LIBRARY EVENTS 2016
01 June, 2016 (One Day Awareness Programme for Visually Impaired Scholars/Students)
Allama Iqbal Library has taken an initiative of providing every kind of facility to the physically challenged students and particularly Visually Impaired (VI) students. Allama Iqbal Library has purchased Computers, Job Access With Speech (JAWS) software, Kurzweil software and Zoom Ex Instant Reader for setting up a lab. Allama Iqbal Library has also procured other essential gadgets for the Visually Impaired students namely Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) players and Scanners. DAISY players are compact which serve the purpose of radio cum voice recording, e-book reading, and DAISY player. With the help of these the students can record the lectures in the classrooms and listen them at home to memorize the knowledge imparted to them in the classrooms. These can also be used to listen to the Digital Talking Books (DTB) or scanned pages provided by the Allama Iqbal Library at home without needing any computer or laptop. As a part of initiative taken by the University of Kashmir, DAISY players are provided to the blind students for the entire academic session.
As the new session has started, Allama Iqbal Library organized one day awareness programme in the International Resource Cell (IRC) of the Allama Iqbal Library on 01-6-2016. Visually Impaired Students were guided regarding the latest technology helping the visually impaired students in this programme. All the visually impaired students were invited to attend this programme and the scholars/students came not only from the departments of University of Kashmir but also from Maulana Azad National Urdu University and Central University of Kashmir as well.
During the programme, the students were guided by Mr. Mohammad Ishaq Lone (Assistant Librarian), Mr. Shaheel Ahmad (Coordinator, Special cell, DSW) and Mr. Abrar (Technical person). The students were informed about the various initiatives taken by the University for their betterment. The students were given live demonstration of NVDA software, DAISY players etc.
The programme ended with the remarks from the Dr. A. M. Baba (University Librarian)
23 APRIL, 2016 (WORLD BOOK & COPYRIGHT DAY)
World Book Day or World Book and Copyright Day (also known as International Day of the Book or World Book Days) is a yearly event on April 23rd, and was first organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on 23rd April 1995 to promote reading, publishing and copyright.
With an aim to inculcate reading habits among the younger generation and accentuate the importance of books in our lives this year too, a day long events were organized by Allama Iqbal Library on the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day at Ibn Khaldun Auditorium, Allama Iqbal Library on 23rd April 2016.
The event was presided over by the Prof. Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir. The Hon’ble Vice Chancellor highlighted the role of technology in transforming modes and forms of book reading. Speaking during a programme, Prof. Andrabi said: “The importance of traditional format of books will always be there. But we cannot undermine the compulsions of technology and therefore the classical library set up has to be blended with demands of modern times for its sustenance.” Prof Andrabi said: “A book is a book, whether it’s in traditional printed form or in electronic format. It depends upon a reader’s interest and compatibility that which form of book reading he or she would prefer. However, what is more important is that the message contained in a book is not lost in this debate of ‘traditional versus online book reading’.”
In his remarks, J&K’s former Chief Information Commissioner, Mr. G.R. Sufi, highlighted the significance of book reading.
University Librarian, Allama Iqbal Library, Dr. Abdul Majid Baba, in his welcome address, said “
There has been a great revolution in information technology. We have e-books available now, but traditional print books have their own value.” He talked about importance of inculcating reading habits among youth.
During the occasion an exhibition on “Rare books” was held in the Reference Division of the Library and also a photo exhibition on “World renowned Libraries” was also held while a book titled ‘Library Automation in India’ was also released by the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir.
28-31 March, 2016 (Four Days Training Programme on Applications of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Public Libraries)
The Four Days Training programme on Applications of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Public Libraries was organised by Allama Iqbal Library during 28-31 March, 2016 in which seventeen (17) participants from the Department of Libraries and Research, Kashmir Division were provided training and awareness about the applications of ICT in Public Libraries.
Various resource persons from the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kashmir and Allama Iqbal Library were invited to deliver lectures and conduct practical demonstrations during the four day training programme at International Resource Cell, Allama Iqbal Library. The proceedings of the training programme were conducted by Mr. Ghulam Jeelani Shah and Mr. Ishtiyaq Hussain Bhat, Library Professionals of Allama Iqbal Library, University of Kashmir.
Other highlights of the Day included:-
- Exhibition of Rare Books available in Allama Iqbal Library at Reference Division of the Library;
- Photo Exhibition of World Renowned Libraries;
- Prize and Certificate distribution to the most Frequent Users of Allama Iqbal Library (Session 2015-16);
- A book titled ‘Library Automation in India’ was released by Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir;
- During the celebrations, questions pertaining to Best-selling Books and famous Authors were asked to the participants by the University Librarian, Allama Iqbal Library, Dr. Abdul Majid Baba and on-the-spot Prizes were given to the participants who answered correctly. The question & answer session was highly appreciated by the participants;
- On the occasion the Library was kept open to all members of public especially Book Lovers, Authors, Students and Scholars of the Kashmir Valley and the visitors were provided a guided Library tour.