Dear All, Karnataka State Library Association (KALA) organized a symposium on "Next Generation Libraries: Opportunities and Challenges" on : Friday, 29 October 2010 at Bangalore. Thanks for all those who partnered with us to make the symposium a success. I am forwarding the symposium report for the benefit of professional friends. Special thanks to Mrs. Gayathri Sen of PES Institute of technology for preparing this report. Best Regards, Ananda Byrappa ________________________________________________________________________ _____ National Symposium on Next Generation Libraries: Opportunities and Challenges Organized by: Karnataka State Library Association (KALA) Date: Friday, 29 October 2010 A Symposium report prepared by Mrs. Gayathri Sen, PESIT, Bangalore The Symposium on Next Generation Libraries: Opportunities and Challenges was organised by Karnataka State Library Association (KALA) on : Friday, 29 October 2010 at City Central Library, Hampi Nagar, RPC layout, Bangalore The registration started by 9 am on OCT. 29th, 2010 at the City Central Library, West Zone, Hampinagar (RPC Layout) Vijayanagar, Bangalore. Around 100 delegates attended the one day Symposium with the participation of professionals from various parts of Karnataka. The objective of the Symposium was to provide an effective platform to learn, discuss, debate and develop a broad understanding of the next generation libraries and the technologies that drive such libraries. Inagural Program was held at the seminar hall between 10AM to 11.15 AM. Program started by Mr.Ananda Byrappa, Organizing Secretary inviting the distinguished guest Mr. N V Satyanaraya and Prof. I K Ravichandra Rao to the dias. Dr.Sridhar and Dr.Gowda welcomed them with floral bouquet. The program started by the invocation song by Gayathri and Nalini. Dr.I K Ravichandra Rao, President of KALA introduced Mr. N V Satyanarayana, Managing Director, Informatics India Ltd. Key Note address: Mr. N V Satyanarayana said that the topic of the symposium is the curtain raiser for the next generation leadership in libraries. He said that Prof. Ranganathan after his retirement came to Bangalore and started Mysore Library Association which is the present Karnataka Library Association (KALA) and the association should act as a watch dog for implementation of Library legislation in Karnataka. He said that with the advent of googalization print is being less used and making way for the electronic era. Because of the fragility of electronic content libraries are losing out on the Social Memory Concept. Earlier, libraries used to act as archives of valued content and university libraries played that role. Users used to go there for their academic requirements. Second role change is access from anywhere. No users may come to the library. But still, the relevance and value of libraries will continue because of free access to paid content. He said that as long as paid content exists, libraries will exist. He said that people perceive libraries in different ways. 1. Users need a place to study. They browse or borrow books and download journal articles. 2. Institutions see it as a temple of learning and an expensive and important infrastructure for educational growth. 3. Librarians dream of implementing newer technologies in their libraries and are driven by passion for professional identity. 4. Society perceives libraries as an important place to change the mind set of their children to improve their knowledge levels. He emphasized on the two elements, for the role to be played for the next generation libraries and librarians. Library is place for self learning - a better alternative where there are no good teachers. Make it a learning environment. This is where a role change has to happen. Use e-book readers which are no more expensive and Cloud computing for connectivity. Rent technology instead of owning expensive servers. Make libraries a part of social media. He concluded by saying next generation libraries will be an interactive browsing space. All stake holders like faculty, students will be involved. It will be like a membership club for sharing knowledge. Focus should be on interaction rather than information. Identity can be enhanced by partnership rather than isolation, and Library Associations has to play their role in this aspect. Prof. IK Ravichandra Rao in his presidential said that network is the answer for the next generation. It may be internet, or network of users, or network of librarians. Dr. Francis Jayakant, NCSI, gave the vote of thanks by appreciating the wonderful key note address. The Technical Sessions started at 11.30 AM. The program was designed in the form of a panel discussion. The panelists comprised of experts from industry & academia. The discussion topics included: 1. Next Generation Information Sources: Content, Access, Pricing, trends and Promotion & Usage 2. Next Generation Library Services: New model for library services based on library .2.0 3. User expectations and required skills for managing the next generation libraries 4. "Perspectives" - Panel Discussion by Present & Former Presidents of Professional Associations TECHNICAL SESSIONS: Rapporteur General : Mrs. Gayathri Sen for all sessions Technical Session 1 11.30 AM - 12.30 AM Next Generation Information Sources: Content, Access, Pricing, Trends, Promotion and Usage Moderator & Chairperson: Dr. I R N Goudar Panellists: Dr. MS Sridhar, former Head, ISRO Library Dr. KN Prasad, SRELS Mr. Ajay Mehrotra, Rohan Consultancy Co-ordinators: Ramya and Ms. Deepti Chourasia Dr. IRN Goudar thanked the organizers for the opportunity given and requested Mr. Rajendra Kumar, Mr.Kalyan and Mr.Ananda Byrappa to present floral bouquet to the panelists to welcome them. He said that lot of issues has to be considered when we move from one media to another like CD ROM to e-resource etc. Publishers came with pricing models suitable to them and librarians had to consider the pros and cons, example e-book bundles. Dr. KN Prasad, SRELS said that over the last five years internet has revolutionized as content delivery platform in financial, educational e commerce sectors. E publishers has to catch libraries for their trade by coming out with different pricing models because libraries provide access to their users. He also spoke about Prof. S R Ranganathan and the journal 'Library Science with a Slant to Documentation' to 'Library Science with a Slant to Documentation and Information Studies'. He concluded by saying next generation will be more information savvy. Dr. MS Sridhar, former Head, ISRO Library said that usage has reduced compared to earlier days. Libraries are hijacked with reference to content, access, pricing, decision making etc. Low priority items like thesis is glorified by bringing into digital form. Digital information has demarcated published, unpublished and grey literature. Search strategies many times stands between user and information. Every place feels like an office because of 24X7. 'Select and access' to 'Access and Select' is the change that is seen. Mr. Ajay Mehrotra, Rohan Consultancy said that pricing was simpler in print media. Evolution can be seen from fixed pricing model to flexible pricing models. Depending on the number of access for users, multi-site pricing for different centers, Consortia pricing, which works out cheaper for likeminded users. The floor was thrown open for discussions. Mr. Patawardhan, Global Academy, Dr.Choodamani, IISc, Mrs. Gayathri Sen, PESIT and few others had some queries and comments. Dr.Goudar closed the session by elaborating on different models available. The panelists were honored by Prof. IKR, Prof.Chandrashekar, Prof.Harinarayan and Shri.Rajendra Kumar. Technical Session 2 12.30 AM to 1.30 PM Next Generation Library Services: New model for library services based on library 2.0 Moderator & Chairperson: Dr. N S Harinarayana, Mysore University Panellists: Mr. Madhuresh Singhal, Advinus Mr. Sumil M V, SDM Institute for Management Mr. Rupesh Kumar, Tumkur University, Tumkur Co-ordinators: Mr. Shivaram B S and Ms. Manjula K Dr. N S Harinarayana, Mysore University started by asking a question. Why next generation libraries are required? He said that it is required to exploit possibilities and for better opportunities. How libraries can adopt some web 2.0 technologies to become more user centric. Mr. Rupesh Kumar, Tumkur University, Tumkur showed a map which highlighted web 2.0. He said that development of web 2.0 is driven by the attitudes of the users. Two classes of users exist. 1. interested to use e book readers. 2. conventional format of print but not wanting to visit the library. How through web users can evaluate information resources and library services on web. Mr. Sunil M V, SDM Institute for Management said that web 2.0 has brought user centered change in libraries. Users can make their comments, review about books, services over Library OPAC. He gave example of Duke university. He gave list of services at SDMIT and said that not many users use all the services which the library offers. Mr. Madhuresh Singhal, Advinus said that Michael Tessy created Lib 2.0. How at Advinus all the web2.0 tools like blogs, RSS feeds comments can be used. The font size implies the number of usage for that topic. He said that user's involvement is very much required for its success. Mr.Patawardan commented about the situations in the practical library environment and the possibility of implementing such technologies. Dr. Goudar said that soft vendors should implement such technologies for library softwares. The panelists were honored and the session was closed for lunch. Lunch Break 1.30 PM - 2.00 PM Technical Session 3 2.00 PM to 3.00 PM User expectations and required skills for managing the next generation libraries. Moderator & Chairperson: Prof. TD Kemparaju Panellists: Dr. Venkadesan, Indian Institute of Science Dr. S Natarajan, PES Institute of Technology Co-ordinators: Mr. Ragavendra Pawar and Ms. Rajalakshmi G Prof. TD Kemparaju started the session by elaborating upon the expectations of the users and the training requirements of the librarians for managing next generation libraries. Dr. Venkadesan, Indian Institute of Science said that users want information fast and with great speed and library has to move to the users. We have to evolve to systems which are verbally going to communicate. Users generate information and libraries can act as mediators. Information can be delivered through kiosks and mentioned few pilot projects like Dr.Swaminathan Research Institutes. Dr. S Natarajan, PES Institute of Technology said that more electronic gadgets can be seen than books in many libraries of today. Librarians should be trained and use the technologies available and become part of the teaching-learning process. He spoke about the collaboration between libraries and the global network, about Library of congress and OCLC catalog. Floor was open for discussion. Dr. Harinarayana said that elective called web 2.0 is offered in Mysore University and many non LIS professionals have enrolled for the course. Few other participants commented. The panelists were honored and the last and concluding technical session started. Technical Session 4 3.00 PM to 4.00 PM Presidents' 'Perspectives' on running professional organizations Panellists: Dr. H S Siddamalliah, NIMHANS Dr. I R N Goudar, Mysore University Prof. I K Ravichandra Rao, ISI Co-ordinators: Mr. Ananda Byrappa The ex presidents of KALA stressed on networking and promoting leadership qualities, communication skills for members of association. Members should contribute to the development of the profession. Members should bring to the notice of public about librarianship. They felt that one third of the previous committee has to be retained to guide the next committee. Organizers honored the panelists. Valedictory 4.00 PM to 4.30 PM Mr. Badagannavar, Joint Director, City Central Library gave the vote of thanks to the organizers and the participants for making the programme a great success. Valedictory session was concluded by reading of a brief report of the day's proceedings by Mrs. Gayathri Sen, Rapporteur General, and the session was concluded. -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.