GUWAHATI, Aug 27 - The Department of Library and Information Science, Gauhati University, celebrated the Librarians� Day, at the Phanidhar Datta Seminar Hall in the University, commemorating the birth anniversary of Dr SR Ranganathan, mathematician, philosopher and the father of librarianship in India, a press release issued here today said.
Although the Librarians� Day is celebrated on August 12, the department celebrated the programme on August 25 due to certain problems.
Prof HP Sarma, Rector, Gauhati University, inaugurating the programme and delivered a thought-provoking lecture on the importance of creating reading habit, which he feels is being eroded due to over-addiction to the modern communication gadgets.
Prof RK Barman spoke on the life and contributions of Dr Ranganathan in a befitting way. Prof Alaka Buragohain, former Professor and head of the Department of Library and Information Science, Gauhati University, threw light on the importance of assessing the needs and various literary tastes of the user community for improved delivery of library services. She also released a book, Impact of ICT on Library Management penned by Dr Sanjay Kumar Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, GU.
Dr Bhupen Deka, former Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery, GMCH, and Prof Narendra Nath Sharma, former Head of the Department of Library and Information Science, graced the occasion as the guest of honour.
Prof Deka traced the history of librarianship in the State and mentioned the contributions and struggles of a few great librarians and visionary philanthropists for initiating the library movement in Assam. The include the late Kumudeswar Borthakur and the late Gopal Krishna Dey, the first librarian of the Kurzon Hall, which is now known as the Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Hall Library, Guwahati. He also highlighted the role of all stakeholders in creating an egalitarian society.
The Silver Jubilee Cash Prize for the year 2014 was conferred on Rubi Baishya for securing the first class first position in the MLISc examination, 2014. Prof Narendra Lahkar, Head of the Department of Library and Information Science, and Dean, Faculty of Arts, highlighted a few issues relating to professionalism in librarianship in the country.
