Challenges 2000: Challenges and Opportunities for Management Librarians in the New Millennium

Management librarians face a real challenge in this era of multimedia computational and communication technologies to fulfil the information needs of its clientele through varied physical formats of wide range of media. Institute of Management Technology (IMT) is keen to spearhead efforts for preparing libraries for the 21st century. In this context, the Second Convention of Management Libraries Network (MANLIBNET) on Challenges 2000: Challenges and Opportunities for Management Libraries in New Millennium was organized during February 3-5, 2000 at IMT, Ghaziabad.

The Convention was inaugurated on February 3, 2000 by Dr. T Viswanathan, Director, INSDOC. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Viswanathan congratulated IMT for organising this Convention to discuss the problems of the management librarians such as demand for information on finger tips, information explosion, increase in the cost of publications and shrinking budget, etc. and to elaborate upon a plethora of opportunities available with them in the new millennium in the form of Internet and Intranet and other technological advancement in information system.

Dr. Viswanathan cautioned the management librarians about the prose and cons of proposed MANLIBNET. He also guided the management librarians about the technological requirements and also the type of technology should be adopted in the formation of such networks. Speaking further on the subject of virtual libraries, he stressed upon the establishment of digital libraries. He asked the gathering to contribute to the Internet sea in the form of developing their own digital libraries. He has all appreciation about the IMT publications as published on different aspects of management. He congratulated IMT for such an excellent efforts at the same time he advised that being a leader in management education, IMT should take lead in the area of development of digital libraries also by converting its publications in digital form and putting it on Internet for the benefit of Internet users throughout the globe.

In the beginning, a warm welcome was extended by Mr. Sharat Kumar, Director, IMT to the gathering of over hundred management librarians from all parts of the country. In his address, Mr. Kumar highlighted the importance of library in an academic institution. He explained that the faculty and library are the two most important streams. With the help of both, learning and knowledge gaining exercise take place. At IMT, we are very much concerned about these two things. The nerve centre of our institute, IMT library, is well-stocked with a variety of books on management, IT and allied areas. We have a wide range of printed and electronic media with an increasing stress placed upon the electronic delivery of information. The fully computerized IMT Library is among the few libraries in India, which is using Barcode technology in its lending operations. IMT library provides 18 hours service per day throughout the year.

He opined that once you reached the library, you will feel that you have been surrounded by the knowledge. In the end, he hoped that this convention will come out with some concrete resolutions to help management librarians of the country in identifying the immediate problems and also in knowing the opportunities available with them to face these challenges.

In his introductory remarks, Mr. Ramesh C Gaur, Librarian, IMT and organizing secretary of this convention outlined the basic objectives of the organization of such a convention. He said that all professionals who have gathered here will be discussing about the challenges and opportunities for management librarians to reach a uniform action plan for the new millennium. As per Mr. Gaur, the best option available is Resource Sharing & Networking of Management Libraries to cope up with the challenges in the new millennium. Organization of this convention at IMT is a step forward in this direction. Mr. Gaur gave a brief account of the proceedings of the next three days of the convention. Inaugural function ended with vote of thanks.

The technical proceedings of the convention started with Mr. Ashok Jambhekar, Librarian, IIM, Ahmedabad as Convention Director and Dr. Dev Raj Singh, Librarian, NIPFP as the as the Rapporteur General. The programme was divided into six technical sessions, namely:

• Resource Sharing and Networking;

• Digital Libraries: A Challenge for New Millennium;

• User Information Needs: Assessment and Evaluation

• Quality Management in Libraries

• Business Information Resources

• Challenges and Opportunities for Management Librarians in New Millennium.

In all twenty six papers were presented by management librarians from all over India. During this presentations, a number of issues were raised, discussed and resolutions passed.

Apart from this, a panel discussion was also organized with Dr. A Lahiri, Adviser, NISSAT, New Delhi (Moderator); Mr. Ashok Jambhekar, Librarian, IIM, Ahmedabad; Dr. HK Kaul, Director, DELNET, New Delhi; Dr. Roshan Raina, Librarian, IIM, Lucknow; Mr. Clinton Runale, VP, EBSCO Publishing, USA; Mr. Harsha Bhatkal, MD, VANS, Mumbai; and Prof. Ashok Banerjee, IMT, Ghaziabad as panelists.

