JAMMU: Governor N.N Vohra on Friday observed that notwithstanding the revolution in the Information and Communication Technology arenas, libraries continue to play perhaps an even more crucial role than in the past, particularly benefitting researchers, scholars and academicians.
Inaugurating 2nd National Seminar on “Future of the Libraries: Trends, Issues and Challenges NASOFOL 2017”, being organised by Department of Library & Information Science, University of Jammu, the Governor noted that the number and dispersal of well stocked and well run libraries would reflect the importance, which the State and Society attaches, to ensuring easy access to knowledge and to promote the successful functioning of the Knowledge Economy.
The Governor said that the use of libraries is facing a challenge because of the rapidly increasing dependence of users on the internet. Besides, there are also space constraints to house tens of thousands of volumes on the ever enhancing frontiers of knowledge. He stressed the need for maximum possible technological interventions to take on the challenges facing the very existence of the libraries.
In this context, he urged the experts participating in the seminar to identify time-bound steps which are required to suitably re-orient all teaching programmes in Library and Information Science to produce a new genre of Librarian who is equipped and trained to take on the challenges posed by the application of IT and ICT.
The Governor advised participating delegates to prioritise the activities required to be taken on identified fronts to modernise the functioning of libraries.
Vice Chancellor University of Jammu Prof. R. D Sharma, Former Member, National Knowledge Commission Prof. P.B. Mangla, Member Secretary, Indian Council of Social Science Research Prof. V.K. Malhotra and Director Information and Library Network Dr. Jagdish Arora, Organising Secretary of Seminar Prof. Sangita Gupta and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences Prof. Rajender Gupta were also present in the seminar.