Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research, volume 196

Proceedings of the International Conference on Emerging Challenges: Business Transformation and

Circular Economy (ICECH 2021)

Digital Library Development: a Case Study of Ta Quang Buu Library of Hanoi

University of Science and Technology

Tran Thi Bich NGOC1, Duong Manh CUONG2*, Nguyen Thi NGAN3, Mai Thi UYEN4
1,2,4
School of Economics and Management of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
3
Ta Quang Buu Library of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract
Research purpose:
The purpose of the article is to introduce some theoretical issues of digital transformation related to the development of
digital libraries and propose measures such as evaluating library users, creating digital collections from endogenous and
exogenous sources, upgrading digital infrastructure of the library to enrich digital data sources for university’s digital
library
Research motivation:
The article aims to improve the service quality of the library of higher education institutions based on developing the
university's digital library system by combining the existing traditional library with the digital library system as well as
other databases in the country and abroad under the booming of digitalization and digital transformation.
Research design, approach and method:
The systematic literature review approach was applied in this study to briefly review the appearance and nature of the
concepts of digital transformation; methods of comparative analysis and case study are used to analyze the survey data to
find out the shortcomings of Ta Quang Buu Library in particular HEIs’ libraries, and then discuss the obtained results to
propose useful recommendations.
Main findings:
The case study of Ta Quang Buu Library of Hanoi University of Science and Technology shows that in order to improve
service quality, it is necessary to focus on the characteristics and habits of users, and improve the capacity and skills of
users. librarian, develop digital resources, finance IT infrastructure development as well as build database for E-learning in
the long term in cooperation with other libraries and databases.
Practical/managerial implications:
The article focuses on the development of university digital libraries in the digital era and look at solutions to create digital
libraries to improve the quality of library services.
Keywords: digitization, digitalization, digital transformation, digital library, information user, digital collection

1. INTRODUCTION Asia Pacific organizations surveyed in 2017 have

embarked on their DT journeys. Whilst majority of these
Under the impact of the Industrial Revolution 4.0, the
are still in early stages of DT, these organizations have
trend of digital transformation (DT) towards the digital
experienced significant benefits in productivity, profit
economy is taking place rapidly around the world. A
margin, cost reduction, customer loyalty, and revenue
study funded by Microsoft in 2017 shows that 85% of
growth of up to 17%. By 2021, 60% of Asia Pacific's

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 Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research, volume 196

GDP will be derived from digital products or services Science and Technology (HUST) as a case study to
created through DT. Over the same period, DT will add propose practical solutions for the creation and
0.8% annually to the region's GDP, or US$1.16 trillion development of universities’ DL in general.
(Daniel-Zoe et al, 2017).
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
In Vietnam, many remarkable achievements have been
made in the DT field in order to build a digital economy, Digitization, digitalization, digital transformation
digital community and digital society. The explosive Digitization, digitalization and digital transformation are
growth of information and communication technologies three terms often used interchangeably, and the concept
(ICTs) accelerates the processes towards a knowledge- of digitization was a general term. But in fact, they have
based economy and profoundly impacts the training different content in terms of coverage. Digitization is the
process in universities and poses new challenges for conversion of information from a physical or analog form
universities, students and faculty as well (Torres-Ruiz et to a digital format. It refers “to creating a digital
al, 2019). In the higher education system, the representation of physical objects or attributes”, or in
development of the digital university model is being other words, it is fundamental and is the process of
confirmed by the benefits and opportunities it brings to converting information from a physical format to digital
higher education institutions (HEIs), becoming an one. Digitalization refers to enabling or improving
inevitable trend while DT is taking place rapidly all over processes by leveraging digital technologies and digitized
the world in all fields, in which education is the priority data (Mateusz Hapon, 2020; Gupta, M.S., 2020).
sector as it is directly related to human resource training.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has been being This concept is concretized and interpreted in business.
protracted for a long time, affecting universities and According to Gartner – a Global Research and Advisory
pushing them accelerate the DT process, distance training Company, “Digitalization is the use of digital
and online training (e-learning). The development trend technologies to change a business model and provide
of digital university, in essence, is the DT process at new revenue and value-producing opportunities; it is the
different levels (Bui Thi Nga et al, 2020). process of moving to a digital business” (Gartner
Glossary). It means integration of digital technologies
Aiming at the dual goal of developing a digital into everyday life by the digitization of everything that
government, digital economy, and digital society, as well can be digitized and the use of data that has been
as forming Vietnamese digital technology enterprises transformed into digital format to improve business
with global competitiveness, the Government has processes (PYSDEN, 2018).
approved the “National Digital Transformation Program
by 2025, with a Vision toward 2030” (Decision No. In foreign literature, there are many different concepts of
749/QD-TTg of the Government dated June 3, 2020), DT. In terms of technology-business-customer
whereby, education is acknowledged as second priority relationship, most define DT as the process of using
sector among 8 priority areas for DT in Vietnam. digital technologies to transform existing traditional and
non-digital business processes or create new processes or
The content of DT in education is defined as developing services that respond to market developments and
digital technology platforms aimed at supporting remote customer expectations, radically changing the way
learning, teaching and personalized training and businesses are managed and operated, and how value is
managing university activities, digitalizing learning delivered to customers; it brings business benefits such as
materials, establishing platforms for online sharing improving customer experience, efficiency by reducing
teaching and learning resources. The process of DT and labor costs, and thus increasing competitiveness.
formation of digital universities in higher education (Whatfix; Daniel & Christopher, 2018). If consider DT as
inevitably entails the development of digital libraries a tool that changes people's lives, it is “a profound and
(DLs). accelerating transformation of business activities,
The purpose of the article is to examine theoretical issues processes, capabilities, business and organizational
related to the DT process and the developing university models to fully leverage the changes and opportunities
DL through analyzing the current situation of the Ta brought by digital technologies and their impact across
Quang Buu Library (TQBL) of Hanoi University of

