Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:45:35 +0530
From: "Byrappa, Ananda (GE, Research)"
Karnataka State Library Association (KALA) Celebrates National Library
Week
Today's (17 Nov) talk is by Dr. N.K. Sridhar, Member-Secretary & Executive
Director, Karnataka Knowledge Commission, Bangalore - on "Role of
Libraries in Knowledge Societies"; Venue: BMS College of Engineering, Bull
Temple Raod, Basavangudi, Bengaluru-19
The Karnataka State Library Association every year celebrates National
Library Week in collaboration with several colleges and institutions.
This year the collaborators are Department of Public Libraries, Govt. of
Karnataka, Bangalore; Mysore Librarians and Information Scientists
Association (MyLISA), Mysore; S.D.M. Institute for Management
Development, Mysore; J.S.S. College for Women, Mysore, Mysore; Sarada
Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science, Bangalore; BMS College of
Engineering, Bangalore; National Centre for Science Information, Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore and Dayanand Sagar College of
Engineering, Bangalore.
This year's speakers and the topics are:
Prof. Lingadevaru Halemane, Rtd. Professor, Central Institute of Indian
Languages, Mysore - on "Pustakagalu Mathanaduthave";
Dr. S.G. Siddarammaiah, Former Chairman, Kannada Development Authority,
Bangalore - on "Kannada Pustaka Prakatane: Udyama Neethi";
Dr. N.K. Sridhar, Member-Secretary & Executive Director, Karnataka Knowledge
Commission, Bangalore - on "Role of Libraries in Knowledge Societies";
Mr.Prakash Kamath, Development Consultant, Bangalore - on "Education Resource
Library: Concept in Practice: A Journey of DIET, Chamarajanagar";
Dr. S. Venkadesan, Librarian, JRD TATA Memorial Library, Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore - on "Archiving of Digital Resources" KALA Talk at Mysore
On a pleasant Sunday morning of 15th Nov'09 the office bearers of KALA, Dr. K.N
Prasad, Executive Director, Sharda Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science,
Bangalore and Mr. Kalyan, Rtd Librarian, BEL, took a step forward to travel up
to Mysore to join the local Library and Information Science professionals to
celebrate the National Library week.
The venue was well set and Prof. Chandrashekar, Principal J.S.S College
for Women (Autonomous), was more than happy to welcome all of us with
all the warmth and hospitality.
Dr. H.A. Khan, retd. Professor, University of Mysore inaugurated the
lecture by lighting the traditional lamp.
Prof. Lingadevaru Helemane was the speaker of the day to address all of
us on a very apt topic-"Books Speak" (Pusthakagalu Mathanaduthave). He
said, I was inspired by the poem written by late theatre personality Mr.
Safdar Hashmi, called "Kithabein Bathein Karthe Hain" said Prof.
Halemane in his opening remarks. Safdar Hashmi is supposed to be a
Marxist, and was brutally killed in Delhi for speaking the truth. He was
the co founder of 'JANAM'- Jana Natya Manch, - People's Theatre
Association, which was involved in open-air proscenium and street plays.
Reading books not only helps in gaining knowledge but they keep us
company. They are the best friends us. One can choose good books to read
like how we choose good friends. A person who has the habit of reading
books can never be depressed and dejected in life. Spending money on
buying books is like making wise investment said Halemane. Narrating
his own experiences and his love for books he said, he had complained to
the principal of his college saying that his college library has no good
books, leaving the principal in awe; as, such things are rare among
students. He quoted saying 'Russians are avid readers of books'. Books
draw us to know about civilizations, history, places, cultures, and
sitting at our homes we can read Shakespeare, Pluto, Socrates, Aristotle
and learn from them provided one is literate. Those who are not
literate loose a lot on information and knowledge and may remain
ignorant lamented the speaker.
Those who read books are receptive to the knowledge contained in it,
hence also highly productive. The taste of choosing to read a book
differs from person to person and it all depends on ones mental state
opined Dr. Halemane. He also said libraries have a great role to play in
bringing awareness and providing the right book to the right reader. If
books are not made available in time, it can be frustrating to the
reader and may miss out on meeting dead line to write papers and books.
He also said that e- books, e-journals are an extension of the print
books. The speaker felt that books shape our thinking, contemplation and
shape personalities.
Dr H.A Khan, the chair of the function rendered presidential remarks
emphasizing on the triangular relationship between libraries, teachers
and the students.
Dr. Chandrashekar, Principal, JSS Women's College, welcomed the
gathering. Smt. Uma Devi Librarian, JSS Women's college, rendered the
invocation and Sri Giri of Sharada Vilas College moderated the program.
Mr. Anand T Byrappa, General Secretary, KALA proposed the vote of
thanks. The notable personalities among the gathering are Dr. Khaiser
Nikam, Chairperson of the Department of Library and Information Science,
University of Mysore,Prof. Mallinath Kumbar, Dr. N.S.Harinarayan, MV
Sunil, Sri Kalyan, Sri Rajendra Babu H, Joint Secretary, KALA and Dr. Y.
Venkatesha were present. There were a very good number of other library
professionals from neighboring libraries were present.
___________________________________________________________
Report prepared by: Dr. Khaiser Nikam, Chairperson, Dept. of Library
and Information Science, University of Mysore, Mysore.
