Decree No. 93/2020/ND-CP detailing certain provisions of the Library Law

DECREE

DETAILING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE LIBRARY LAW

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

Pursuant to the Library Law on November 21, 2019;

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

The Government promulgates this Decree detailing certain provisions of the Library Law.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Decree details public libraries with important roles prioritized for investment by the State at Point a Clause 1 Article 5; ancient and rare materials, special collections of materials with historical, cultural, and scientific value invested by the State at Point c Clause 1 Article 5; reading spaces and basic reading rooms at Clause 1 Article 6; conditions for establishing libraries at Points a, b, c, and d Clause 1 Article 18; procedures and formalities for suspending and terminating library operations at Clause 5 Article 22; interlibrary cooperation at Article 29 of the Library Law.

Article 2. Applicability

This Decree applies to agencies, organizations, and individuals in Vietnam, foreign organizations and individuals participating in library activities or related to library activities on the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Chapter II

SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

Section 1

PUBLIC LIBRARIES WITH IMPORTANT ROLES

PRIORITIZED FOR STATE INVESTMENT

Article 3. Criteria for determining public libraries with important roles prioritized for State investment

1. Possessing sufficient conditions and capabilities to fulfill tasks stipulated in Articles 25, 26, 27, and 28, and taking the lead in building, sharing, and utilizing common information resources among libraries as stipulated in Clause 1 Article 29 of this Decree; implementing connectivity and cooperation with libraries within the same group, specialty, or field at the national level, field, industry, region, area, or locality.

2. Modern physical facilities, amenities, and technology meeting user needs and capable of expanding interlibrary connectivity and linkage within fields, industries, regions, areas, or localities:

a) Having at least 500,000 storage units, including at least 200,000 books and at least 5,000 digital titles; a shared database meeting national standards, complying with laws on intellectual property and cybersecurity;

b) Information resources stored, preserved, and managed using modern infrastructure, equipment, and technology: The library has advanced software applied in professional and operational activities, library management; provides an online catalog search portal and digital material services through an information portal or website; offers online consultation services for users; uses modern computers and equipment to serve users;

c) User-friendly reading spaces ensuring accessibility for all user groups; maintaining hygiene, security, safety, and fire prevention and control;

d) Having at least 50 computers serving library users;

đ) Already implementing interlibrary connectivity at regional, provincial, or national levels or within fields, industries, or internationally.

3. Library staff must meet the following requirements:

a) Possessing library and information science qualifications meeting job position standards as prescribed by law;

b) At least 70% of library staff having graduated from university or higher in library and information science or other majors with vocational training certificates in library and information science issued by authorized agencies or organizations;

c) Capable of applying information technology in professional and operational activities, proficiently using library management software according to job position requirements, implementing interlibrary connectivity; guiding users to utilize modern library facilities to access and exploit information.

4. Average annual effectiveness of library operations:

a) Achieving at least 6,000 registered users utilizing the library, borrowing information resources, and accessing electronic and digital materials at the library, outside the library, and on the internet; achieving at least 1,000,000 visits to the library and accessing the library's website;

b) Achieving at least 2,000,000 information resource services provided at the library and mobile services; achieving at least 1,000,000 information resource services provided on the internet;

c) Achieving at least 80% of professional and operational activities and library services utilizing science and technology; having established a library information portal or website; organizing an online catalog (OPAC); providing at least 30% of library services online;

d) Organizing at least four conferences, seminars, or exhibitions; having at least one technical innovation initiative accepted and implemented in practice or at least six specialized information products or bibliographies shared with other libraries;

đ) Achieving at least 56 hours per week of library opening hours for service or 24 hours daily for online library services.

Article 4. Competence to determine public libraries with important roles to be prioritized for state investment

1. The Minister of Education and Training and the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall determine this for university libraries and libraries belonging to other educational institutions after obtaining written consent from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

2. The head of ministries, ministerial-level agencies, central agencies shall determine this for libraries not covered under Clause 1 of this Article after obtaining written consent from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Section 2

ANCIENT, RARE AND VALUABLE DOCUMENTS,

SPECIAL COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS WITH DISTINCTIVE VALUE

Article 5. Ancient Documents

Ancient documents are documents that are one hundred years old or older.

