School of Media, Culture and Creative Arts Department of Information Studies Academic Library Consortia in Vietnam: Historical Context, Current State and the Prospect for Development Hoang Thi Thuc This thesis is presented for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Curtin University April 2015 DECLARATION To the best of my knowledge and belief this thesis contains no material previously published by any other person except where due acknowledgment has been made. This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university. a Hoang Thi Thuc Date ABSTRACT The use of library consortia, an enhanced form of library cooperation, has become a strategic choice made by many academic libraries internationally in order to improve access to a wide range of content and services. By adopting the use of consortia academic libraries have utilised their combined purchasing and operational capacity to optimise their contribution to twenty-first century learning and research.
The implementation of consortia has not, however, been consistently applied between countries. Some developing countries in particular have been slow to realise and achieve the benefits offered by consortia, due to a variety of issues including the comparatively poor state of technology and other infrastructure; existing low levels of library cooperation and collaboration; and local social, cultural and political factors. This research investigated whether Vietnam, as an example of a developing country with limited history of academic library cooperation, is able to adopt and successfully develop consortia as a model to improve access to content and the delivery of services. The research used a mixed methods approach in a two-phase sequential research design consisting of a questionnaire and interviews to collect data relevant to addressing the research question: Are library consortia suited as a means of cooperation by Vietnamese academic libraries, and if so how can they be successfully developed and implemented? The findings provide a picture of the current and likely future state of cooperation and consortia among Vietnamese academic libraries, and support the view that they have not as yet adopted consortial activities as a standard business practice suited to the contemporary scholarly information environment.
As a result the development and implementation of high-quality library content and services are hindered to an extent that impacts upon the nation’s teaching and research productivity. Findings also suggest that although Vietnamese libraries are facing a variety of endemic difficulties, the use of consortia is a pragmatic and feasible approach to improve content and services and support academic institutions in their quest to underpin national development by improving teaching, learning and research. Based on the findings of the research, a set of recommendations is provided with the aim of assisting the future development of academic library consortia in Vietnam. 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In recalling the lengthy process of bringing this thesis to its completion, I acknowledge the debt that I owe many people.
I wish therefore to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to these individuals for their invaluable support. My foremost thanks should be delivered to Emeritus Professor Patricia Oyler, who by her various efforts and support for formal and informal cooperation among Vietnamese librarieswas the inspiration for my engagement with this research. I would also like to convey my great thanks to Associate Professor Kerry Smith for her supervision during the initial stage of my research. Her great enthusiasm and support made the early period of my research far less stressful than would otherwise have been the case.
I reserve my deepest gratitude for my supervisor, Associate Professor Paul Genoni, for his invaluable support throughout my research. His wisdom and academic guidance have led me to the right way. Without his insightful comments, suggestions and inputs, this thesis would have not been completed. His kind assistance and persistent support have been crucial in my most difficult situations.
I feel privileged to have had Associate Professor Genoni shepherd me through this process. I owe him a huge intellectual debt that I will only be able to reimburse with my further achievements in my academic work and future research. My special thanks also go to my associate supervisor Dr Gaby Haddowfor her generous assistance whenever I required her support. I would like to extend my grateful thanks to the Thesis Committee members for preparation of all necessities for my thesis submission and examination.
I am thankful to all of my Vietnamese colleagues who were generous with their time and enthusiasm when participating in the survey and the interviews which were essential to my research. I would also like to extend my further appreciation to those who have expressed their willingness to cooperate in any application of my current research as well as any future research. My special thanks go to Mr Pham The Khang for his assistance with valuable information and documents. 11 I am profoundly grateful to my home university, the Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, whose special and persistent support has provided spiritual sustenance throughout my study.
I would like to express my particular thanks to the Board of Presidents; the Department of Human Resources; the Department of Administration Affairs, and the Department of Research and Development. I would like to acknowledge the devotion of my colleague Pham Van Trien, the Deputy Director of the Central Library, in handling all the hard work when I was absent from my workplace. Sincere thanks to Nguyen Hong Sinh for her contributions as another Deputy Director of the library. Many thanks go to Huynh Thi My Phuong; Do Hoang Trieu; Do Chanh Trung; Vo Thi Kim Yen; Phan Thi Hong Hanh; Ninh Thi Kim Duyen; Hoang Thi Hong Nhung; Ngo Thi Be Sau; Nguyen Thi To Quyen; and Phan Nguyen Duy An for their particular assistance.
My sincere and heartfelt thanks go to my best friends who have assisted me in the numerous ways required of a true friendship. Their names are listed with warmest sentiment: Ha and his wife, Thom; Chi and her husband, anh Sac; Cuong and her husband, anh Ngu; chi Nguyet; Phuong and Thong; Tien; anh Truyen and his wife, chi Mai; Edith and her husband, Randy. I would like to acknowledge, with gratitude and love, the endless sacrifice of my late Dad and my Mum. My exceptional thanks are reserved to my husband, Trung; my son, Phuc; and my little daughter, Khanh who gave up their routine life to accompany me on this long journey.
Last but not least, I convey my thanks to all those who have helped me in some ways but whose names can’t be included within the limited space of these acknowledgements. Finally, I affirm that it is my responsibility for any possible flaws or errors in this thesis. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 90. 1 ABSTRACT 0c ceecescsseesseesneesseesseeccecaeesneceecssecsaeesseceseesaeesaeesseesaeesseesseeeneeeneersaes il ACKNOWLEDGEMENTTS.
SH HH HH TH TH HH Hiệp iii TABLE OF CONTENTTS. HH TH HH TH TH HH HH HH kh Vv LIST OF TABLES 1010157. X LIST OF FIGURES 11157. Xili CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .-- 1S HH Hệ, 1 I0 oi.
