Circular No. 13/2016/TT-BVHTTDL stipulates the model regulations for the operation of provincial, district, and commune public libraries.

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON THE MODEL REGULATIONS FOR THE OPERATIONS OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES AT PROVINCE, DISTRICT, AND COMMUNE LEVELS
PROVINCIAL, DISTRICT, COMMUNE LEVELS

Pursuant to the Library Ordinance No. 31/2000/PL-UBTVQH10 dated December 28, 2000;No. Government Decree No. 72/2002/NĐ-CP dated August 6, 2002 on the implementation of the Library Ordinance;

Government Decree No. 76/2013/NĐ-CP dated July 16, 2013 on the functions, tasks, organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;i This Circular is promulgated with the National Technical Regulation on Quality of Fixed Land Broadband Internet Access Service (QCVN 34:2019/BTTTT).i The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism issues this Circular on the model regulations for the operations of public libraries at province, district, and commune levels.

Pursuant to DecreeNo. Article 1. This Circular stipulates the model regulations for the operations of public libraries at province, district, and commune levels (hereinafter referred to as public libraries at all levels), including:onThe Director of the Office, Heads of Payment Department, Heads of units under the State Bank of Vietnam; credit institutions, foreign bank branches, payment switching organizations, electronic transaction settlement organizations are responsible for implementing this Circular.of the Government stipulating functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairsa) Public libraries at the provincial level;Coat, Sports and Tourism;

At the proposal of the Director of the Library Department;

b) Public libraries at the district level: libraries under the People's Committee of districts, towns, cities directly under provinces, or libraries under the Department of Culture, Information, Cultural Center, or Cultural-Sports Center, or District Cultural House of districts, towns, cities directly under provinces;Coatc) Public libraries at the commune level: libraries under the People's Committee of communes, wards, towns, or libraries under the Cultural-Sports Center, or Commune Cultural House of communes, wards, towns.development Article 2. This Circular applies to public libraries at all levels and related organizations and individuals.ngArticle 2. Name of Public Libraries at All Levels

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. The name of public libraries at all levels shall be as follows: Library + administrative level + name of the locality where the library is located.

2. Other naming cases shall be decided by the People's Committee at the same level. Naming must ensure compliance with the traditional history, culture, ethics, and customs of the nation.

Article 3. Target Audience and Service Requirements of Public Libraries at All Levels

1. The target audience for service is all Vietnamese organizations and individuals, foreign organizations and individuals who have a need to use library materials.

2. Public libraries at all levels organize services through diverse and rich forms; open the library according to the Library Internal Regulations in accordance with the labor and living conditions of the people in the area, encourage opening hours outside regular working hours; create favorable conditions for library users; do not impose restrictions on readers' rights to use the library.

Article 4. Position and Functions of Public Libraries at All Levels

1. Public libraries at all levels are established by the People's Committee at the same level, with the function of collecting, preserving, organizing exploitation and utilization of library materials, including domestic and foreign materials in accordance with the law; building and forming reading habits among the people; participating in building and organizing the circulation of materials down to the grassroots level.

2. Public libraries at all levels play a role in coordinating activities of exchanging materials and professional skills with other libraries in the area, based on ensuring the standards of corresponding library levels as prescribed by law; they are invested in constructing physical infrastructure and operating with state budget funds and other sources of income.

Article 5. Operating Expenses

The financial resources of public libraries at all levels include state budget funds and other sources of income as prescribed by law.

1. State budget funds include:

a) Regular operating expenses according to functions and tasks, public services, and plans assigned;

b) Investment expenses for infrastructure, procurement of equipment, transportation means for mobile services, library materials, book and newspaper promotion, material circulation, mobile services, information technology application, and other public service activities according to annual plans.

2. Other sources of income include:

a) Income from library card fees;

b) Income from library-information service provision and other supporting services in accordance with assigned functions and tasks as prescribed by law;

c) Income from donations, socialization, gifts, and other lawful sources from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals.

3. Collection, management, and use of funding shall be carried out in accordance with laws on finance and accounting.

TASKS, RIGHTS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN SPECIALIZED ACTIVITIES OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES AT ALL LEVELS

2. Other revenue includes:

a) Revenue from library card fees;

b) Revenue from library-information service provision activities and other supportive services in accordance with assigned functions and tasks as prescribed by law;

c) Revenue from receiving donations, socialization, gifts, and other revenues from organizations and individuals both domestically and internationally as stipulated by law.

