GUWAHATI, April 25 �Voluntary organisation Anwesha, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), Delhi, is organising a three-day national seminar on status of digitisation, digital preservation and access to libraries and archives in North East India from April 28 at the Jawaharnagrar, Khanapara-based Indian Institute of Bank Management (IIBM) here. The inaugural function of the programme has been scheduled for 10 am of April 28.
According to a press release here, the climatic condition and the attitude of the people towards preservation of the valuable books have led to loss of a sizeable number of precious manuscripts, books and other documents of historical importance in the NE region.
Through digitisation, such documents, manuscripts and books can be preserved effectively for the posterity. The essence of digitisation is safe preservation of invaluable books and manuscripts and their easy access to the users. Preservation alone is not enough.
There should also be the easy access to the preserved materials for its meaningful use. E-access to digital libraries and archives is cost efficient. It also saves time and energy of visiting locations and helps also in sharing intellectual resources, said the press release.
It said that the proposed seminar would mainly focus on the conservation and preservation needs of the old and rare manuscripts and books in the libraries and archives in the NE region, identification of libraries and archive of historical significance and collaboration between IGNCA and libraries and archives in the region.
More than 20 participants and a large number of experts from outside the region have confirmed their participation in the seminar. Former IAS officer Jatin Hazarika will inaugurate the seminar, said the press release.