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society in a strategic and prioritized way” (Demirkan et application of digitized data, digitized processes and new
al, 2016). technologies such as big data (Big Data), Internet of
Things (IoT), cloud computing, etc. to shifting from the
Essence of DT is a business process transformation
traditional operating model, leadership, working process,
enabled by digitalization and digitalization technologies.
and culture to a new model based on the digital platform
Hence, it covers both digitization and digitalization
and around the digital environment.
(Gupta, M.S., 2020). In other words, DT is the

Digital
Transformation

Digitalization

Digitization

Figure 1: Digital transformation pyramid

Source: Gupta, M.S. (2020)
In terms of content, DT is considered to be the result of through five facets: focus, goal, activity, tools, and
digitization and digitalization of economic and social challenges (Table 1).
processes (OECD, 2019).
The comparative analysis of the content presented in
As explained by Dobrica Savic (2019), there was a time Table 1 shows that DT has an overarching meaning,
when all three terms were used almost interchangeably, including digitization and digitalization. It affects the
especially the two terms digitization and digitalization. organizational structure, leading to the adjustment or
Later, DT has an overarching connotation, in which breaking of the old business model, bringing about
digitization and digitalization are its constituent significant organizational changes, especially in business
components and considers them to be the terms in the DT strategy through applying digital technology.
of an organization. For clarity, each term is reviewed
Table 1: Digitization, digitalization, and digital transformation reviewed through five aspects: focus, goal, activity, tools,
and challenges
Digitization Digitalization Digital transformation
Focus Data conversion Information processing Knowledge leveraging
Goal Change analog to digital format Automate existing business Change company's culture, the
operations and processes way it works and thinks
Convert paper documents,
Creation of completely digital
Creation of a new digital
Activity photos, microfilms, LPs, films, work processes
company or transformation to a
and VHS tapes to digital format digital one

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Tools Conversion/encoding equipment; IT systems and computer Matrix of new (currently