3. The collection, management, and utilization of financial resources shall be carried out in accordance with laws on finance and accounting.

Chapter II

GENERAL DUTIES, RIGHTS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN
SPECIALIZED ACTIVITIES OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES AT ALL LEVELS

Section 1. COMMUNE LIBRARIES

Article 6. Duties and Authorities of Commune Libraries

1. The duties and authorities as prescribed in Ordinance on Libraries No. 31/2000/PL-UBTVQH10 dated December 28, 2000 (hereinafter referred to as the Library Ordinance) and Decree No. 72/2002/NĐ-CP dated August 6, 2002 of the Government detailing the implementation of the Library Ordinance (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 72/2002/NĐ-CP).

2. Organize specialized and professional activities of the library within its authority as stipulated in Circular No. 18/2014/TT-BVHTTDL dated December 8, 2014 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

3. Base on the local socio-economic development program, the annual work plan of the Commune People's Committee, the Cultural-Social Committee, and the library's activity plan at the locality to develop the activity plan and organize its implementation after approval.

4. Implement periodic six-monthly and annual reports, as well as ad hoc and special topic reports on the library's operation status to the supervising agency and the district library.

5. Carry out other tasks appropriate to the library's functions and responsibilities as assigned by the supervising agency.

Article 7. Responsibilities in Implementing Specialized Activities of Commune Libraries

1. Building and developing the library's collection:

a) Develop a plan to supplement the collection from the budget in accordance with the level and needs of the people and the economic, cultural, and social development requirements of the locality; submit it to the supervising agency for inclusion in the annual collection development plan;

b) Enhance the collection through receiving circulating books and newspapers from provincial and district libraries; books and newspapers donated, gifted, or exchanged with other libraries and reading rooms within the locality by domestic and foreign organizations and individuals;

c) Conduct surveys of users' needs in the locality to develop a suitable supplementary plan;

d) Participate and cooperate in supporting provincial and district libraries in building and developing the local historical and geographical collection;

2. Processing information and organizing retrieval systems:

a) Organize retrieval methods appropriately, including at least a catalog of materials in the library. Encourage the application of information technology in building an electronic retrieval system;

b) Encourage the use of technical processing results, form processing results of provincial and district libraries, and results from leading libraries to ensure accuracy, consistency, time-saving, labor-saving, and cost-effectiveness;

3. Organize scientific arrangement of materials for user convenience, ensuring at minimum adult and children's material storage areas;

4. Develop and implement preservation measures, fire prevention and firefighting; conduct inventory and purging of materials consistent with the library's scale, quantity, and nature of materials according to legal regulations;

6. Organize activities to introduce and announce new books, newspapers, and materials to library users;

7. Organize or coordinate in organizing information dissemination and propaganda activities according to plans or requests of the supervising agency; build reading habits and follow book and newspaper practices among the people in the locality;

8. Participate in building and developing community reading room networks. Play a role as a material circulation point in the library network in the locality;

9. Implement statistical reporting systems as prescribed, enhance the application of information technology in statistical reporting work.

Article 8. Work relations of commune libraries

1. Commune libraries shall be subject to the direction and management regarding organization, staffing, and operation by the People's Committee of the commune or the Cultural-Social Board according to the division of responsibilities of the People's Committee of the commune.

2. Commune libraries shall be subject to guidance and inspection of activities by the Culture and Information Office of the district and professional guidance from provincial and district libraries within their jurisdiction.

3. Commune libraries shall coordinate with other libraries and book cabinets belonging to agencies, organizations, and individuals within their jurisdiction to serve and meet legitimate requirements of organizations and individuals contacting the commune library for work purposes.

Section 2. DISTRICT LIBRARIES

Article 9. Tasks and powers of district libraries

1. The tasks and powers as prescribed by the Library Ordinance and Decree No. 72/2002/NĐ-CP.

2. Organize specialized and professional activities of the library within its authority as stipulated in Circular No. 18/2014/TT-BVHTTDL dated December 8, 2014 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

3. Based on the approved planning and development plans for the library network, local economic, cultural, and social development programs to develop long-term and short-term activity plans for the library, submit them to the People's Committee of the district for approval and implement them after approval.

