Digital transformation in library activities contributes to promoting and developing reading culture

Nghe An Newspaper has recorded some opinions of managers and experts in the Library industry.around this issue.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Gioi - Chairman of Vietnam Library Association: "It is necessary to seriously study the issue of digital library transformation"

Throughout the history of traditional libraries, reader service activities have been based on a “one-way” principle: Libraries and knowledge and information stores remain in one place; while readers have to travel to the library to read and borrow documents… The above story has begun to change in the opposite direction, when traditional library activities in Vietnam as well as in the world have seen strong intervention from computers and the application of information technology in library operations; when libraries have shifted strongly to building electronic libraries - digital libraries - virtual libraries, in order to serve readers in society better, faster and more effectively.

From that reality, if libraries in Vietnam do not change the way they provide services and operate, they will certainly face a shortage of readers and will find it difficult to fulfill their mission of providing information and knowledge to people, organizations and businesses effectively.

The biggest difficulty in Vietnam today is that it has not yet developed an open access policy and formed open document sources on a wide scale; digital document resources and the sharing of digital data among libraries are still limited. Therefore, it is necessary to study this issue seriously and scientifically, in order to "turn danger into opportunity", build and develop a network of connections, common sharing, and unification of libraries, bringing practical effects to society. In addition, it is important to have a team of library staff who are proficient in their profession, good at applying technology and digital transformation in the national library system.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dung - Director of the National Library of Vietnam: "It is necessary to expand the application of information technology to provincial and municipal libraries across the country"

It can be seen that currently, Vietnamese libraries are developing from traditional to modern library models. This change brings many benefits to users and libraries, contributing significantly to promoting social development. For the National Library of Vietnam, digital transformation will be a "golden" opportunity to affirm its position and enhance its important role in Vietnamese society in general and the Vietnamese library industry in particular.

For many years, the National Library has built a space to access digital databases and the Internet to serve library users. Accordingly, library users can use dozens of computers connected to a private Internet channel; use CD and DVD databases on basic fields; access online and full-text databases that the National Library has purchased access rights to and created. This model has been operating effectively for decades and is a model that libraries across the country have studied and learned.

In addition, at the end of 2016, the National Library officially opened the "S.hub Sharing Space". This is considered a perfect model in combining technological equipment with the library's knowledge resources and orientation and inspirational activities to create a space for learning and sharing knowledge for young people.

After effectively implementing information technology application activities, the National Library proposed to the leaders of the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) to expand the application of information technology to provincial and municipal libraries nationwide. The National Library has built feasible projects, suitable for the level of information technology development in each period and suitable for the requirements of provincial libraries to equip information infrastructure and train IT staff for provincial and municipal libraries.

Thereby, linking computerization right at the National Library with the entire public library system, aiming to unify the operations and move towards using the results of technical document processing on the National Library's computers and the public library system, thereby spreading to other library systems to move towards building a national union catalog of Vietnam.

Mr. Tran Thanh Phong - Deputy Director of Thua Thien - Hue Provincial General Library: "Digital transformation has a positive impact on promoting the development of reading culture"

In recent years, in addition to investing in upgrading the information technology infrastructure at the unit, Thua Thien - Hue Provincial General Library has synchronously deployed document processing stages on electronic library management software; enhanced promotion and communication about the library on social networking applications such as fanpage, zalo, facebook and on the library's website.

In the work of displaying and introducing specialized books, the Library has also applied QR code scanning with digitized books to display and exhibit documents for readers. The Library has also deployed the issuance of online reader cards on the application software through QR code scanning to create the best convenience for readers when registering for cards and also shorten the time in the process of issuing reader cards.

It can be seen that digital transformation in library activities at the Thua Thien - Hue Provincial General Library in recent times has had a positive impact on promoting the development of reading culture. This is also a premise for the Library to continue promoting digital transformation in professional activities, perfecting and developing digital data platforms, digital technology... contributing to increasing the accessibility of resources stored at the unit to readers, creating conditions for readers and all classes of people to access information anywhere, anytime.

Mr. Nguyen Vinh Quang - Director of Nghe An Library: "Specific guidance on copyright enforcement and intellectual property law in digital library transformation is needed"

For many years, Nghe An Provincial Library has applied information technology to library operations. However, the unit is using Ilib 6.0 Library Management Software, which has been equipped for a long time, but has now revealed limitations in the operation process. During the use, the Provincial Library has also upgraded, but because the software is built on an old technology platform, upgrading the software is difficult and still does not meet current requirements.

On September 14, 2022, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 630/KH-UBND promulgating a plan to digitally transform the public library system in Nghe An province by 2025, with a vision to 2030, with the goal of strongly and comprehensively applying information technology, especially digital technology, to improve the operational capacity of the library system in the province, build and develop the Provincial Library into an electronic library, complete and develop digital infrastructure and digital data, meeting the needs of users.

Currently, Nghe An Provincial Library is implementing phase 1 of the above plan, including: Investing in equipment and information technology infrastructure; building electronic library software, converting old technology platforms to new, modern technology platforms in accordance with current standards; implementing interconnection, sharing of library information resources and products according to functions, tasks, and cooperation documents; having an electronic information page providing online services.

In my opinion, in order for digital transformation in Nghe An Library in particular and libraries across the country in general to be implemented effectively, in addition to supporting resources, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism needs to issue specific and detailed instructions on the enforcement of copyright and the Law on Intellectual Property in digital transformation of libraries. In addition, it is necessary to develop a suitable training program framework, organize training for leaders, managers, and direct workers to meet the needs of digital transformation in the library sector...

Ms. Kieu Thuy Nga - Director of the Library Department (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism): "Libraries need to continue to coordinate, share and support each other in digital transformation"

In the current context, with the strong development of mass media, reading culture is facing challenges because the dominance of audiovisual culture has affected the number of readers coming to the library. Therefore, libraries must constantly improve and enhance the quality of services and service models to attract readers to use the library, in which it is necessary to focus on digital transformation activities. Successfully implementing digital transformation in the library industry, promoting and developing reading culture is extremely necessary in today's 4.0 industrial era.

Hopefully, in the coming time, libraries will continue to coordinate, share and support each other in professional activities and digital transformation work; pay attention to developing the network of grassroots libraries, and perform well the task of circulating books and newspapers in remote areas, ethnic minority areas and Border Guard stations. From there, creating a national information library ecosystem, contributing to the process of building and developing reading culture in particular and cultural career in general in the 4.0 industrial era./.