applications disruptive) digital technologies

Examples Scanning paper-based Completely electronic Everything electronic, from

registration forms registration process registration to content delivery
Source: Dobrica Savic (2019 )
The process of DT is happening in all sectors, and theoretical construct. And it suggests “a binary
education as well as higher education is no exception. DT distinction between universities supported by new
in HEIs is a process of technological and organizational information and communication technologies, based on
changes, mainly due to the development of digital computing, and previous universities founded on
technology aimed at redesigning educational services and analogue technologies up to and including television and
renovating the operational modes of higher education telecommunications” (Jones, C., 2013). Regarding the
(Menendez et al, 2016; Kuzu, 2020). Changing teaching content of digital university, Oslo Metropolitan
methods in a digital environment can be more beneficial University, Norway sets out the university's goals as: (1)
for encouraging students to interact in learning (Helena providing new knowledge - new practice in the digital
& Pedro, 2019). DT supports educational renovation by era and knowledge to solve social problems festival; (2)
reducing lectures, increasing self-study and personalized activating the power of innovation, ensuring digital
learning, creating learning opportunities anywhere, adaptability through individual empowerment measures
anytime and contributing to creation of life-long learning and modern infrastructure; (3) create profound new
society (To Hong Nam, 2020). knowledge (personalized learning) among students,
faculty and staff through the intelligent use of data; (4)
In order to survive and thrive in the digital age, HEIs
saving time for students, faculty and staff through
need to apply information technology to their operations
simplification, automation and standardization (OMU,
and adhere to a more comprehensive approach, in which
2018).
the level of technology and digital literacy among
students and faculty is particularly emphasized. It is not Considering the university as a corporation, DT in HEIs
enough to just select a few areas of digitization. HEIs have gained special priority with the goal of changing
need to simultaneously carry out the following steps: teaching, learning and university governance models,
digitizing data, digitizing educational processes and which result in changes in all aspects such as teaching,
enhancing the digitization capacity of students and infrastructure, curriculum, administration, research,
lecturers (PWC, 2018). business process, human resource, DT governance,
information, and marketing (Maria, 2012). The formation
Looking back on history, the changes of HEIs have been
of a digital university is also a result of the ongoing DT
being closely related to scientific and technical progress
in education sector.
especially in the digital age. Since 1971, the problem that
universities began to cease to be in a stable state was Digital Library
raised by Donald Schön in his book (1973). At the same
Since 1924, Harold L. Leupp considered that the library
time, the futurist Alvin Toffler (1971) confidently
is the heart of the university as it is the place that
predicted that the information age would force
provides knowledge for teaching and learning, and
universities to adapt to “accelerating pace of change”, to
scientific research for lecturers/faculty and students
preparing for the life-long learning. John, S.B. & Paul D.
(Harold,1924). Currently, academic publishing has
(1996) have envisioned the appearance of new university
moved beyond the paper-based stage, shifting from the
model in the digital age when the application of
digital development phase to the service-based stage in
information technologies, computer terminals and the use
connection with the world's leading databases.
of the PC as a smart typewriter appeared in the library.
Waters D.J. (1998) based on ICT development, defined
There is no complete definition of a digital university
that “Digital libraries are organizations that provide the
until now. Chris Jones’ and Goodfellow, Robin (2012)
resources, including the specialized staff, to select,
have considered the term “digital university” as a
structure, offer intellectual access, interpret, distribute,
discursive construction, empirical phenomenon and
preserve the integrity of, and ensure the persistence over