4. Implement regular semi-annual and annual reports, and special reports on the operation of the district library and commune libraries throughout the district to the competent authority and provincial libraries according to the division of responsibilities.

5. For libraries with legal personality, they have the responsibility to manage organizational structure, personnel, finance, and assets of the library and enter into labor contracts and manage contractual labor according to the provisions of the law and the division of responsibilities of the competent authority.

6. Carry out other tasks appropriate to the functions and responsibilities of the library according to the assignment of the competent authority.

Article 10. Responsibilities in implementing specialized activities of district libraries

1. Building and developing the library's collection:

a) Develop and submit to the competent authority a plan to supplement library materials from the budget in accordance with the level and needs of the people, the characteristics and requirements of local economic, cultural, and social development; organize surveys of user needs in the area to build a suitable supplementation plan;

b) Supplement library materials through purchasing, exchanging, receiving donations from publishers, distribution agencies, organizations, and individuals both domestically and internationally as prescribed by law; accept circulating materials from provincial libraries and other libraries in the area;

c) Apply information technology in library work, cooperate with units with the ability to organize the conversion of special local materials according to legal regulations;

d) Collect, supplement, participate, and cooperate with libraries at all levels in building and developing local historical material resources;

2. Processing information and organizing retrieval systems:

a) Process materials in accordance with rules, standards, and professional requirements of the library. Encourage the use of processing results from provincial libraries, the National Library of Vietnam, and leading libraries to ensure accuracy, consistency, time-saving, effort-saving, and cost-saving;

b) Organize retrieval systems suitable for the scale and service forms of the library, encourage the establishment of alphabetical indexes, classification indexes. Encourage the application of information technology in building databases and electronic indexes.

3. Organize storage facilities ensuring at least the following sections: newspaper/magazine storage, children's literature storage, adult literature storage. Encourage the establishment of circulating storage.

4. Develop annual plans to protect the environment, storage systems, establish preservation plans for library materials, fire prevention and extinguishing plans in the library, conduct inventory and purging of materials in accordance with the scale, quantity, and nature of the library materials according to legal regulations.

5. Provide library products and services:

a) Compile and publish bibliographic information publications;

b) Implement services: reading in place; borrowing home; using computers and accessing the Internet; circulating books, newspapers, and other materials.

6. Build and develop commune library networks, grassroots book cabinets, private libraries serving the community within the jurisdiction. Organize well the circulation of books and newspapers within the jurisdiction.

7. Implement marketing and promotional activities including: exhibitions, displays of books, newspapers, and materials, promotional introductions of books, organizing reading days, children's storytelling based on books.

8. Implement statistical reporting systems as prescribed, enhance the application of information technology in statistical reporting work.

Article 11. Work relations of the district-level library

1. Subject to the direction and management regarding organization, staffing, and operation of the library by the District People's Committee or the District Culture and Information Office or the District Cultural and Information Center or the District Cultural and Sports Center according to the分级授权

2. Subject to inspection and guidance by the District Culture and Information Office and professional guidance from the provincial-level library according to the division of responsibilities of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports.

3. Provide professional and technical guidance for libraries and reading rooms at grassroots levels according to plans approved by competent authorities.

4. Coordinate work and exchange materials with other libraries of agencies, organizations, and individuals within the district.

Section 3. PROVINCIAL LIBRARY

1. The tasks and powers as prescribed by the Library Ordinance and Decree No. 72/2002/NĐ-CP.

2. Organize specialized and professional activities of the library within its authority as stipulated in Circular No. 18/2014/TT-BVHTTDL dated December 8, 2014 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

3. Assist the Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports in drafting and submitting to the Provincial People's Committee for approval the planning of the library network and long-term plans in the field of libraries in the locality.

4. Draft plans for operations, medium-term and short-term development plans, and annual plans for the library, submit them for approval by the Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports, and organize their implementation after approval.

5. Encourage opening services to users on Saturdays and Sundays.

6. Apply information technology and communication, automation in library activities; participate in building and developing digital information resources, promote the construction of electronic libraries and online information pages of the library.

7. Participate in building district-level and commune-level libraries, community libraries, organize the circulation of materials according to regulations; organize mobile libraries to serve the people in the locality.

