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.