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time of collections of digital works so that they are Emphasizing the technical features of DL in education,
readily and economically available for use by a defined UNESCO (2006) defines it as “a collection of a very
community or set of communities”. Gary Cleveland large number of digital objects, comprising all types of
(1998) synthesized the opinions presented in the research material and media, which are stored in distributed
of many scholars such as Graham (1995), Lynch and information repositories and accessed through national
Garcia-Molina (1995), Chepesuik (1997) and argued that computer networks”, and “a large collection of
DLs have the following characteristics: information that has been stored in digital form”. It can
include documents, images, sounds, and information
a) DLs are the digital face of traditional
gathered from ongoing events. University DL play an
libraries that include digital collections
important role in teaching and learning because of two
and traditional, fixed media collections,
advantages: (1) reusability of resources: teachers can
whether the collections are in digital or
share digital resources in ways that are not possible with
paper format;
paper documents; (2) easy integration by students into
b) DLs will also include digital materials
learning and research works. However, the ease of
of other DLs;
integration is an opportunity, facilitating richer learning
c) DLs will include all the processes and
subjects, and a threat, making it easier for students to
services that are converted to digital
plagiarize.
platforms; and
d) DLs will serve the wider community The core of smart library in the era of Industry 4.0 is the
through the network. ability to flexibly meet the needs of information users on
the basis of digital information resources and online
The concept of a DL has also been gradually improved
information services. (Vu Duy Hiep, 2018). Furthermore,
with its existence. Joan M. Reitz (2004) in his Online
digital materials on the internet can be used in
Dictionary for Library and Information Science has given
educational applications, but will not be presented in the
the definition of DL as “a library in which a significant
same controlled environment as materials in a DL.
proportion of the resources is available in machine-
Therefore, lecturers need to introduce the information
readable format (as opposed to print or microform),
collected in the DL to focus students' activities and
accessible by means of computers. The digital content
participation in controlling resource usage (Gary &
may be locally held or accessed remotely via computer
Hermann (1995).
networks”. Later, it is described as an online database of
digital objects that may include text, still images, audio, According to the Vietnam Law No. 46/2019/QH14 on
video, digital documents and other digital media formats, Libraries 2019, DL means “a library or a section of a
or a library accessible via the internet (Savanur & library having information resources which have been
Nagaraj, 2004). So, it is also known as online library, processed and stored in digital formats for users to access
internet library, virtual library, or digital collection. and use via electronic devices and online” (Article 3).
This given concept seems to cover the content of existing
The university DL definition introduced by Vincenzo M.
definitions of DL.
and Fausto G. (2016) considered it as “a set of important
resources, methodologies and tools appropriately
3. METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS
organized to effectively support users of information of
the university” and interpreted it as a natural extension of The systematic literature review approach was applied in
the DL, that is, taking advantage of the strengths and this study to briefly review the appearance and nature of
expanding the range of DL to serve all information users. the concepts of digitization, digitalization and DT, and
This view is based on the argument that the DL is a place the scholars’ arguments on the concept, content and goals
to store learning materials (related scientific works; of digital universities and DLs.
references, lesson plans, personal information, etc.) The research team has collaborated with TQBL staff and
relevant in the country and the world) and is a place users - students to conduct surveys on information users'
through which access to other universities’ DLs and other habits, the types of documents they often refer to, and
large databases in the country and the world (Kumbhar, assess the current state of TQBL, especially its digital
2014). section of library and digital infrastructure; methods of

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comparative analysis and case study are used to analyze percentage of users, but they play an important role in the
the survey data to find out the weak points and university operation. This users’ group participates in
shortcomings of TQBL in particular and university both administrative work and scientific research or
libraries in HEIs in general, discuss the obtained results teaching, so they do not have much time to go to the
to propose useful recommendations to create a library; their information needs are very diverse because
universities' DLs, keeping up with the ongoing trend of they are both information users and information
DL development in the world. providers.
2) Lecturers and researchers belong to the group of
4. CURRENT STATUS OF TA QUANG BUU
highly qualified information users with high academic
LIBRARY
degrees involved in teaching, advising students, research
To study current issues related to the development of projects and are the authors of lectures and textbooks.
university digital libraries, the research team applied a Therefore, they need updated information specialized in
case study, selecting TQBL of HUST, the leading the fields of the works they undertake. This user group is
university among Vietnamese HEIs. Examining the accessing the database of university DL with high
TQBL current situation, the research team focuses on volume and frequency. Therefore, they are granted an
analyzing factors affecting library services such as account and use the Library's DL (e-resources) through
information users’ specialties, characteristics of digital the university's IP range.
information resources, access rights and digital
3) Postgraduates and students. The information that
infrastructure.
postgraduates need is mainly specialized material
Information Users’ Specialties relevant to their study program or research topic, such as:
The main TQBL information users are all HUST staff, reference books, specialized journals, theses, etc. Most of
lecturers, students and other objects. As of January 2020, them require a specific form of library service because
the University has 1,748 staff members and lecturers, they cannot be separated from their daily work.
more than 30,000 full-time students and more than 5,000 Students are the main library users. New teaching
postgraduates, who are classified into 4 main groups, and methods and credit-based training in universities require
each group has its own characteristics and information lecturers to impart basic knowledge and advise students
needs. on research directions to promote the initiative and
1) Leadership and administrative staff. This group creativity of each student, encouraging them to visit the
includes the Board of Directors, heads and deputy heads library regularly to complete weekly, monthly, semester
of faculties and institutes. Although making up a small or group assignments.
Table 2: Demands of student information users for different types of documents

Type of documents Number of respondents Proportion

Paper - based resources 132/171 77,6%

Endogenous electronic documents 54 31,7%

Online electronic database 37 24,1%

Source: TQB Library, survey in May 2019

The users’ survey conducted by TQBL in 2019 shows materials (Table 2). Only nearly 35% of respondents
that students are mainly TQBL users, accounting for regularly use digital libraries and online resources (Table
90%. However, most of them need paper-based learning 3).

