Two days National Conference on the Role of LIS Professionals in the Changing Academic Paradigm was organized by the Presidency University on Feb 17-18, 2017. The conference provided a platform for Library and Information Science professionals from all over India to present the results of their research and development activities related to library requirements for the constantly changing academic paradigm. This conference also provided a premier interdisciplinary forum for participants to present and discuss the practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the field of LIS, most recent innovations, trends and concerns. There were 150 delegates from different parts of India which included librarians, students of library science schools, publishers, IT professionals, knowledge management experts and university teachers. The conference was held at Hotel Radisson Blu Atria, Palace Road, Bengaluru.
The Conference was inaugurated on 17th February. Chief Guest on the occasion was Prof. Dr. S. A. Kori, Executive Director, Karnataka State Higher Education Council and the Guest of Honor was Dr. Satishkumar S. Hosamani, Director of Public Libraries, Government of Karnataka. Present on the occasion were Hon’ble Chancellor of the Presidency University, Dr. Nissar Ahmed, Pro Chancellor, Prof. Radha Padmanabhan, Vice Chancellor, Prof Nagendra Parashar, Conference Director, Dr. A. Y. Asundi, resource persons, key officials, members of the media, faculty members from the university and delegates from different parts of the country.
The Conference had three technical sessions covering the following themes and 9 research papers were presented by the participants in each session.
(i) Evolving library landscape, chaired by Prof. A. Y. Asundi, Conference Chairman
(ii) Professional challenges, chaired by Dr. Gopakumar
(iii) Digital resources, Big Data and Library standards, chaired by Prof. Ramesha
Besides, there were 5 key papers from experts.
(i) Changing dimensions of academic librarianship from ancient to digital era, by Dr. B. M. Meera, Librarian, Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru
(ii) Open data and open repositories, by Prof. A. R. D. Prasad, Indian Statistical Institute, Bengaluru
(iii) Copyright and licensing issues, by Dr. Rama Patnaik, Librarian, Indian Institute of Management, Bengaluru
(iv) Recent trends in cataloguing, by Dr. N. S. Harinarayana, Professor, University of Mysore
(v) Redesigning library spaces and services, by Dr. S. Venkadesan, Director, LRC & IT, Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.
The conference had a panel discussion on the topic, “Can we get rid of books in academic libraries?” and the panelists were: Dr. N. S. Harinarayana (Chairman), Dr. Gopa Kumar, Dr. Mahabaleshwara Rao, Mrs. Prasanna Kumari and Prof. K. A. Venkatesh.
The valedictory session on 18th February 2017 was presided over by Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nagendra Parashar in the presence of Dr. A. Y. Asundi, Conference Chairman, Dr. Ishwara Bhat and Dr. K. N. Sheshadri. Conference Chairman Prof. Asundi presented the report of the Conference. Later, besides delivering the valedictory address, Prof. Parashar presented the Best Paper award to Mr. Deepjyoti Kalita, from Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. Two participants gave spontaneous feedback about the conference in which they gave excellent feedback about the conference. At the end of the two days program, Dr. K. N. Sheshadri, Organizing Secretary proposed the Vote of thanks.