8. Guide and advise on organizing libraries; organize professional training courses for librarians in the locality. Take the lead and coordinate professional activities with other libraries, agencies, and departments.

9. International cooperation in all aspects in the field of libraries: participate in the activities of international library organizations; build and accept projects for funding library materials, equipment, and training programs for librarians sponsored by foreign libraries and organizations or organized in accordance with the law.

10. Implement regular monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports, and special reports on the situation of library activities to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (through the Library Department).

11. Manage organizational structure, staffing, and file materials; implement policies and systems for civil servants and workers under its jurisdiction in accordance with the law and the delegated management authority of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports.

12. Carry out other tasks assigned by the Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports.

1. Building and developing the library's collection:

a) Develop and submit to the supervising agency annual plans for supplementing library materials from the budget, consistent with the level and needs of the people, with the characteristics and requirements for economic, cultural, and social development of the locality;

b) Supplement traditional library materials, electronic materials, access to databases through purchasing, exchanging, receiving copies, accepting donations from publishers, distributors, organizations, and individuals both domestically and internationally in accordance with the law; convert material formats as prescribed by law; participate in domestic and international library consortia, expand inter-library connections with domestic and foreign libraries through lending, exchanging materials, and networking to enhance the library's material resources as a key player in collaborative resource sharing among different types of libraries in the area;

c) Check catalogues, eliminate duplicates, and establish supplementary material lists;

d) Prioritize the establishment of material resources for children and persons with disabilities; materials in ethnic languages suitable for the demographic characteristics of the area for libraries in regions with ethnic minorities. For provinces along national borders, establish material resources for exchange, circulation, and service to users in adjacent areas as prescribed by law;

đ) Conduct surveys of user needs in the area to develop appropriate supplementary plans; survey material resource requirements of libraries in the area to develop plans for circulating material resources;

e) Ensure that the content of library materials meets the needs of users in the library. The supplementation and organization of exploitation of materials with content specified in Article 5 of the Library Ordinance must comply with the provisions of Article 12 of Decree No. 72/2002/NĐ-CP;

2. Processing information and organizing retrieval systems:

a) Implement material processing in accordance with rules, standards, and professional requirements for library materials, using professional standards in material processing to ensure consistency in inter-library collaboration and sharing; prioritize the use of content processing results from major libraries such as the National Library of Vietnam and other leading libraries;

b) Implement the establishment of database systems; regularly adjust the database records of book catalogs and other types of materials to ensure accuracy and effectiveness;

c) Create information products: catalogs, overviews, excerpts, and other forms of information provision;

d) Organize search systems including traditional search systems such as alphabetical indexes and classification indexes; modern search systems including bibliographic databases, full-text databases, specialized databases, and other types of databases; organize reference material storage.

3. Organize storage facilities ensuring the following main types: newspaper and magazine storage; adult storage; children's storage; circulating material storage; storage for persons with disabilities.

4. Implement activities for preserving materials:

a) Develop annual plans to protect the environment of the storage system, establish preservation schemes for documents, fire prevention and firefighting in the library in accordance with the law;

b) Implement traditional document preservation activities and ensure safety for electronic documents, focusing on restoration work for valuable and easily deteriorating documents; prioritize converting documents into suitable formats (digitization, microfilm) for rare and fragile documents, and build an electronic document collection to enhance linkage and sharing, supporting libraries at various levels within the jurisdiction;

c) Conduct inventory and filtration of documents in accordance with the scale, quantity, and nature of the library's documents as prescribed by law;

d) Support professional operations and document preservation for district-level, commune-level libraries, and other units with such needs;

5. Provide library products and services:

a) Compile and publish library information publications: new book catalogues, special topic catalogues, journal article catalogues, other library information products such as full-text document catalogues, magazines, products serving visually impaired individuals, and other appropriate products based on the library’s functions;

b) Information and document supply services: reading in place, borrowing home, interlibrary loan, mobile service, service for people with disabilities, search and retrieval, information provision upon request, selective information dissemination, document photocopying, and other forms consistent with the library’s functions;

c) Services supporting out-of-school learning: guidance on library usage; organizing self-study spaces; organizing educational programs according to community and library user needs; seminars, roundtables, specialized lectures;

d) Entertainment support services: book café and other services;

