Agricultural Knowledge Management Unit, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi and Mohinder Singh Randhawa Library, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, jointly organized two-day training programme on “Strengthening of Digital Library in National Agricultural Research and Education System (NARES) using Koha Platform” for the libraries of State Agricultural Universities/ICAR Institutes under North Zone of India. This training was conducted under sub-project “National Knowledge Management Centre for Agriculture Education and Research (NKMC4AER)” of Innovation Grants of National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP). The main objective of this project is strengthening of digital libraries under NARES. A total of 31 participants in the domain of library and information science from various State Agricultural Universities and Deemed Universities from the North Zone of India participated. In addition, dignitaries from ICAR, IARI, New Delhi;Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad and Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, were also present. The training was imparted on implementation and use of Koha Integrated Library System in the libraries of agricultural universities/ICAR institutes.
The programme was inaugurated by Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, and Padam Shri awardee. He congratulated ICAR on achieving the milestone of developing the digital repository Krishikosh in NARES. He further said that Library automation using Koha has facilitated the provision of library services speedily to its users. Dr Jatinder Kumar, an expert in implementation and customization of Koha Library Management Software, imparted extensive training to the participants which included hands-on session as well. Dr R. B. Sharma, National Coordinator, National Agricultural Higher Education Project, ICAR, New Delhi, was the chief guest for the valedictory session. He lauded the efforts of the organizers in holding the training programme which aimed at strengthening of library management system under NARES. He also stressed upon changing role of libraries in digital era and emphasized that further advancements in this regard are need of the hour. The training concluded on a successful note.