Article 6. Rare and Valuable Documents

Rare and valuable documents must meet one of the following criteria:

1. They are original manuscripts or handwritten drafts bearing the signature of national heroes, prominent figures, or notable historical personalities.

2. They were created during periods or at places where significant events in the history of the Vietnamese nation took place; they contain information about special natural phenomena, social life, and thought processes that have foundational significance for state management, economy, national defense, security, foreign relations, social order and safety, scientific research, history, literature, and meet at least one of the following criteria:

a) They are represented on unique carriers of information characteristic of a specific historical period;

b) There is only one copy or very few copies of the same type, which cannot or are extremely difficult to replace if lost or damaged;

c) They are distinctive in language expression, presentation form, manufacturing technique, or representative of trends, styles, and eras.

Article 7. Special Collections of Documents with Distinctive Value in History, Culture, and Science

1. Special collections of documents with distinctive value in history, culture, and science are systematic compilations of documents collected, preserved, and organized according to common criteria regarding form and content to meet the need to understand history, nature, and society.

2. Special collections of documents with distinctive value in history, culture, and science must meet the following criteria:

a) They are distinctive and have particular significance in ideology, politics, socio-economic aspects, science, and history, and are particularly important for the country, locality, society, and the nation; they have special cultural significance and a foundation for state management, economy, national defense, security, foreign relations, social order and safety, scientific research, history, and literature;

b) They were formed in special historical circumstances regarding time and space; they are distinctive in documentation methods and material carriers of information.

Article 8. Collecting, Preserving, and Exploiting the Value of Ancient, Rare and Valuable Documents and Special Collections of Documents with Distinctive Value in History, Culture, and Science in Public Libraries

1. Collection activities must meet the criteria for collected documents and be carried out through the following methods and procedures:

a) Criteria: They must meet the criteria stipulated in Articles 5 and 6, Clause 2 of Article 7 of this Decree, have clear and legal origins without disputes or complaints, and be consistent with the library's functions, tasks, target groups, and scope of operations;

b) Implementation methods include: Collecting from the community; purchasing from organizations and individuals; receiving donations, gifts, or transfers from organizations and individuals; exchanging between libraries, between libraries and agencies, organizations, and individuals; other collection methods;

c) Implementation procedures:

- Surveying and collecting information about documents; identifying documents meeting the criteria specified in point a of this clause to develop a collection plan and submit it for approval by the competent authority;

- Preparing a file for planned collections including: A list of documents; a document appraisal report and related documents (if any);

- Implementing the collection according to the approved plan;

- Registering in the logbook; archiving files generated during the document collection process.

2. Preservation of documents shall be carried out using preventive preservation measures, restoration preservation, and appropriate document conversion based on each type of document.

3. Exploitation of document value shall be carried out as follows:

a) Digitizing or creating copies to serve library regulations;

b) Creating a Vietnamese text version of the document based on translation principles for documents in Chinese characters, Nom script, Han-Nom script, and other scripts.

4. For the collection, preservation, and exploitation of the value of ancient, rare and valuable documents, and special collections of documents with distinctive value in history, culture, and science, which are cultural heritages, in addition to implementing the provisions of Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of this Article, they must comply with relevant laws on cultural heritage and archival laws.

Section 3

READING SPACES AND BASE READING ROOM FACILITIES

Article 9. Criteria for Determining Reading Spaces and Community Reading Rooms

1. Reading spaces and community reading rooms are places for book reading established by the Vietnamese community, organizations, or individuals to provide information, knowledge, and cultural reading services to residents in villages, hamlets, communes, wards, and other localities where conditions for establishing libraries as stipulated in Articles 19 and 20 of this Decree are not met.

