AIOU sets up country’s most modern library

Islamabad: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has upgraded here its Central Library that will be the country’s most modern one, meeting the academic research needs of the students.

Besides this, the University’s twenty-four regional offices will have the same facility, said Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui while inaugurating a two-day capacity-building training workshop of the library staff. During the training, the participants from the regional offices will use digital resources and library technology for effective and efficient management of the library network.

This is the part of the library and books’ reading culture being promoted by the University to overcome the knowledge-gap that could help the country to come at par with developed nations in the educational sector, he added.

Since he took over as Vice Chancellor about three years back, Dr. Shahid Siddiqui said promotion of library culture was his main focus. Now, the Central as well as regional libraries are well-equipped with modernized and automation system.

Currently, the Central Library is considered as best one in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. It is also open for general public, and the university provides best library facilities to the readers through online automatic digital system as well.

Timing of the library has been extended, and the now it remains open from 8 am to 7 pm during seven days a week, including Saturday and Sunday. The books’ data of the library has made operational through advanced software system. There is automatic system for circulation of books among the readers. Radio frequency identification system has also been introduced for the safety of the books.

Dr Siddiqui said the AIOU's library is first-ever in the country which has scanned around 4,000 theses of PhD, MPhil, and Masters’ level and made available to the students with full text, through online digital system.

Necessary work is also in progress to expand the space of the library to accommodate maximum number of readers. Arrangements have also been made to provide most friendly environment to the readers.

According to in-charge of the library, Muhmmad Umar Khan, the library has thousands of print and non-print materials to provide academic facilities to the students and teachers. The inaugural session was also addressed by Dean Social Sciences Dr. Samina Awan, Dean Sciences Dr. Zafar Ilyas and Director Regional Services Dr. Arif Saleem Arif.   They spoke about the on-going efforts to develop the AIOU’s as research-based University. They said that the AIOU’s library will be symbol of high academic pursuits.