for civil servants in the library profession within their management scope to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Article 12. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Minister, head of a ministerial-level agency, head of a government-affiliated agency; Chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees shall be responsible for implementing this Joint Circular.

2. In case of difficulties during implementation, they are requested to report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for consolidation and coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs to examine and resolve such issues./.