Mangalore : “Librarians should take the maximum benefit of Information Communication Technology and adapt themselves like “Smart Phones to provide latest information services to library users” said Prof. K Byrappa, the Honorable Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University.

He was inaugurating “Libraries and Librarianship in Transition: Challenges and Opportunities” (LIBTRANS-2014) at Besant evening college on Friday August 22, he said that the managements and librarians have to work hand in hand to take the libraries and library services to greater heights.

Prof. Ramesh Babu, Retired Professor, Dept of Library and Information Science, Madras University delivered the key-note address. Dr. A.M. Narahari, Registrar of St. Aloysius College, (autonomous) Mangalore was the guest of honour. He said that it is the right time to change the designation of ‘librarians’ to the equivalent of lecturers and professors and provide all benefits due to them. The president of Women’s National Education Society, Mr. Kudpi Jagadish Shenoy presided over the programme. He congratulated the organizers and wished every success to the programme.

The seminar volume containing 93 papers and the news bulletin of DK and Kodagu Library Association were released on this occasion. The retired member of the Association, Mrs. T. Indira, librarian of Canara First Grade College, 7 PhD holders in Library and Information Science and the I Rank holder in M.L.I.Sc. from Mangalore University were honoured and felicitated.

Dr Carmelita Goveas, the Principal of Besant Evening College introduced the guests and welcomed the gathering. Dr Vasappa Gowda, the organizing secretary of the conference gave the outline of the conference and the proceedings.Mr. Nagar Narayana Shenoy, the correspondent of Besant Evening College, Dr. Vijayakumar, the President of Karnataka College Librarians Association and the secretary Dr. Mahesh Horkeri, Dr Sujatha, H.R, the president of Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu Library Association and the secretary Mr. Lokanath Poojary, Dr. Suresh Jange, deputy librarian, Gulbarga University and the rapporteur general of the conference were present on the dais.

The programme starts with the Invocation song by Miss. Pooja and group. Prof. Laxminarayana Bhat gave vote of thanks. Miss. Roshal Coelho compared the programme.