This partly depends on how your current SharePoint setup looks.

The advantage of having a separate document library per language is that we can restrict access in Spencer.

For example, a Dutch user will only see Dutch documents instead of a folder containing a labor regulation document in three languages.

However, document owners often find it easier to keep all car policies in one folder rather than in three separate document libraries (NL/FR/EN car policy folders). It’s a matter of weighing which use case saves the most time.

If you already have existing communication sites or separate document libraries that you frequently use, it could be beneficial to connect them separately. This way, you don't have to start from scratch and migrate content. You can, for example, share just one folder from an existing IT or HR SharePoint and display it in Spencer. This allows you to keep your existing workflows intact, especially if documents are already being automatically dropped into a specific location internally.

Permissions are always set per folder. If you choose separate document libraries, each folder will always appear at the same level in the tree structure.

You cannot nest folders within each other in the back office.

For example, in this case, we have two separate document libraries, where each has been granted permissions for one folder.

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If you prefer a structure where, for instance, managers can see main folders and workers can only access a specific subfolder, it is easier to keep everything within one document library. This way, you can maintain a tree structure of folders across different document libraries.

So, if you use separate document libraries, you need to configure each folder individually. In your case, this would mean setting up six main folders, each with the necessary subfolders.

If you opt for a single document library, you can grant permissions to the general "Documents" folder instead of setting permissions six times. This is especially useful for extensive document libraries with many main sections. Otherwise, the starting point in Spencer would be a very long list.

Ultimately, the key factor is how you want to manage permission settings in SharePoint for the people uploading documents.

Would it be easier to manage at the document library level, or is it better to control permissions at the folder level internally?

In Spencer, the visual impact for the end user is minimal between both choices.

The advantages or disadvantages only become apparent when dealing with very large document library structures.