2. The establishment of reading spaces and community reading rooms is encouraged to meet the following criteria:

a) Having at least 300 copies of books;

b) Having a target audience suitable for the objectives of the reading space and community reading room;

c) Having an area and infrastructure ensuring the preservation of information resources and serving users without affecting traffic order and safety, environmental hygiene, and landscape aesthetics, while ensuring security, safety equipment, and fire prevention and extinguishing facilities;

d) Having a manager for the reading space and community reading room;

đ) Having internal regulations appropriate to the target audience of the reading space and community reading room.

Article 10. Activities of Reading Spaces and Community Reading Rooms

1. The activities of reading spaces and community reading rooms are carried out on the principle of self-management and self-responsibility.

2. Reading spaces and community reading rooms are supported and guided professionally and operationally, and are provided with opportunities to receive information resources and library circulation benefits from public libraries within their jurisdiction.

3. The State encourages reading spaces and community reading rooms that meet the conditions to establish community libraries or private libraries serving the community to announce the establishment of such libraries according to Article 23 of the Library Law.

Section 4

CONDITIONS FOR ESTABLISHING LIBRARIES

Article 11. Conditions for Establishing Provincial Public Libraries

1. Having organizational and operational objectives for the library that are appropriate and meet the functions and tasks specified in Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 11 of the Library Law; having a target audience consisting of organizations and individuals with a need to use the library within the province or centrally-administered city.

2. Having at least 200,000 copies of books, including at least 50,000 titles, comprising digital materials, audiovisual materials, and materials for people with disabilities; having at least 50 titles of newspapers and magazines, including processed electronic newspapers according to library professional rules.

3. Having physical facilities and library amenities that ensure the following requirements:

a) Being located independently in the center of the community or having convenient transportation access;

b) The library area must meet the requirements for preserving information resources, service areas, storage rooms, multimedia reading rooms, specialized rooms, and sanitary facilities;

c) Ensuring that people with disabilities can move around and easily access information resources and library amenities;

d) Ensuring at least 100 square meters for general reading space for library users; at least 50 square meters for children's and disabled persons' service areas;

đ) Ensuring technical infrastructure for information technology, network connection devices, security equipment, peripheral devices, and auxiliary equipment, internal networks, and wide-area networks that meet the professional and operational requirements of library staff and serve library users; implementing interlibrary connectivity, organizing online services, and related services;

e) Ensuring dedicated equipment and means for preserving information resources, security, safety, and fire prevention and extinguishing;

g) Organizing mobile library services and circulating information resources to serve the population in border areas, islands, ethnic minority regions, economically disadvantaged areas, and extremely disadvantaged areas for libraries in these regions.

4. Library staff must meet the following requirements:

a) Possessing library and information science qualifications meeting job position standards as prescribed by law;

b) At least 70% of library staff must have graduated from college or higher in library and information science or in another field with a certificate in library and information science vocational training issued by authorized agencies or organizations;

c) Possessing the ability to apply information technology in professional and operational activities, implement interlibrary connectivity; having the capability to guide library users to utilize modern library amenities to access and exploit information.

Article 12. Conditions for establishing a public library at the district level

1. Having organizational and operational objectives that are appropriate and meet the functions and tasks specified in Clause 3, Article 11 of the Library Law; serving organizations and individuals with library usage needs within the district, city district, town, or provincial city under the central city.

2. Possessing at least 10,000 books with at least 1,000 titles; at least 10 newspaper and magazine titles (including online newspapers) processed according to library business rules.

3. Having physical facilities and library amenities that ensure the following requirements:

a) Located in the center of the community or in a convenient transportation location.

b) The library area must meet the requirements for information resource preservation, service areas, storage rooms, specialized and business rooms, and sanitary facilities.

c) Ensuring at least 60 square meters for reading space for library users.

d) Ensuring that persons with disabilities can move around and easily access information resources and library facilities.

đ) Equipped with means and equipment to ensure the provision of specialized and business activities for library staff and services for library users.

e) Ensuring specialized equipment and means for preserving information resources, security, safety, and fire prevention and extinguishing.