Statement of the issue oo. Terms and definitions .- c1 k1 19 11t vn HT HT Hàn TH nàn Hành 4 I NHI) ốc cu. Significance of the research 00. Research design na.
Presentation of Chapf€TS. St 211111911515 111151111111 11 11 11111111 11 HH 10 CHAPTER 2 RESEARCH BACKGROUND.-- Ăc HH ke, 12 PIN 1n. Admimistration SÿSf€IN. Overview of Vietnamese libraries.
cess - + tk ST HH rkp 22 2. Libraries and librarians. --- -- + +11 9E về TT TH giết 22 2. Legal framework and legal documents.
Library education and fa1n1TE.---- + + 2x 1 9v ng nh nh HH nưkt 25 2. Organisation of academic libraries. Academic libraries, quality assurance and accredifation. Brief history of library development under major historical perlods.
Library cooperative arrangements in Viefnaim. 42 CHAPTER 3 LITERATURE REVIEW. Consortia as a ph€nOI€TON. Development of library cooperation and consortia 3.
The roles and functions of library ConSOrtia 2. Reasons for the formation of, and participation in, library consortia. Benefits of library COTSOTIA. Types and models of COTSOTia.
Common services provided by library CORSOFIA. Issues of library cooperation and CO'SOTIA. Án TH TH TT TT HT TT TH HT TT TH Hàng 70 S8. Budget and ẨundIng.
- --- -- - c c1 3t 3231151131851 1 119111 11 11 11111111 ghi ng nh 74 3. Cost sharing models and ÍOrrmuÌl4S. Obstacles and disadvantages. Success factors for library COTISOTẨIA.
88 CHAPTER 4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 0.- TT TT TT HT TH TH TT Tà HH HT TT TT Hà Hàn ng 98 4. QC TH HH TT TT HH HT Hiệp 99 4. Creating instrument nh. Creating QU€SfIOTITIA1T€S.
--- G119 vn HT TH TH TT nh HH nh 100 4. Creating the interview schedUle.- -- ¿+ + HH ng ni 103 4. Population and sample 1dentIfiCafIOH. - «+ 1+1 ng HH ri 108 4.
Án TH TH TH TH TT nh nh HH nành 4. Data amal ysis nh. Analysis of questionnaire data 4. Analysis of interview data.Q ST vn HT TH HH ngư tr 115 4.
117 CHAPTER 5 SURVEY RESULTS .- -- 5 119112 1 HH ng ng key 118 bì G0511. Respondents by institution types. Respondents by level of appoinfrment. Participation in library networking aCfIVIẨI€S.
ác St St St Series 122 5. Funding sources to attend workshops and conference. Perceived importance of workshops and conferences. Current state of library cooperative arrangements in Vietnam.
Libraries participation in professional library associations. Activities for members of organisations. Reasons for participation in professional library assocIatIons. Benefits of being members of professional library asSOC1afIONS.
Disadvantages of participation in aSSOCiatiOns. Involvement in other library cooperative arrangements. General views on library cooperative arrangements. Consortial practice and possibilities for establishment of academic library consortia IM (11: 0.
Perception and practice of library CONSOFfiA. Engagement of academic libraries in library CO'SOF(1a. Benefits of library CONSOTtIA. Reasons for a lack of consortia arrangeMent.
Attitudes of academic librarians to future library COnSOT(I4. Expected benefits to future library COISOTia. Potential reasons for joining future CORSOFia. Library role in decision Making.
Key agencies in organisation of future library €OnSOFfia. TH HT HT TT TT HT HT HT TH HT Hành 159 5. Major issues of concern regarding COISOFẨIa. Some distinction between public institutions and private institutions.
Association membership and CONSOMTIAL. 166 CHAPTER 6 INTERVIEW RESULTS. Impacts of consortial arrangements:. Spirit of association and COOperatiOn.
Improvement of staff knowledge and skills and institution Image. Issues for establishment of academic library CORSOT1A. Initiators and leaders 0. Finance, budget, funding.
Legal grounds and administrative issues .- -/- 2S St SxS*S+sksrrsrek 178 6. Reconciliation between responsibilities and benefits. Democratic principles and mutual respect. Equity and equality 1.
Suitable types and services of library COTISOFHA. Obstacles for COTISOTTHA. (G11 TT HT Tàn Tàn TT Hành 198 6. Administrative and legal problems.
Weak culture of COOD€TAfIOT. Resource inequality between libraries. Lack of support from parent institutions and ministries. Further disincentives to joining library COISOTẨHa.
Success factors of future library COTISOTẨA. Delivery of practical benefits to ]IDTATIS. Qualified leaders and skilled and supportive stafŸ.- -- +55 +c<+ec+cc+vxsx 220 6. Increased awareness Of COIISOTẨH8.--- tt ST TH ng ngư 222 6.
Strategic plans and prOC€CÏUT€S. Possibilities of success for future library CONSOTTIA .--- 5555 se sc+csrsxe 224 JJW H9 0a. 227 CHAPTER 7 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDA TIONS. Adoption of library consortia among Vietnamese academic librarles.
Improving awareness of library COIISOTẨA. Clarification of the concept of library CORSOTẨHA. Responses to obstacles and dIffIcuÏ(I€S. Implementation of library consortia among Vietnamese academic libraries.
Consortia governance and leadership .- --- ¿+2 St St Sv+eseesersererrsrek 238 7. Government regulation and legal infrastructure. Funding issues of library COISOTẨHA. Types and services of library COTISOTẨIA.- 6 St Si re, 249 7.
Establishment of a culture of €OOD€TafIOH. Additional issues for future consortia aCfÏVIẨICS.- Án HH HH HH Hiệp 258 ;355350/ 0101007777.