To brief management librarians about the management principles and practices, following two lectures were also organized.

1. Challenges for Management Leaders in the New Millennium, by Prof. PS Bajaj, Chairman, Distance Learning Programme, IMT, Ghaziabad

2. Marketing of Library Services, by Dr. Harsh Vardhan Verma, FMS, University of Delhi, Delhi

For the benefit of the participants, a book exhibition with the help of well-known book publishers & distributors and IT exhibition with the help of prominent library software suppliers and vendors of various electronic information sources were also organized.

In his valedictory address, Dr. SS Murthy, former Director, DESIDOC congratulated management librarians, host Mr. Ramesh C Gaur, Librarian, IMT, Ghaziabad for organization of this convention on such a relevant theme and at an appropriate time. Elaborating upon the proposed MANLIBNET, he gave a few words of advice to the management librarians and at the same time volunteered himself for any help in the formation of this group. He said that Network & Resource Sharing is an immediate need for all those who are concerned with libraries.

The Convention ended on a very successful note with remarks and reports from Convention Director and Rapporteur General and a very emotional vote of thanks by Mr. Ramesh C Gaur, Organizing Secretary.

National Training Program on Modern Technologies for Information Handling

A five-day National Training Program on Modern Technologies for Information Handling was held at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi in association with the Medical Library of Association of India from February 7-11, 2000. Dr. RP Kumar, the Chief Librarian of the Institute was the Coordinator of the training. The training programme was attended by sixty participants comprising librarians, information science specialists, documentalists, R&D scientists, teachers in library science and health scientists. The trainees were drawn from across the country from Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The main focus of the training was on the practical aspects of automation of libraries, online searching, CDROM and CD networking, multimedia, digital libraries, electronic publishing, Internet, etc.

Prof. PK Dave, the Director of the Institute inaugurated the training programme on February 7, 2000, Shri Harjeet Singh, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, delivered the keynote address. Prof. MC Maheshwari, the Dean of AIIMS delivered the presidential address. Prof. Muthukumarasamy, former Vice Chancellor of Annamalai University, Annamalai was the guest of honour.

During the training, the trainees could learn information technologies through hands on training on their application for quick and efficient information library services.

On February 11, 2000 at the end of the training, Prof. SS Agarwal, Principal, College of Pharmacy, University of Delhi distributed the certificates to the trainees and delivered the valedictory address. In his address, he emphasised the need of arranging more such training courses for the use of modern technologies in the information handling. The function came to an end with the vote of thanks proposed by Dr. RP Kumar.

Digital Libraries in New Era: Proposals & Problems

Ranganathan-IASLIC Study Circle, Lucknow has organized the Library and Information Professionals Meet (Millennium 2000) in collaboration with Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD) on February 5, 2000. The theme was Digital Libraries in New Era: Proposals & Problems. The programme was conducted by Mr. Vishnu Srivastava and Mr. SY Devaramani, Assistant General Manager, BIRD welcomed the chief guests.

The professionals meet was inaugurated with garlanding the portrait of Dr. SR Ranganathan (father of library science in India) by Shri Kishanjit Basu, Hon'able Director, BIRD and Prof. PN Kaula, former president, ILA, Dean BHU and Unesco Expert at BIRD Convention Hall (NABARD Campus). Prof. Kaula said while addressing the gathering that digital libraries are fast emerging even in India like other advanced countries. Some of the digital library Networks under operation and implementation stage at national and international level are INFLIBNET, DELNET, CALIBNET, NICNET, INDONET, SIRNET, ERNET, DELNET, AGLINET, DEVINSA, etc.

In his Inaugural speech, Shri Basu Said "the education is one of the most prominent way to achieve peace of mind. Dr. Ranganathan was the man who made it possible and easy for all of us. Speaker on the occasion, Ms. Geeta Negi, Shri Vineet Chaturvedi from NBSC, Shri Raja expressed their views on the problems and proposals of Digital Libraries in the new era.

Shri HV Mote, Library Officer, NBRI and Convener of Study Circle spoke on the objectives of the programme. At the end of the function, Shri N Balakrishna, DGM, BIRD proposed the vote of thanks.

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Information Today & Tomorrow, Vol. 19, No. 1, March 2000, p.30-p.32
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