'Library software for all colleges soon'

Inaugurating the national-level conference on ‘empowering library professionals in managing digital resources and providing extension activities’ organised by Library and Information Centre of St Agnes College, she said that the persistent complaints that colleges bring to the notice of the department is that of shortage of hands to handle libraries.

“Adoption of Library Software is imperative and necessary to over come shortage of staff. Further, the software will also make functioning in the library much smoother and easier.
Training will be given to the librarians in usage of the software at the earliest,” she said.
Along with this Dr Nagambika also suggested that colleges should involve students in library by making a group of students work in the library.“This exercise will not only help colleges overcome shortage of hands but will also bring students closer to books and library,” she added.

Speaking about the importance of books in the lives of the students, she said that library supports initiation of learning and with innovation and advancement in technology, lots of changes have happened, which demand library to go for networking. It has also made interactive learning imperative, she said.

Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research Chief Librarian Dr G K Manjunath said that Library is a ‘treasure house of knowledge’ and it is democratic in nature as the knowledge stored in the library can be accessed by anyone irrespective of caste, creed, colour and class.

“Information is considered as the fifth need of human beings after food, clothe, shelter and water. However advent of internet has brought sea change in access of information and in the nature of information seekers. This has led to digital library,” he said and added that everyone at the virtual space are free to seek and share ideas.

He opined that research papers funded by public sponsors are not available on the internet but these papers are published in expensive journals due to which most colleges cannot afford to subscribe these journals. He said that seamless and free access to research paper is a must for enhancing knowledge of students.

Taranga Weekly Managing Editor Sandhya S Pai was the guest of honour, while St Agnes College Principal Sr Marie Prem D’Souza presided.

Selection Grade Librarian Convener Dr Vishala B K was present at the programme.