POLICY FOR COMMUNITY ACCESS TO NAM CAN THO UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
1- Free automatic access:
The Library has deployed the Koha OPAC system, allowing the community to access and search free metadata of all print materials in the book collection without requiring an account. External users can search by book title, author, and subject. Koha OPAC access link: http://thuvien.nctu.edu.vn:8000/ . Click on SEARCH – Books available in the library.
The Library also introduces and provides access to numerous open access databases (e.g., DOAJ, DOAB, OAPEN, OpenStax, NDLTD…), enabling community online utilization. Public collections include: open educational resources and publications permitted for full-text sharing. Foreign database exploitation guide link:
http://thuvien.nctu.edu.vn/index.php/news/gioi-thieu-va-huong-dan-khai-thac-co-so-dulieu-nuoc-ngoai
The deployment of Koha OPAC combined with open access databases clearly demonstrates the policy of expanding academic information accessibility, helping the community easily exploit the library’s digital and print resources legally and conveniently. Additionally, the Library is a member of VILASAL (Vietnamese Library Association of Southern Academic Libraries), connecting 68 universities in the Southern part of Vietnam (as of August 2025). Through VILASAL, the library participates in sharing and exploiting common educational resources with other university libraries in the region, contributing to expanding resource access scope for both internal and external users, while promoting knowledge sharing and dissemination policies within the academic community. VILASAL link: https://vilasal.org.vn/
2- Access to published resources:
a) For community outside the university:
The Library allows free online access to view metadata, table of contents, and abstracts of all internal resources (textbooks, lectures, theses, dissertations, digital documents). This is basic access level, ensuring the community can search and exploit academic information without violating copyright regulations. For more detailed viewing, users may contact responsible staff for additional guidance.
b) For students and faculty within the university
For textbooks and lectures: users with internal accounts (login with password) are permitted to view and download full text. For theses and dissertations: users can only access online abstracts. If full-text usage is needed, students and faculty must visit the library directly for on-site reference, to comply with academic confidentiality regulations.
3- Access in specific contexts:
Within Library internal network: Users can utilize the library’s computer systems with internet access to search and access systems such as Koha OPAC, DSpace, CESTI Database, Ebooks or other digital resources. Users may also search using personal computers brought into the library. Through remote access links: Some databases and e-books from paid resource sources, for which the Library has purchased licenses, can only be accessed when users log in with accounts provided by the Library. On-site (onsite): For documents not yet granted full-text online access permissions, users may visit the Library to read full text on-site. Exploitation of these documents must strictly comply with copyright regulations and serve only educational and research purposes.