đ) Public internet access services;

e) Professional and operational advisory services for other libraries within the jurisdiction;

6. Organize geographical records work:

a) Develop plans for the development of geographical record collections in the library. Research, discover, organize the collection and promotion of geographical record materials, focusing on rare and valuable materials, Han Nom texts, ancient Tai script, and materials from ethnic minorities in the jurisdiction;

b) Process materials, digitize materials, manage and preserve geographical record materials according to professional and operational library procedures. Carry out scientific research and apply information technology to geographical record work in the library. Compile and publish special topic catalogues of geographical record materials;

c) Organize services and provide consultation and guidance on the exploitation and promotion of geographical record materials for users;

7. Develop the library network and reading culture:

a) Advise, guide, participate in building, consolidating, and developing district-level, commune-level libraries, community-based reading rooms, and private libraries serving the public in accordance with their functions and tasks and as assigned by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports;

b) Organize the circulation of materials and mobile services;

c) Organize propaganda and guidance on lifelong education and learning activities both inside and outside the library. Organize mass activities to encourage and foster reading habits among residents in the jurisdiction;

8. Organize communication and mobilization activities:

a) Develop and regularly organize library communication and mobilization activities in accordance with the law, closely linked to national events, central and local programs and activities, and other events at the library;

b) Organize thematic exhibitions and displays for major events, national and local holidays, sectoral and mass organizations’ events; introduce new books at the library and beyond; organize book festivals and reading culture days; contests for all readers, especially young people and children; contests promoting book introduction and organizing other cultural events at the library to attract library users, thereby encouraging reading, fostering reading habits, and reading culture;

c) Market, promote, and advertise the library, its products, and services on the website and other mass media; organize regular reader meetings, potential reader development; establish groups and clubs of library friends; collect and gather feedback from readers. Support district-level and commune-level libraries in the jurisdiction to develop appropriate communication and mobilization plans to attract users to the library;

d) Promote socialization, mobilize, and attract organizations and individuals to participate in library activities;

9. Implement reporting and statistical systems for libraries:

a) Implement reporting and statistical systems as prescribed, enhancing the application of information technology in reporting and statistical work;

b) Organize the collection and provision of data on the library network in the locality to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, ensuring accuracy and timely compliance with legal regulations;

c) Guide district-level and commune-level libraries to implement library statistical systems.

1. Subject to specialized state management by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Participate in training courses and guidance on professional matters, implement annual activities and report and statistics according to the directives and guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

3. Subject to directives, management regarding organization, staffing, and operations by the People's Committee of the province. Subject to directives, management, guidance, and inspection by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports according to the division of responsibilities.

4. Provide professional guidance, support, and build material resources for county-level libraries, communal public libraries, grassroots libraries, reading rooms, and private libraries serving the community within the province.

5. Coordinate with local agencies, sectors to proactively implement cooperative programs between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other relevant ministries and sectors, and other local cooperative programs. Coordinate work, exchange materials with educational institution libraries, military, police, and public security libraries, and other organizations, agencies, mass organizations, units, political-social organizations, occupational social organizations, and other social organizations within the province.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 15. Implementation Organization

1. The Library Department is responsible for organizing the implementation, monitoring, supervising, and inspecting the execution of this Circular.

2. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Department of Culture and Sports is responsible for directing the establishment and implementation of library operation regulations according to this Circular at the local level.

3. Directors and those responsible for public libraries at all levels shall base on this Circular to organize the establishment, issuance, or submission to competent authorities for issuance of library operation regulations.

Article 16. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from January 22, 2017.

2. From the date this Circular takes effect, Decisions No. 16/2005/QĐ-BVHTT dated May 4, 2005 of the Minister of Culture and Information promulgating the model regulation on the organization and operation of provincial libraries; Decision No. 49/2006/QĐ-BVHTT dated May 5, 2006 of the Minister of Culture and Information promulgating the model regulation on the organization and operation of county and district libraries; Decision No. 77/2008/QĐ-BVHTTDL dated August 28, 2008 of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism promulgating the model regulation on the organization and operation of communal libraries cease to be effective.

5. During the implementation process, if any issues arise or difficulties occur, relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals should promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (through the Library Department) for consideration, supplementation, and amendment./.