CHANDIGARH, March 18, 2008: Shri. Sanjay Kumar, Finance Secretary, Chandigarh Administration said in his inaugural address that libraries shapethe personality of its users and take them to the next level of consciousness. To make our libraries dynamic knowledge centers, these must be modernized to facilitate teaching, learning and research across the globe. He was speaking at the inaugural function of the ICSSR sponsored Seminar on “Trends and Strategic Issues for Libraries in Global Information society” being organized from 18-19 March by the Department of Library and Information Science, Panjab University, Chandigarh.
In his key note address, Dr. R.K Chadha, Joint Secretary, Lok Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi, said that the ICT must be used to empower the info-poor by providing access to literacy, education, cultural diversity, gender equality, sustainable development and environment protection. He further said that the Internet and the web are providing new opportunities to libraries and their role is expanding day by day. Prof. Jagtar Singh, the Guest of Honour said that efforts must be made to provide massive low-cost access to quality information to all the information seekers. We must
develop hybrid libraries, that are user-centred and expert assisted. In the networked environment, libraries must focus on digital inclusion, expansion
and excellence in library resources and services. The LIS courses should also be consistent with the job market. Prof S.S Bari, Registrar, Panjab University in his Presidential address underlined that changes in libraries are inevitable and libraries are required to provide an increasing range of services to different categories of users. On this occasion, the Seminar Volume and Proceedings of the “National Workshop on Quality Indicators and Best Practices for Academic Libraries”, published by the Department ofLibrary and Information Science, Punjabi University, Patiala were also released by Shri. Sanjay Kumar, Finance Secretary, Chandigarh Administration.
Earlier, Prof. Ranjana Vohra, Head of the Department, welcomed the dignitary and the delegates. Prof. Preeti Mahajan, Seminar Director, explained the background of the Seminar and expressed the hope that this Seminar would be helpful in identifying the strategic issues for libraries.About 150 delegates from north India are participating in the Seminar and 70 papers will be presented in 5 Technical Sessions spread over two days.