Circular No. 56/2003/TT-BVHTT provides detailed guidance on the conditions for establishing libraries and procedures for registering library operations.

CIRCULAR

Detailed guidelines on the conditions for establishing libraries and procedures for registering library operations

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 Pursuant to Article 58 of the Law on Enacting Legal Normative Documents in 1996;

Pursuant to Articles 9 and 10 of the Library Ordinance dated December 28, 2000;

The Minister of Culture and Information provides detailed guidelines on the conditions for establishing libraries and procedures for registering library operations as follows:

I. SCOPE OF REGULATION AND APPLICABLE OBJECTS

1. This Circular specifies in detail the conditions for establishing libraries and guides the procedures for registering library operations.

2. The registration of library operations applies to types of libraries defined in Article 16 of the current Library Ordinance that are currently operating or will be established and meet the conditions stipulated in Part II of this Circular, including: National Library of Vietnam; libraries established by People's Committees at all levels; libraries of institutes, research centers, schools, and other educational institutions; libraries of state agencies, people's armed forces units; libraries of political organizations, political-social organizations, social organizations, social-professional organizations, economic organizations, and public service units.

II. CONDITIONS FOR ESTABLISHING LIBRARIES

A library is established when it meets the following four conditions:

1. Library collection capital:

The minimum initial number of each type of library's collection capital upon establishment is specified in the table below:

The content of the library's collection must be suitable for its functions, tasks, and target readership of each type of library.

2. Headquarters and specialized equipment:

a) Headquarters

- The headquarters (library room) should be located conveniently for library users.

- The area must ensure the operation of functional departments according to the following standards:

+ Book storage area meeting the requirements for storing the initial collection and future development over 15 years at a rate of 2.5 square meters per 1,000 units of material;

+ Reading room area ensuring a ratio of 2.5 square meters per reading seat;

+ Office space for library staff at a rate of 6 square meters per person;

+ Additional areas for other activities depending on specific conditions of each library.

- The minimum number of reading seats for each type of library is as follows:

+ Provincial-level public libraries in plain areas: 80 reading seats for general reading rooms and 30 reading seats for other types of reading rooms; mountainous areas: 50 reading seats for general reading rooms and 20 reading seats for other types of reading rooms;

+ District-level public libraries in plain areas: 40 reading seats; mountainous areas: 30 reading seats;

+ Commune-level public libraries in plain areas: 15 reading seats; mountainous areas: 10 reading seats;

+ Libraries of institutes and research centers: 20 reading seats;

+ Libraries of universities, colleges, vocational high schools, and vocational training institutions: 80 reading seats for general reading rooms and 30 reading seats for other types of reading rooms;

+ School libraries: 40 reading seats;

+ Libraries of state agencies, political organizations, political-social organizations, social organizations, social-professional organizations, economic organizations, and public service units at the central level: 30 reading seats; basic level: 15 reading seats.

b) Initial specialized equipment:

The library must have the following initial specialized equipment:

- Shelves suitable for each type and size of material;

- Display cabinets for new books and newspapers: 1-2 cabinets;

- Reading tables and chairs according to the number of readers specified for each type of library as stipulated in point a of this section;

- Catalog cabinets for searching materials: 1 cabinet (24, 36, or 48 slots);

- Other modern equipment such as computers from 1-2 machines, multimedia and telecommunication devices depending on the specific conditions of each library.

3. Personnel with library expertise and skills

a) Standards for library personnel are prescribed in Decision No. 428/TCCP-VC dated June 2, 1993 of the Government Organizational and Cadre Affairs Council regarding the issuance of professional standards for the information-library sector.

b) Library manager:

In addition to the standards prescribed in point a of this item and other national regulations on leadership position standards, the library manager must have at least one of the following qualifications:

- For provincial-level public libraries:

+ Bachelor's degree in information-library science;

+ Bachelor's degree in another field must complete equivalent professional training in information-library science;

- For district-level public libraries:

+ Associate's degree in library science;

+ Associate's degree in another field must complete equivalent professional training in library science;

- Central-level specialized and multi-disciplinary libraries:

+ Bachelor's degree in a relevant field must complete equivalent professional training in information-library science;

+ Bachelor's degree in information-library science must complete training in the relevant field;

- Basic-level specialized and multi-disciplinary libraries:

+ Associate's degree in a relevant field must complete equivalent professional training in library science.

+ Associate's degree in library science.

4. Funding to ensure stable operation and development of libraries.

a) The operating funds for public libraries established by People's Committees at all levels shall be provided from the provincial, district, and commune budgets.

b) The operating funds for specialized and multi-disciplinary libraries shall be provided from the budget of the agencies or organizations that establish them.

III. REGISTRATION FOR LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

1. Authority to Register Library Activities

Libraries specified in Section 2 of Part I of this Circular shall register their activities with the competent state agency as prescribed in Article 11 of the Libraries Ordinance.

2. Documents for Registration of Library Activities

The documents for registration of library activities include:

a) Decision on establishment of the library;

b) Application for registration of library activities;

c) Rules and regulations of the library.

3. Procedures for Registration

Libraries meeting the conditions stipulated in Part II of this Circular shall submit the application documents to the competent state agency. Upon receipt of complete and valid documents, the agency shall issue a certificate of registration for the library.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

1. Sample Application Forms and Model Rules and Regulations

Attached to this Circular are sample Application Forms for Registration of Library Activities and Model Rules and Regulations for Libraries. Based on these model rules and regulations, libraries shall develop appropriate rules and regulations in accordance with their functions, tasks, and actual conditions.

2. Enforcement Responsibility

Annually, the Departments of Culture and Information of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall report the number and send lists of registered libraries in their localities to the Ministry of Culture and Information.

3. Effective Date

This Circular shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette. During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, the relevant ministries, sectors, organizations, and mass organizations at central and local levels are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Culture and Information for resolution.