4. Library staff must have graduated from a college or higher in information-library science or another major with a certificate in information-library vocational training issued by authorized agencies or organizations.

Article 13. Conditions for establishing a public library at the commune level

1. Having operational objectives that meet the requirements of the functions and tasks specified in Clause 4, Article 11 of the Library Law; serving organizations and individuals with library usage needs within the commune, ward, or town.

2. Possessing at least 2,000 books and two newspaper and magazine titles (encouraging the use of online newspapers) processed according to library business rules.

3. Having physical facilities and library amenities that ensure the following requirements:

a) Located near the community or in a convenient transportation location.

b) The library space must meet the requirements for information resource preservation, service areas, and sanitary facilities.

c) Ensuring at least 40 square meters for reading space for library users.

d) Equipped with means and equipment to meet the requirements for specialized and business activities of library staff and services for library users; ensuring specialized equipment and means for preserving information resources, security, safety, and fire prevention and extinguishing.

4. Library staff must have graduated from high school or higher and participated in training or received guidance on library business.

Article 14. Conditions for establishing a specialized library

1. Having organizational and operational objectives that are appropriate and meet the functions and tasks specified in Article 12 of the Library Law; serving civil servants, employees, and other individuals with library usage needs according to the library's regulations.

2. Possessing at least 2,000 books, including at least 500 digital documents; having newspaper and magazine titles, including online newspapers, related to the functions and tasks of the organization processed according to library business rules, ensuring the service needs for work, study, and research of library users.

3. Having physical facilities and library amenities that ensure the following requirements:

a) The library area must meet the requirements for information resource preservation, service areas, storage rooms, specialized and business rooms, and sanitary facilities.

b) Ensuring at least 100 square meters of reading space for library users for central-level organizations and 40 square meters for grassroots-level organizations.

c) Ensuring technical infrastructure for information technology, network connection devices, security devices, peripheral devices, auxiliary devices, internal networks, and wide-area networks to meet the requirements for specialized and business activities of library staff and services for library users, implementing interlibrary connectivity, organizing online services, and related services.

d) Ensuring specialized equipment and means for preserving information resources, security, safety, and fire prevention and extinguishing.

4. Library staff must meet the following requirements:

a) Possessing library and information science qualifications meeting job position standards as prescribed by law;

b) At least 70% of library staff must have graduated from college or higher in library and information science or in another field with a certificate in library and information science vocational training issued by authorized agencies or organizations;

c) Capable of applying information technology in specialized and business activities, implementing interlibrary connectivity; capable of guiding library users to access and utilize information and libraries.

Article 15. Conditions for establishing people's armed forces libraries

People's armed forces libraries shall be established in accordance with the Law on Libraries and specific regulations of the Government.

Article 16. Conditions for establishing university libraries

1. Having organizational and operational objectives that are appropriate and meet the functions and tasks stipulated in Article 14 of the Law on Libraries; serving users including teachers, students, staff members of educational institutions, and other individuals who have a need to use the library according to the library’s charter.

2. Possessing information resources including textbooks, teaching materials, reference materials, newspapers, and magazines suitable for each training specialty of the educational institution, processed according to library professional rules, meeting the service requirements of at least 60% of students and teachers.

3. Having physical facilities and library amenities that ensure the following requirements:

a) Located centrally within the educational institution, convenient for users, especially those with disabilities;

b) Adequate space for storing information resources, service areas, workspaces for library staff, and other business processing needs;

c) Ensuring reading space, including general reading rooms and other specialized reading rooms for library users, with a minimum area of 200 square meters;²;

d) Ensuring technical infrastructure for information technology, network connection equipment, security devices, peripheral devices, auxiliary devices, internal networks, and wide-area networks to meet the professional and business operation requirements of library staff and serve library users, implementing inter-library connectivity, organizing online services, and related services;

e) Ensuring specialized equipment and means for preserving information resources, ensuring security, safety, and fire prevention and extinguishing;

4. Library staff must meet the following requirements:

a) Possessing library and information science qualifications meeting job position standards as prescribed by law;

b) At least 70% of library staff must have graduated from college or higher in library and information science or in another field with a certificate in library and information science vocational training issued by authorized agencies or organizations;

c) Possessing the ability to apply information technology in professional and business operations, having the capacity to support students and teachers in searching, exploiting, and using information resources both inside and outside the library;

5. University national libraries, in addition to meeting the conditions stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this Article, must also meet the conditions stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 3 of this Decree.

