Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SHS)
Mangalore, Aug 12: A state-level awareness programme on 'INFLIBNET N-list E-resources' was organized by St Agnes College on Tuesday August 12 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr S R Ranganathan, which was declared as the Librarians' Day by Karnataka government in 2006.
Manoj Kumar of INFLIBNET center, inter university center of University Grants Commission, Gujarat inaugurated the programme.
Referring to the enchanting words "library is a growing organism" stated by the pioneer of Library Science, S R Ranganathan, Manoj Kumar K, scientist (CS) said, "Library in the contemporary modern India is seen as a brain of the institution and the concept of e-library is evident to the fact of growing organism."
He said that INFLIBNET (Information Library Network) was providing e-resources to as many as 3,551 college libraries operating across the nation under the N-LIST (National Library and Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly content) programme outlined under the guidance of the ministry of human resource development by the UGC.
He added, "The ministry sanctions Rs 15 crores every year for the same. The center has also started E-PG Patshala, in addition to N-list, an open access domain, in which students could choose specific subjects to read the modules and refer books pertaining to listed subjects."
He clarified, "As of now students could only utilize to read and there is no certificate course offered."
Citing the growing trend in the usage of technology, Kumar noted that the library should be digitalized.
"In the earlier days it was necessary for the users to come and sit in the library. However, in the present scenario, physical presence is not needed as the library contents could be accessed through internet," he said.
Delineating his vision on library he said that he would want to see the library users availing the resources of the library from their homes. "This is the idea of INFLIBNET too," he added.
Kumar contended that the duty of the library is to adopt, include and implement new ideas generated outside the four-walled rooms.
In his key-note address, Dr M K Bhandi said that Dr S R Ranganathan started his career in Mangalore University in the year 1917.
"He taught Mathematics and Physics but later acciedentally became the librarian of the university. Ranganathan was an excellent teacher and he as a librarian in Madras varsity classified 1 lac books in a span of one year," he added.
Lauding the colleges that come under the university he said, "Mangalore stands first in Karnataka in terms of maximum user of INFLIBNET. Karnataka is ranked third in the country."
During the occasion a magazine 'Eco-Journal' was unveiled by Manoj and he also honored four students of St Agnes for college announcing them as best users of library.
Dr Vishala B K, librarian of the college, Dr Prem M D'Souza A C, principal, Dr Saraswati B S, convener library committee and others were present.