Berhampur, 2nd December 2023 – The Post-graduate Department of Library and Information Science at Berhampur University, in collaboration with the Raja Rammohun Rpy Library Foundation (RRRLF), successfully organized a two-day national conference on December 1-2, 2023. The conference, titled “Smart Library Eco-system in the Learning Landscapes,” aimed to explore and discuss the integration of smart technologies into library services.
The inauguration session, held on December 1st, was graced by Prof. Geetanjali Dash, Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University, who served as the chief patron. Prof. Dash emphasized the transformative power of smart technology in libraries, envisioning traditional libraries evolving into smart hubs of knowledge. Prof. S. K. Baral, Chairman of the PG Council of Berhampur University, shared his views and emphasised on reading habits by students. The convenor of the conference, Dr Jyotsna Sahoo, who is also the Head of the Department of Library and Information Science, introduced the esteemed delegates. She also provided an insightful overview of the conference’s theme, sharing the significance of smart libraries in higher education. The chief guest of the event, Prof. Ajay Pratap Singh, Director General of the National Library Kolkata and former DG of RRRLF, presented a comprehensive overview of the Government of India’s initiatives to enhance the nationwide public library ecosystem. Additionally, he outlined the government’s future plans of establishing libraries at the Panchayat level. Mr. Goswami Golam Debata, IAS (Retd.), marked his presence as the guest of honour, captivating the audience with his valuable insights on books and poetic expressions.
Prof. Pitambara Padhi, Former Professor of DLIS at Utkal University, graced the occasion as another guest of honour and delivered an impactful speech on the significance of smart libraries. He shared his insights and advocating for a centralized library system and emphasized the need of a robust movement towards enhancing the Public Library System in the state. Dr. Raj Kishor Kampa, the Organizing Secretary of the conference, expressed gratitude in the vote of thanks at the conclusion of the event. Over the two days, the conference witnessed the presentation of over 30 papers by delegates from across the country, complemented by nine high-impact invited talks from distinguished speakers representing IIT, IOP, IISER, SOA, TCS, and Jadavpur University, Central University of Mizoram, Sambalpur University and Berhampur University.
The conference concluded on December 2nd with a valedictory ceremony in the presence of Chief Guest Sri. Satya Ranjan Sahoo, OAS, (Special Secretary) and former Collector-cum district Magistrate, Boudh who is an eminent public speaker.
Sri. Sahoo underscored the importance of reading, donating books, and establishing personal libraries, stating that books are the second mother to every individual. More than 120 delegates from various parts of the country participated in the conference. Some of the participants shared their feedback with immense satisfaction, emphasizing the desire for the university to organize similar events at regular intervals.