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Table.3: Level and type of library materials used by students

Type of materials frequently Sometimes Seldom

Number of % Number of % Number of %

respondents respondents respondents

Specialized References 111/171 65.3 33/171 19,4 26/171 15.3

Textbooks 132 77.7 22 12.9 16 9.4

Master's and Doctoral Theses 57 33.6 22 12.9 91 53.5

Economic and social theme 55 32.4 24 14.1 91 53.5

Literary and artistic works 54 31.8 20 11.7 96 56.5

Foreign language, informatics, 81 47.7 20 11.7 69 40.6

Online database, Ebrary 59 34.7 30 17.6 81 47.7

Source: TQB Library, survey in May 2019

The main reason is that they have not been granted an Characteristics of Digital Information Resources in
account for remote access to online electronic databases TQBL
and full-text viewing rights and their skills in searching
According to the Law No. 46/2019/QH14 on Libraries
for information on the internet are not yet complete,
2019, an information resource is defined as “a collection
which affects their online learning skills and personalized
of documents and data of various types, including print
learning.
documents, handwritten documents, audio-visual
4) Group of non-university users. In addition to documents, digital documents, microform documents
university’ staff, lecturers, and students, TQBL also including microfilm and microfiche, special documents
serves non-university users. To use the library, this for people with disabilities, and other documents and
private users group must register and receive a library data”. By definition, TQBL information resources can be
card. Their information needs are also very diverse in all divided into 2 main sections.
areas. Therefore, it is necessary to grasp their information
Section 1: traditional information resources - paper-based
needs to proactively introduce and advise appropriate
documents. This section includes traditional literature by
products and services as well as how to exploit and
specific disciplines and traditional literature by document
search for information in TQBL.
type as illustrated in Figure 2 and Table 4. Since HUST
In order to serve the quality of information provision, is considered the largest university of science and
university library must conduct a review and assessment technology in the country, its library's information
of the above information user groups’ characteristics and resources mainly consist of scientific and technical
demand for information and make measures to meet their literature, accounting for about 81%, and social science
multiple needs. literature comprises 19% based on the TQBL statistics.

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Social
science
literature
19%
Scientific
and
Technologica
l literature
81%

Figure 2: Traditional paper-based literature by subjects

Source: Ta Quang Buu Library, 2019
Table 4: Traditional literature proportion by type
Type Total (unit) Proportion %
Textbooks 231,153 34.74
Books 162,101 24.37
Newspapers, journal 252,329 37.91
Theses and dissertations 19,851 2.98
Source: Ta Quang Buu Library, 2020
Section 2: digital information resources including digital and realizing the importance of endogenous digital
documents and digital collections database developed by resources, TQBL has persistently digital collections from
TQBL (bibliographic database: more than 60,000 records the university's endogenous sources over the years.
and full-text database with more than 13,000 records)
Since 2009, TQBL has used the open source software
and databases ordered by projects or through Union
Dspace to build and access digital collections with more
Library (ScienceDirect Database, ProQuest Central
than 13,000 digital documents in 3 collections: master
Database, Ebrary Academic Complete, CD, floppy disk
and doctoral theses’ collection defended at HUST;
including 16,000 records in 15,000 discs. The current
electronic lecture collection includes electronic lectures
structure of the TQBL endogenous sources Database
written or compiled by university faculty; and a
includes three components: electronic lectures, doctoral
collection of articles, scientific publications and research
and master theses arranged by specialties (Figure 5, in
works conducted by university staff and students.
blue). Digital resources of TQBL are still very limited in
quantity and type compared with traditional section. Access rights

Digitizing documents and building digital collections is An open service policy for endogenous materials and
the optimal choice for long-term preservation of rare which has granted full text access to all HUST’
original documents. It can be said that the core of DL is a information user is being developed by TQBL. However,
digital repository or digital collections, because DL is the library's server is frequently overloaded due to its old
essentially a digitized information repository, structured age that limits concurrent remote access. For remote
for easy access over computer networks or access, users need to contact with the TQBL manager for
telecommunications network (Jie & Bao, 2012). Being an account and password to be able to log in to view the
the largest university of science and technology in the full text. Therefore, non-university users with remote
country, HUST always attaches great importance to the access to this resource are restricted, and they can only
quality of training and scientific research and considers it view the bibliography (first 16 pages), while HUST staff
a top criterion in its activities. Stemming from that goal and students can view the full text of endogenous