Article 17. Conditions for establishing preschool education institution libraries and general education institution libraries

1. Having organizational and operational objectives that are appropriate and meet the functions and tasks stipulated in Clauses 1, 2, and 3 of Article 15 of the Law on Libraries; serving users including teachers, students, staff members of educational institutions, and other individuals who have a need to use the library according to the library’s charter.

2. Possessing information resources as follows:

a) Textbooks, teacher manuals, and reference books that meet the needs of students and teachers in the educational institution:

- For preschool education institutions: Ensuring at least two copies per student and three copies per teacher;

- For primary education institutions: Ensuring at least three copies per student and one set per teacher per grade level;

- For lower secondary education institutions: Ensuring at least four copies per student and one set per teacher per subject taught;

- For upper secondary education institutions: Ensuring at least five copies per student and one set per teacher per subject taught;

b) Newspapers, magazines, maps, educational pictures, audio-visual materials, electronic books, and other types of materials suitable for the age group and learning needs of students and the reference needs of teachers; ensuring a minimum number of materials with content closely aligned with the school curriculum and teaching program according to the list guided by the Ministry of Education and Training, processed according to library professional rules.

3. Having physical facilities and library amenities that ensure the following requirements:

a) Located centrally within the educational institution, convenient for library users, especially those with disabilities;

b) Adequate space for storing information resources, implementing library activities, service areas for reading, workspaces for library staff, and other business processing needs;

c) Reading space for library users with a minimum area of 50 square meters; connected to the school’s audio-visual rooms, computer rooms, and classroom bookshelves; encouraging the establishment of open libraries and friendly reading spaces;

d) Having equipment and facilities to meet the professional and business operation requirements of library staff and serve library users;

e) Ensuring specialized equipment and means for preserving information resources, ensuring security, safety, and fire prevention and extinguishing;

4. Library staff must have graduated from a college level or higher in information-science/library studies or have a certificate in vocational knowledge and skills in information-science/library studies issued by an authorized agency or organization.

Article 18. Conditions for establishing libraries at vocational education institutions and other educational establishments

1. Having organizational and operational objectives for the library that are appropriate and meet the functions and tasks specified in Clause 4, Article 15 of the Library Law; serving users including teachers, students, staff members of the educational establishment, and other individuals with library usage needs according to the library's regulations.

2. Ensuring at least 02 books per student and 01 book per teacher; having publications, newspapers, magazines suitable for the training specialties of the educational establishment processed according to library professional rules.

3. Having physical facilities and library amenities that ensure the following requirements:

a) Located centrally or in a convenient place for library users of the educational establishment;

b) Sufficient area to store reference materials, textbooks, teaching materials, reading areas, staff workspaces, and other professional processing requirements;

c) Ensuring at least 100 square meters of reading space for library users for college institutions; at least 50 square meters for vocational education centers, vocational education centers - regular education;

d) Equipped with facilities and equipment meeting the professional and operational requirements of library workers and serving library users; facilitating access to information resources for people with disabilities;

e) Ensuring specialized equipment and means for preserving information resources, ensuring security, safety, and fire prevention and extinguishing;

4. Library staff must meet the following requirements:

a) Graduated from a college level or higher in information-library science or graduated in another field with a certificate of specialized knowledge and skills in information-library science issued by authorized agencies or organizations;

b) Possessing skills in applying information technology in professional library activities; capable of supporting students and teachers in searching, exploiting, and using information resources within and outside the library.

