The Third International Conference of Agricultural Libraries and Users Community (ICALUC-2023), organized by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Ludhiana, as part of its Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and in collaboration with the Association of Agricultural Libraries and Documentalists (AALDI), concluded at the Pal Auditorium today. The event, held over two days, witnessed eminent figures and experts in the field addressing the audience.
Chief Guest Dr Mrs Bimlesh Mann, Assistant Director General (EP&HS) ICAR, New Delhi, expressed her delight at the conference’s success and emphasized the significance of ICALUC-2023, describing it as a platform for the assessment of agricultural libraries, laying the foundation for strategies to make libraries more relevant in the AI-enabled world. Dr Mann highlighted the role of the agricultural education division of ICAR in enhancing the resources of agricultural libraries through e-journals, e-books, e-theses, and other instructional materials. She stressed the importance of libraries as gateways to information, empowering stakeholders in achieving sustainable development.
Professor Prem Singh, University Librarian (Retd.), Nehru Library, CCSHAU, Hissar, Haryana, the Guest of Honour, discussed the impact of the IT revolution on academic libraries. He called for regularly evaluating service standards and improvements to transition into web-based information systems capable of sharing agricultural information and resources.
Dr G Rathinasabapathy, Guest of Honour and University Librarian, TANVASU, Chennai, provided insights into the discussions during the technical sessions, ranging from open access initiatives in agriculture literature to exploring farmer perceptions of agricultural information sources and smartphone addiction among university students.
Rapporteur General Dr Harish Kumar Tripathi, ACTO, ICAR Library, New Delhi, highlighted the critical role of agricultural libraries in advancing Sustainable Development Goals. He emphasized the transformative power of access to agricultural knowledge and commended stakeholders for their commitment to addressing challenges.
Dr OP Chaudhry, University Librarian, PAU, and President of ICALUC-2023, appreciated dignitaries and delegates for their fruitful discussions. He also announced the digitalization of Dr. M.S. Randhawa’s hand notes to preserve his wisdom for future generations.
Dr. Balwan Singh, Professor of Library and Information Science, CCSHAU, Hisar, formally welcomed the guests, while Dr. Yogita Sharma, Librarian, PAU, and Organizing Secretary of ICALUC-2023, delivered the vote of thanks. The event included a felicitation ceremony for the dignitaries.
The conference fostered valuable connections and partnerships, promoted innovation and best practices in agricultural libraries, and laid the groundwork for a more sustainable and information-rich future.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=8133
