Dr Prof Tran Huu Nghi noted that many schools in Vietnam still make big investments in developing libraries, despite their difficult conditions.

With a library, teachers and, students have a place to seek information and materials for study. Developing libraries is one of the conditions to ensure better training quality.

Nghi’s opinion is opposed to the view that library nowadays no longer play an important role in studying and teaching.

On an education forum, some members commented that libraries are just storehouses which contain books and need to be removed.

Tien Phong newspaper cited a report as showing that the budget for library development at many schools is less than 2-3 percent of regular expenses.

Le Huu Lap, former Deputy Director of the Post and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (PTIT), commented that a library is necessary for university students, lecturers and researchers.

In Vietnam, despite financial difficulties, the schools which attach importance to training and research quality all develop libraries in a methodical and effective way.

In Vietnam, despite financial difficulties, the schools which attach importance to training and research quality all develop libraries in a methodical and effective way.

However, the number of such schools remains modest. Most schools set up libraries just to meet current regulations, and don’t make regular investments in the libraries.

Education experts believe that libraries should be structured in a modern way. They said it is necessary to build open libraries with open documents.

With open libraries, not only students and lecturers of one school but students and lecturers from other schools and other provinces can use the same documents if they observe regulations.

Asked if schools in Vietnam are capable of building open universities, Nghi said it would not be too costly.

“With open libraries, those who need documents will be able to access the database from everywhere, even on Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai province, and they will not have to pay a fee,” he said.

“It will require moderate land area to develop open libraries. Besides books, journals and textbooks, there would be soft files for people to use. Students won’t have to come to libraries to read books, but they can still access knowledge,” Nghi said.

Linh Ha

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