Dear Sir/Madam, Prof. Shalini R. Urs is attaining superannuation on 31st December 2016 after four decades of academic journey. Prof. Shalini started her career as an academic at the Department of Studies in Library and Information Science, University of Mysore, Mysore in 1976. Precisely forty years back. Thereafter, it was a remarkable journey in the field of library and information science. She has contributed immensely for the growth and development of LIS in general and more particularly for digital library movement in India. Prof. Shalini is always at the forefront in designing and developing MyDLIS (the term coined by Prof. Shalini for LIS Department of Mysore University to create unique identity) curriculum. The MyDLIS curriculum was far ahead of its time compared to other LIS schools in Indian Universities. The syllabus was always kept abreast with the current developments in LIS. It was MyDLIS which first introduced digital library, digital library practicum, and personal development and communication skills papers in LIS schools in India. Many LIS schools have used MyDLIS Curriculum as a model to develop their LIS Curriculum. Such was its uniqueness. Prof. Shalini’s global outlook has helped MyDLIS greatly in having model curriculum. Prof. Shalini’s was one of the very few academicians who sensed the emergence of technology in a big way and its impact on LIS domain much before the Internet era. Prof. Shalini was instrumental in bringing 4th International Conference of Asia-Pacific Digital Libraries (ICADL) one of the biggest ever digital library conferences to India and organizing it for the first time in Bangalore. Again in 2013 after a decade ICADL was held in Bangalore under Prof. Shalini’s leadership. Prof. Shalini’s brainchild Vidyanidhi Digital Library and E-Scholarship Portal was the first Indian digital library initiative which was created to facilitate the archiving and accessing of Indian doctoral theses. Vidyanidhi was envisioned as a national repository for depositing e-theses as early as 2004. However, INFLIBNET, an Autonomous Inter-University Centre (IUC) of University Grants Commission (UGC) started Sodhaganga on the lines of Vidyanidhi and emerged as a national digital library and e-scholarship portal. It was Prof. Shalini who envisioned the idea of developing national digital repository for archiving and accessing doctoral theses in India. Vidyanidhi showed way for UGC to come up with Sodhaganga. The name Sodhaganga (Reservoir of Intellectual Output) resembles Vidyanidhi (Treasure of Knowledge). Prof. Shalini wrote a very lengthy scholarly article for Annual Review of Information Science and Technology on “Digital Libraries” in 2002 with Edward A. Fox of Virginia Tech University, who was a pioneer in digital library research. This is an indication for her penchant for technology and its impact on libraries. In fact, in one of the scholarly meetings, Sri Puttanaiah, Retired Librarian of SJCE (JSS Science and Technology University), Mysore, and an alumnus of MyDLIS, while sharing his thoughts on the lecture, mentioned that Prof. Shalini was talking of importance of computer for information processing way back in the 70s and 80s. If one were to write the history of Indian digital library, without acknowledging Prof. Shalini’s contribution for the Indian digital library movement it would not complete. To read the complete article, please visit the following links: https://document.li/fVRLhttp://tinyurl.com/zfjclhy Madam I wish you good health and a long life. Your Sincerely ------------------------- With best wishes Vasantha Raju N.GFGC-PeriyapatnaMysore