DELNET-RESOURCES, SERVICES AND FACILITIES & KOHA

On 21st April 2014, Ms. Savita Devi, Assistant Librarian, Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon attended a one - day workshop on “DELNET-Resources, Services And Facilities & KOHA: An Open Source Integrated Library System” held at O. P. Jindal Global University, Sonepat, Haryana.

The aim of the workshop was to spread awareness among the library professionals about the networked library resources offered by DELNET and to promote the use of free open source software KOHA for library automation and modernisation. Nearly 150 professionals from various parts of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, J&K and Punjab actively participated in the programme.

Prof. C. Raj Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, O. P. Jindal Global University, Sonepat, Haryana inaugurated the event and laid the stress on the views that “The libraries have to reinvent their new roles and LIS professionals have to make themselves aware of the emerging trends in Library and information services.” Mr. B. P. Chauhan, Director Library, JG University coordinated the workshop. Dr. H. K. Kaul, Director, DELNET while delivering the presidential address, stressed upon the need to provide the knowledge based services to the users. He further gave a futuristic view of the libraries. Speaking about knowledge organization, Dr. Kaul outlined challenges academic libraries face today, including resistance to new solutions, physical books being replaced by e-books and media labs and the vast number of researcher, government and vendor solutions.

Dr. Sangeeta Kaul, Network Manager, DELNET delivered a lecture on Networking Libraries through DELNET. She further explained KOHA as an open Source of ILMS and its major features including multi-lingual and multi-user support and a customizable web-based OPAC architecture and explained New Trends in Managing Libraries; DELNET: Resources, Services and Facilities; Access to E-Resources; Management System; DELNET E-Journals Consortium etc.

The workshop was informative as the participants learnt about making effective use of the DELNET online services; ILL/ DDS Services, KOHA software etc. as it focussed on how to help the users to access e-resources for their higher studies and research work and to develop adequate skills for catering to the growing information needs of the users.