Article 19. Conditions for establishing private libraries serving the community

1. Having organizational and operational objectives for the library that are appropriate and meet the functions and tasks specified in Clause 2 and Clause 3, Article 16 of the Library Law, not contrary to legal provisions; serving users including residents in the community and other appropriate groups based on the library's operational objectives.

2. Having at least 2,000 books (including digital materials).

3. Having physical facilities and library amenities that ensure the following requirements:

a) Adequate area and infrastructure to ensure preservation of information resources, library amenities with at least 25 square meters of reading space for library users;

b) Ensuring environmental hygiene, landscape, security equipment, safety, and fire prevention and extinguishing measures; not affecting traffic order and safety in the area.

4. Library workers must have graduated from high school or higher; at least one person must have library professional qualifications or have attended training or been guided in library professional matters.

Article 20. Conditions for establishing community libraries

1. Having organizational and operational objectives for the library that are appropriate and meet the functions and tasks specified in Clause 1 and Clause 3, Article 16 of the Library Law, not contrary to legal provisions; serving users including residents in the community and other appropriate groups based on the library's operational objectives.

2. Having at least 1,500 books (including digital materials).

3. Having physical facilities and library amenities that ensure the following requirements:

a) Adequate area and infrastructure to ensure preservation of information resources, library amenities with at least 25 square meters of reading space for library users;

b) Ensuring environmental hygiene, landscape, security equipment, safety, and fire prevention and extinguishing measures; not affecting traffic order and safety in the area.

4. Library workers must have graduated from high school or higher; at least one person must have attended training or been guided in library professional matters.

Article 21. Conditions for establishing libraries by foreign organizations and individuals serving Vietnamese people

1. Having organizational and operational objectives for the library that are appropriate and meet the functions and tasks stipulated in Article 17 of the Library Law, not contrary to Vietnamese laws; having service targets that are suitable Vietnamese people in accordance with the library's operational objectives.

2. Having at least 2,000 books (including digital materials).

3. Having physical facilities and library amenities that ensure the following requirements:

a) Adequate area and infrastructure to ensure preservation of information resources, library amenities with at least 25 square meters of reading space for library users;

b) Ensuring environmental hygiene, landscape, security equipment, safety, and fire prevention and extinguishing measures; not affecting traffic order and safety in the area.

4. People working in the library must have full civil legal capacity and civil conduct capacity, must have graduated from high school or higher, and have participated in training or been guided on library operations. Foreign individuals working in the library must have clear judicial records and residence in Vietnam.

Section 5

PROCEDURES FOR SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF LIBRARY OPERATIONS

 SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION OF LIBRARY OPERATIONS

Article 22. Procedures and formalities for suspending library operations

1. When discovering signs of violation of the law by the library, the agency, organization, or individual responsible shall collect evidence and submit a written request to the authorized person to suspend the library's operations according to point b, Clause 3, Article 22 of the Library Law for consideration and issuance of a decision to impose administrative penalties.

2. Upon discovering signs of violations as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 22 of the Library Law or upon the request of the agencies, organizations, or individuals specified in Clause 1 of this Article, the authorized person to suspend library operations shall assess the level of violation and issue a decision to impose administrative penalties in the form of suspending library operations for a limited period according to the law. In cases where suspension is not imposed, the authorized person must respond in writing and provide specific reasons.

3. The procedures and formalities for suspending library operations for a limited period shall be carried out in accordance with the law on handling administrative violations.

Article 23. Procedures and formalities for terminating library operations

1. Procedures and formalities for voluntarily terminating library operations:

a) Implementing notification as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 23 of the Library Law;

b) Implementing the transfer of information resources and library facilities according to the plan stipulated in Clause 7, Article 45 of the Library Law.

2. Procedures and formalities for forced termination of library operations:

a) At least 15 working days before the expiration date of the suspension, the suspended library has the responsibility to report on measures taken to address the causes of suspension (with supporting documentation) to the person who issued the previous suspension decision.