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materials directly at the TQBL or the university’s IP In addition to the collections built by TQBL and shared
range computers. In the coming time, TQBL will purchased databases, it also partners with international
continue to submit to the university Board of Directors to publishers to test the use of their electronic databases
clarify the issue of copyright between the authors and the such as IGI Global, ASME, Taylor & Francis databases,
library to provide open access to the source without and links with electronic information resources from the
violating Law on Copyright. Information Centers of the Hanoi National University
Library and the Library of Hanoi University of Culture,
To help university staff, faculty and students make more
etc.
use of other useful e-resources, TQBL has collaborated
with other universities to share the Ebrary Academic Library Digital Infrastructure
Ebook database, and join the Alliance Association of
The internal assessment of the library staff on the state of
Vietnam Electronic Resource Libraries using the same
the library's general infrastructure shows that it is
Proquest Central Common Database; TQBL is one of
maintained in good condition, including four indicators
three university libraries that have free access to the
of digital infrastructure such as computer, internet and
SienceDirect database under the auspices of the Ministry
intranet systems and server.
of Science and Technology.
Figure 3: library staff evaluation on the current state of the library general infrastructure (in %)

80 71 69 69
57
60 51 49
40 34 29 31 29
23 20 25
15 12 14
20 6 6
0
Working area Air conditioning Computer internet system Intranet system Server
and ventilation system
system

excellent Good Not good

Source: Library staff survey in 2019

TQBL's digital infrastructure refers to hardware, software play an important role, determining the quality and
and data transmission line. efficiency of the library's operation. The DL development
requires a human resource capable of working in a
 Hardware. The library’ Dell R720 server used
network environment with digital data sources and
since 2016 is not configurable to meet the needs of large
network-connected computer devices. In other words,
concurrent access of users; RAM overflow leads to jam
human resources in the digital environment need to be
or loss of connection when there is a lot of traffic to the
able to select, add, process, organize, store, preserve,
server.
secure and archive digital collections, that is, create
 Software is one of the indispensable and
digital collections, digital products and organize modern
increasingly important elements to develop digital
digital services for easy exploitation anytime, anywhere
resource. TQBL is one of three libraries in Vietnam that
(Sreenivasulu, 2000).
use Sierra management software and Dspace considered
as most user-friendly, suitable for libraries and Ta Quang Buu Library has 33 staff as of 2020, a decrease
information users. The library always plans to upgrade of two compared to 2019. However, there are only 5
the software to manage digital resources. people, including 01 ICT master, 04 masters who work in
the digital section of the library and are in charge of
Library Human Resources
installing software, repairing computers, connecting to
Librarians are an indispensable human resource in any the network, managing digital collections, receiving and
library, whether it is a traditional library or a DL. They cataloging endogenous digital documents.

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Figure 4. Chart of TQB librarian's ability to use different software (in %)

High skilled Skilled Not skillful

63
54 57
49 51 46 49
43 40
37 37 34 34
26
20 17
14 14 9
6
0

MS Word MS Excel MS Explorer Sierra VTLS Dspace Koha

Source: Ta Quang Buu Library, 2020

The management of the DL, ensuring the smooth regulations on the submission of endogenous sources to
operation of the library, providing the ability to access the library; (c) creating conditions for librarians to study
digital resources to users most effectively is the and improve their professional qualifications.
librarians’ function. However, the limited proficiency in
The role of librarians is affirmed in any library, whether
using library software as shown in Figure 4 cannot fully
it is a traditional library or a local library because they
meet the job requirements. Moreover, although the
have a direct influence on the creation and preservation
digital section of TQBL is an important part, but the
of digital collections, service quality and efficient
number of librarians working there is only 5 people, too
operation of the library. It is necessary to create
small to perform their duties.
conditions for librarians to improve their working skills
and comprehensive qualifications, focusing on on-the-job
5. DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION
training and the librarian participation in training courses,
The problems faced by TQBL in the case study on the conferences, meetings and seminars organized by Library
status of TQBL reflect the prevailing situation of other Information Centers.
university libraries, showing a lot of experience for
Information user training implies instruction for library
university libraries and suggesting a problem-solving
users to help them know the organization, operation of
approach to become a DL in the digital age. As one of
library services and effectively access information
the important HUST units with the desire to become a
resources. User skills training content should focus on
leading DL among university libraries in Vietnam, TQBL
organizing online support through instructions in the
needs to implement various solutions to solve the
form of text, images, videos or seminars, conferences and
challenges and inadequacies that affect the development
through user feedback to capture their information needs
and service quality of the library.
to improve the library's products and services.
Human Factor
Creating and Developing Digital Collections
The human factor is the most important in DL
Creating and developing digital collections based on
development. University leadership support is a
exogenous and endogenous digital information sources of
prerequisite for solving the shortage of ICT professionals
disciplines and training majors of HUST are considered a
among library staff and other problems related to human
synchronous method to enrich TQBL digital information
factor.
sources. Compared with traditional information sources,
The support of leaders of universities is reflected in such TQBL electronic information sources account for a low
aspects as: (a) funding the development of digital proportion. TQBL plans to collect and develop its own
information resources and the upgrading material - DL, concentrating on digitizing books, collecting
technical facilities for library operation; (b) formulating endogenous information sources from other centers and

