Digital library, book fair open at LCWU

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Higher Education Syed Raza Ali Gillani inaugurated a state-of-the-art digital library and a book fair at the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) here on Tuesday.

LCWU Vice Chancellor Dr Uzma Qureshi, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion. The minister also visited different parts of the library. Some 25 leading publishers had set up their stalls at the book fair.

Deputy Chief Librarian, LCWU, Sania Awais briefed that the new digital library was equipped with 100 computers and had numerous facilities like collaborative room for group learning, cubes for senior researchers, printing rooms and finishing room for assignments. She added a section had also been allocated for outdoor study where students can study their own books and notes in an ideal environment.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Uzma Qureshi said LCWU was focusing on quality research and this digital library would support this mission. All databases of Higher Education Commission (HEC) would be available in digital library, she said and added LCWU would arrange special workshops to train scholars how to use this database.

Syed Raza Ali Gillani said higher educational institutions were supposed to generate knowledge. He added universities and higher educational institutions should shift their focus from dated knowledge to the dissemination of contemporary information, relevant to the needs of a changing world.

Meanwhile the Punjab University Library (PUL) has introduced a programme “PU Library Book Club” for the promotion of book reading culture. In this regard, the first programme was introductory talks on two books organised at the library’s auditorium. Shahzeb Khan, Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature provided his insights on an inspirational novel written in English language “The Forty Rules of Love” by Elif Shafak. While Dr Muhammad Haroon Usmani, Chief Librarian, Punjab University Library, introduced a travelogue written in Urdu language by Kashif Mustafa, compiled and translated by Muhammad Iqbal Dewan. The audience appreciated the programme and keenly participated in the follow up discussion on the books.

Dr Muhammad Haroon Usmani said library would organise introductory talks on selected books in middle of each month in which faculty members and speakers would be invited to deliver keynote lecture on inspirational books and students would also be encouraged to participate in these talks. He hoped that with this step of the library, students would be able to find good books other than their curricula for developing their reading habits and knowledge. Separately, University of Education (UOE) on Tuesday announced that the university’s first ever Book Fair will be held at Township Campus from Feb 27 to Feb 28.