By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 12 Aug: The National Librarians’ Day was celebrated today, jointly organised by the Central Government Library Association (CGLA) and Doon Library and Research Centre (DLRC) at the DLRC’s Multi Activity Auditorium. This special occasion marked the 132nd birth anniversary of Dr Siyali Ramamrita Ranganathan, revered as the Father of Library & Information Science in India. Over 100 professionals from the library and information science community gathered to honour his legacy and reaffirm their commitment to the profession.
The event commenced with lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by a soulful rendition of Saraswati Vandana by Himani from the Indian Military Academy.
A documentary film, meticulously crafted by Manish Sharma from the Indian Military
Academy, encapsulated the life and monumental achievements of Dr SR Ranganathan, offering a glimpse into the visionary’s enduring influence on the field of library science.
N Ravishankar, former Chief Secretary and Director of DLRC, warmly welcomed the delegates and introduced the Doon Library’s evolution, emphasising its role in serving the community. He appealed to the participants to contribute to the further enhancement of DLRC, making it a beacon of knowledge accessible to all.
Dr BK Joshi, Chairman and Advisor of DLRC, addressed the gathering, highlighting recent advancements at the library. He introduced 30 new computer nodes for accessing the e-library, providing seamless access to vast resources through subscriptions to the National Digital Library (NDL) and DELNET. Additionally, he announced the inauguration of a dedicated children’s section, ensuring that the youngest members of the community have a space to cultivate their love for reading.
Veteran Prof AS Khuller, despite health challenges, attended the event and eloquently spoke on the irreplaceable value of books and libraries in society. His words highlighted the profound impact libraries have in nurturing knowledge and culture, calling them sanctuaries of learning.
CGLA President Ramesh Goyal provided an overview of the association’s accomplishments and unveiled the theme of the upcoming international conference: “Taking Pride in Legacy – Libraries and Archives for Viksit Bharat”. The conference is scheduled to be held from October 17-19, 2024, at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi, promising to be a landmark event for the library community.
The event also featured heartfelt reflections from three avid readers of the DLRC Library – Meenakshi Kukreti Bhardwaj, Shaheb Naqvi, and Himani Dangi, who shared their views on the significance of books and libraries. They also offered suggestions on how to enhance the library’s services for the benefit of all.
Chandrashekhar Tewari shared the remarkable journey of DLRC, from its humble beginnings in a single-room hall to its current stature as a four-storey edifice of learning.
He also outlined the various programmes conducted at the library, reinforcing its role as a dynamic community hub.
The occasion also witnessed the presentation of the Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Awards to two eminent librarians: Prof (Dr) SN Pandey, recently retired from the Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, and Dr Susanta Kumar Senapati, who retired as Principal Technical Officer from CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee. Dr Pandey, in his address, emphasised the importance of lifelong dedication to the library profession, urging librarians to remain active and engaged even after retirement.
Dr Sanjeev Chopra, former Director of IBSNA and founder of Valley of Words, delivered an inspiring keynote address that captivated the audience.
His words underscored the vital role of libraries in shaping informed and enlightened societies.
Before concluding, Dr Chopra presented mementos to the participants, and all the dignitaries on the dais were felicitated by the CGLA President and General Secretary.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by JB Goyal, Librarian at DLRC. The event was skilfully compered by DK Pandey.
Those present included Dr AK Sumar, LIO, IGNFA, Dr Indu Nawani, Head of Department of Library & Information Science, Sparsh Himalaya University, Dehradun; Dr Manisha Aggarwal, Head of Department of Hindi, Sparsh Himalaya University; Ram Sonare, Deputy University Librarian, Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya; RK Sood; CM Mamik; Mala Dutta; Sunita Aggarwal; Jagdish; and Anjana Sharma, among others.