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open libraries. This is a useful experience in developing electronic lectures, doctoral theses and master's theses
DL for any university library. arranged by specialties (Figure 3, in blue).
Current structure of the endogenous database of the
HUST’s TQBL includes only three components:

Digital Library Database from

Endogenous Sources

E-lectures Doctoral theses Scientific research works

Master theses
Sorted in Sorted in (articles, reports, conference
Sorted in
specialties specialties proceedings, seminar
specialties
materials, etc.)

Figure 5: Structure of the Digital Library Database from endogenous sources

Source: Ta Quang Buu Library
However, it should be noted that an extremely large theses, graduation projects, internship reports,
endogenous source is scientific research works, theses, etc. This saves money and time to enrich the
reports, and conference proceedings, seminar materials library's digital archives.
compiled or published by the staff, lecturers, researchers c) Sharing digital resources. In the context of
and students stored somewhere in the faculties, institutes, limited funding, exchanging and sharing digital
and centers of the university and not yet collected by the resources with other information centers and
library. Many textbooks and learning materials brought libraries is a very important and necessary
into the library are still in paper based form. They need to measure to enrich digital resources. However,
be digitized to enrich the library's endogenous digital this activity needs to be concretized with an
archives. Therefore, the research team proposes to add a appropriate policy to avoid violating Law on
fourth component (Figure 5, in brown) to the endogenous Copyright.
source structure.
Digital Infrastructure Upgrade Policy
Along with collecting endogenous sources, enriching the
Regularly upgrading the digital infrastructure of the
library with exogenous digital resources should be
library should be taken seriously to prepare for future
considered as a practical measure. The survey shows that
information needs. TQBL’s statistics show that the
50% of information users have a need to refer to digital
number of online visits to the library digital database is
textbooks and reference books that cannot be found in
relatively large with nearly 3 million in 12 months.
the e-library of TQBL. The development of exogenous
However, Dell R720 server is outdated and often causes
digital resources for the library can be addressed by:
network congestion; Dspace software frequently
a) funding for the purchase of electronic databases. encounters overload problems, resulting in interrupted
Libraries need to select high-quality databases user service. Therefore, HUST and TQBL leaders should
verified with international standards such as have a strategy for a long-term funding and policies to
IEEE, WoS, Scopus, etc. provide new library equipment and regularly upgrade
b) Searching and collecting free, high-quality hard ware and software of library computer system.
digital materials from open learning sources
Besides, it is necessary to make a policy on exploiting
such as digital materials, digital collections of
digital TQBL’s resources in the near future because at
monographs, scientific research results,
this time only users of the university can have free access
textbooks, lectures, articles in specialized
to exploit digital resources within HUST's IP range. This
journals, scientific conference proceedings,

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limitation somewhat hinders the accessibility of digital the application of assessment models to develop the
resources by non-university users. Legal issues of university DL system in Vietnamese HEIs.
author's copyright related to materials collected by TQBL
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
clarified to ensure that the library does not infringe
copyright; there should be a plan to provide open access This work was supported by the School of Economics
to endogenous sources in the future. and Management of Hanoi University of Science and
Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam (Project No. T-2021-PC-
Building Database for E-learning 054): “Quality assessment of Ta Quang Buu Digital
Library, s service”.
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