Within 15 working days from the date of receiving complete valid documents, if the library does not take corrective actions or cannot rectify the causes of suspension, the person who issued the previous suspension decision shall issue a decision to terminate the library's operations and notify the establishment agency or organization (if applicable).

b) Upon expiration of the suspension period, if the suspended library does not report on measures taken to address the causes of suspension, the person who issued the previous suspension decision shall issue a decision to terminate the library's operations.

c) In cases where information resources and library facilities are transferred from a public library, within 15 working days from the date of receiving the decision to terminate operations, the terminated library must complete the return of all information resources and library facilities to the receiving library.

Chapter 6

 INTERCONNECTIVITY OF LIBRARIES

Article 24. Principles for Library Interconnection

1. Ensuring effective utilization of state and organizational and individual investment resources for library activities.

2. Meeting users' needs for information resources, information products, and library services.

3. Being implemented on a voluntary basis, through cooperative agreements, and with division of labor and coordination among libraries.

4. Sharing and linking databases and information resources invested in and constructed from state budget funds in accordance with regulations.

5. Adhering to laws on intellectual property rights, science and technology, information technology, cybersecurity, and related laws.

6. Ensuring proper management and utilization of interconnected information resources for their intended purposes, effectively, and in compliance with interconnection regulations.

Article 25. Cooperation in Collecting, Supplementing, and Utilizing Information Resources

1. Establishing library groups to regulate, coordinate supplementation, update, and share information resources. Libraries participating in these groups voluntarily connect, share, and contribute library resources to the group for common use; designate one main library to serve as the link between libraries within the group.

Participating libraries must meet the following conditions:

a) Having similar service targets;

b) Having compatible and adequate information technology infrastructure;

c) Having human resources to operate, manage, and share;

d) Having funding to maintain operations with the group;

đ) In cases of cooperation under business production methods, in addition to complying with points a, b, c, and d of this clause, they must also comply with relevant laws.

2. Cooperation in collecting, supplementing, and utilizing information resources includes: coordinating in building printed information resources; linking and sharing in supplementing information resources and database access rights, digital information resources.

3. Shared information resources must meet the following conditions:

a) Ensuring legality;

b) Being described, stored, managed, and utilized according to a uniform structure that meets corresponding international library standards;

c) Ensuring consistency in exploitation procedures and information resource sharing policies according to group regulations;

d) Being managed by software allowing computers, phones, and other electronic devices to access according to legal provisions.

Article 26. Sharing Professional Processing Results, Cataloging, and Library Information Products

1. Libraries funded from the state budget have the responsibility to share processing results of information resources including data about information resources and basic descriptive information about library information resources organized according to library business structures (hereinafter referred to as records) with other libraries in the group in accordance with the law.

2. Depending on specific conditions, libraries in the group may share record databases; establish joint indexes reflecting information resources from two or more libraries (hereinafter referred to as joint indexes) at the following levels:

a) Only able to search and view information resource data;

b) Able to read directly;

c) Able to download and read according to regulations (for digital documents) or clearly define types and levels of exploitation (for other information resources);

d) Must pay service fees as stipulated by the library, group interconnection regulations, and legal provisions.

3. Responsibilities of the main library:

a) Maintaining and developing shared data systems;

b) Supporting data management for libraries in the group; granting usage and exploitation rights to the system;

c) Controlling record quality; directing uniformity and standardization of records of libraries in the group;

d) Guiding and supporting group libraries on professional issues.

Article 27. Interlibrary Service Implementation

1. The implementation of interlibrary services includes the following basic contents:

a) Implementing interlibrary loan for print, digital, or multimedia information resources among libraries serving users;

b) Linking and coordinating in issuing library user cards within the same geographical area, field, or system;

c) Cooperating and exchanging information resources, using library facilities to provide library services for users;

d) Using other appropriate methods for implementing interlibrary services according to the characteristics of each type of library and relevant laws.

