Governor N.N. Vohra inaugurated the 2nd National Seminar on “Future of the Libraries: Trends, Issues and Challenges NASOFOL 2017”, organized by the Department of Library & Information Science, University of Jammu, here today. The Governor observed that notwithstanding the revolution in the Information and Communication Technology arenas the Library continues to play perhaps an even more crucial role than in the past, particularly benefitting researchers, scholars and academicians. He 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, to promote the successful functioning of the Knowledge Economy.Governor observed 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 the 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. Governor advised the participating delegates to prioritize the activities required to be taken on identified fronts to modernise the functioning of libraries. He wished fruitful deliberations to the participants and complimented the Organising Secretary and members of her team for organizing this important Seminar.Prof. R.D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor University of Jammu; Prof. P.B. Mangla, Former Member, National Knowledge Commission; Prof. V.K. Malhotra, Member Secretary, Indian Council of Social Science Research ; Dr. Jagdish Arora, Director Information and Library Network; spoke about the importance of libraries and issues and challenges before it.The Welcome Address was given by Prof. Sangita Gupta, Organizing Secretary of the Seminar and a Vote of Thanks was given by Prof. Rajender Gupta, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences.