Library automation discussed at convention The Imphal Free Press http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=20385&typeid=1 IMPHAL, Nov 4: The second convention of Promotion of Library Automation and Networking in North Eastern Region, PLANNER began today at the Centenary Hall, Manipur University under the theme Content Creation, Access and Management in Networked Environment. The two-day event is being organised by INFLIBNET centre, UGC based in Ahmedabad. The opening day�s programme was attended by the chairperson of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, Justice WA Shishak as the chief guest, vice-chancellor of university, Prof N Bijoy as the president and deputy director of UGC Bangladesh, Abdul Awal as the guest of honour. Other important participants included chief coordinator, Premchand, university deans and staff. On the occasion, WA Shishak released a book and Prof N Bijoy released a souvenir. In his address, Abdul Awal stated that INFLIBNET had a vision to bridge libraries in different universities through a computer based networking system. The Bangladesh UGC is moved by the success of the programme being launched by INFLIBNET, Awal added and forwarded his wish to make contact chain network between Bangladesh and India. The chief guest, WA Shishak remarked that the present generation are fortunate to be born in the computer age. He was optimistic that the ongoing endeavor of bringing INFLIBNET to the north-eastern states will ensure the passage of the region among successful states in the field of communication. It will also benefit information seekers, scholars and academicians, he added. Prof N Bijoy showed conviction that the theme of the convention, content creation, access and management in networked environment holds potential to bring immense benefit to the librarians. He further stated that libraries have many added roles in the arena of disseminating information through the latest technologies. The traditional concept of a library, which brought to mind a place to access paper records and books had been redefined to one that houses the most advanced media facilities, including CD-ROM, internet, virtual library and remote access to a wide range of network. Consequently, librarians and information professionals have to increasingly dispense their traditional duties combined with tasks involving continuously evolving technologies, he added. Nowadays, librarians need to have complete information of a wide variety of sources, both scholarly and public information related. At the same time, they are required to keep pace with changing trends in publication, computers and media in order to oversee the selection and organisation of library materials. He later mentioned that due to the enhanced information gathering capacity of new communication systems, libraries have been entrusted a valuable role in providing information to scholars and readers alike. http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=20385&typeid=1 -- JK Vijayakumar, INFLIBNET Centre, Ahmedabad __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page. www.yahoo.com