2. Interlibrary loans shall be carried out in accordance with the following provisions:

a) Organizing the lending of information resources between libraries according to the regulations of participating libraries and the group's charter;

b) The duration and quantity of information resources that can be borrowed shall be implemented according to the regulations of the library holding the information resources;

c) Library users shall register or submit requests for interlibrary loans at their library card issuance location; they shall receive information resources through the library where they registered for the card or directly from the library holding the information resources, via postal service or online as stipulated by the library holding the information resources.

Article 28. Joint Catalog Construction

1. The construction, management, and development of joint catalogs shall be carried out according to the following principles:

a) Determining the roles, rights, and obligations of member libraries participating in joint catalog construction; assigning a leading library;

b) Standardizing procedures and practices in constructing catalog records for member libraries;

c) Regularly updating catalog records reflecting the current status of library information resources;

d) Linking joint catalog construction with cooperative activities in collecting, supplementing, and utilizing information resources, and interlibrary loans.

2. The contribution of catalog records for data integration in joint catalogs shall be carried out according to the following mechanism:

a) Libraries participating in joint catalog construction shall send catalog records to the assigned leading library;

b) Information and data in the catalog records of participating libraries must meet common standards, ensuring complete basic descriptive information about library information resources when exported, including: Title (main title), author name, publication information, keywords, subject, individual registration number, classification code, and other required information agreed upon within the group;

c) Synchronizing catalog records with the national joint catalog system for domestic interlibrary connections or the global joint catalog system for international interlibrary connections.

3. The National Library of Vietnam, provincial public libraries, and state-owned public libraries with significant roles prioritized by the State shall be responsible for coordinating in updating and standardizing databases to develop the national joint catalog.

Article 29. Library Interconnection Mechanism

1. State-prioritized libraries shall lead the creation, sharing, and exploitation of shared information resources among libraries as follows:

a) Creating, sharing data, processing results, and digital information resources in accordance with the law;

b) Compiling, building databases, providing shared library products and services;

c) Establishing and forming joint catalog systems; managing libraries within the group, controlling database quality; resolving technical issues related to operations; ensuring system security, confidentiality, and backup;

d) Serving as the point of contact for information resource exchange, providing access to digital documents; fulfilling individual usage requirements.

2. Participating libraries shall cooperate in supplementing, purchasing access rights, and sharing foreign information resources as follows:

a) Creating, building, and standardizing connection data, sharing, and contributing library resources to the shared group according to the association's charter and regulations;

b) Participating in developing policies on sharing levels and user access rights; pricing and service fee policies according to current regulations;

c) Utilizing processed information resources, products, and information services from other libraries to serve users;

d) Information resources developed from state budget funds must be interconnected, shared, and utilized effectively.

Article 30. Methods for library interconnection

1. Interconnection among libraries within geographic regions on an international, regional, national, provincial, and local level.

2. Interconnection among groups of libraries with similar functions, tasks, and service targets.

3. Interconnection among libraries with the same field and content of information resources related to social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and technology, and other fields.

4. Interconnection among types of libraries as specified in Clause 1 of Article 9 of the Library Law.

Chapter III

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 31. Transitional Provisions

1. Organizations and individuals who have submitted applications for private library operation registration serving the community before this Decree takes effect but have not yet received the Registration Certificate for Operation shall continue to operate in accordance with the laws at the time of application submission.

2. Libraries established before July 1, 2020 must be improved to meet the conditions for library establishment within the latest two years from the date this Decree takes effect.

Article 32. Effectiveness

1. This Decree takes effect from October 5, 2020.

2. Decree No. 72/2002/NĐ-CP dated August 6, 2002 of the Government detailing the implementation of the Library Ordinance; Decree No. 02/2009/NĐ-CP dated January 6, 2009 of the Government on the organization and operation of private libraries serving the community; and the provisions of Clause 5, Article 2 of Decree No. 01/2012/NĐ-CP dated January 4, 2012 of the Government amending, supplementing, replacing, or abolishing relevant administrative procedures within the scope of management functions of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall cease to be effective from the date this Decree takes effect.

Article 33. Responsibility for Implementation

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under the central government, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Decree./.