“A dream come true for making Bhai Gurdas Library of the Guru Nanak Dev university an automated and digitalized library” said Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr) Jaspal Singh Sandhu, while inaugurating the automation of Bhai Gurdas Library. This included newly established Digital Lounge, RFID System and Seminar Hall. The library has been redesigned and restructured in terms of physical and structural changes to cater to the needs of the 21st century learners who are more into exploring the e-content like videos and audios. In view of this, the digital lounge consisting of 100 computers has been set up which will be used to provide access to e-resources, e-journals and e-books. This project is sponsored by RUSA-2.0.Prof. Amit Kauts, Prof.-Incharge Bhai Gurdas Library apprised the Vice Chancellor that the e-journals and e-books are freely available through inflibnet. 9239 e-journals have been subscribed by the university and 8678e-books have been purchased.
All the resources will be used by faculty, researchers, and students which will further facilitate the optimum utilization of e-resources. The University is spending approximately 2.25 Cr on e Databases annually for improving the research output. In addition to this, university has signed an MOU with the Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC). The resources received from CEC have been put on the server of newly established digital lounge for providing easy access to the users.A RFID System has been implemented, which has made library system more effective, user friendly and secure. All the students and faculty members have been issued smart-cards, which will further smoothen the process of circulation of books (issue/return). An intelligent trolly and RFID based Self Check in / Checkouts Kiosks have been installed for issue and return of the books without any human intervention. A seminar cum orientation hall has been developed with multimedia facilities and smart digital podium which will be used to provide orientation about the functioning of the library and e- resources to the students, scholars and the faculty.
The Library also initiated to issue smart card, which will be used for circulation of books and also a identity card of the faculty, staff and students. On this occasion, the Vice-Chancellor also desired to make this smart card to be integrated with Hostel Entry and other facilities of the University like Gym, Swimming pool etc., which will be coordinated by Dean Student’s Welfare. Prof.(Dr) Hardeep Singh, Dean, Academic Affairs, Prof. S.S. Behl (OSD to VC) RUSA coordinator, Prof. (Dr) Karanjeet Singh Kahlon, Registrar, Prof. (Dr) Anish Kumar Dua, Dean, Student Welfare, Sh. H.S. Tina, Incharge, Construction, Col. Amarbir Singh Chahal, Security Officer, Dr. Amit Kauts, Professor Incharge Library and Mr. Sarbjit Singh, System Administrator along with the staff of the library were also present.Prof. Kauts thanked the Vice Chancellor and others for providing all the support for making this task of automation a smooth process. He also shared that there are a lot many initiatives that need to be taken for making a library a place for learning, relaxation and rejuvenation. The library is committed to provide resources to improve teaching and research consultation process in the university.