The 4th International Conference ICAL 2020 of Asian Libraries entitled “Managing Libraries: Sustaining Excellence through Innovation, Technology and Re positioning” was held from 26th-28th Feb 2020 at IIM Lucknow campus. The conference was jointly organized by IIM Lucknow and ASIALA New Delhi.
The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Archana Shukla, Director IIM Lucknow, by lightening the lamp.
In his welcome address the conference organizing secretary, Sh. M.K. Singh, Librarian IIM Lucknow, welcomed the library professionals participating in the conference.
More than 100 participants from various national and international organizations participated in the conference. Around 50 selected and contributed papers were presented during the three days’ deliberations from 26th to 28th of February, 2020 on the theme and sub themes of the conference, dealing with the issues – innovation, technology and sustainability through re-positioning.
There were some invited talks by the eminent LIS professionals and product demonstrations by major publishers and distributors like, EBSCO, Emerald, Elsevier, Wharton, Wiley, Balani, Springer Nature, etc.
The President of ASIALA, Dr. S.S. Dhaka briefed about the Asian Libraries Association activities. The conference director Prof. Shabahat Hussain, Professor (Retd.) AMU, Aligarh welcomed the conference participants and dignitaries. The Guest of Honor, Prof. R. L. Raina, Vice Chancellor - J.K.L.U., Jaipur emphasized upon the need to upgrade the skills and attitude of the upcoming library professionals towards the requirements of the new age stake holders.
The Conference volume was released by the dignitaries on the dais. In his inaugural address the Chief Guest Prof. M. L. B. Bhatt, Vice Chancellor, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow talked about the importance of library and library professionals in the society. He also elaborated that the users’ needs and expectations should be kept in the mind while planning the services of the library.
Prof. Shukla, Director IIM Lucknow stressed that the librarians must be ready to change. She also mentioned that today’s libraries need to be more proactive and user centric. The AI is going to replace most of the routine activities of the libraries in near future. Accordingly, the library professionals have to upgrade themselves continuously in tunes with the technology.
The Life Time Achievement Award was conferred upon Prof. Shahabhat Hussain for his outstanding contributions to the development of library profession.
The vote of thanks was given by the Chairman Programme Committee Dr. Tariq Ashraf.