AIOU promotes online library culture

Islamabad
The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has taken new initiatives to promote online library culture for dissemination of knowledge to the maximum number of people.
Such steps are aimed at enhancing the AIOU Central library’s accessibility to students to do their academic research work even while sitting in their homes and workplaces, said Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui while speaking at a seminar held here on Wednesday in connection with the AIOU’s Distinguished Lecture Series.
Eminent educationist and PhD scholar in library sciences Professor Muhammad Raman was the keynote speaker. He spoke on ‘Innovations in libraries through web-technology’.
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui said the Central library that is open for public is further upgraded through automaton and digital system. Promotion of online library, he said is imperative to promote research-based study. AIOU, he said is laying special focus on indigenous-and community-based research and its dissemination to the end users and policy-makers for the benefit of the society. The University has published seven research journals this year and two more will be brought out by the end of next month.
Timing of the library has been extended and now it remains open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on all working days, including Saturdays. The data to books in the library is being made operational through advanced software system. There will be also automatic system for circulation of books among the readers, with radio frequency identification system for the books' safety.
The AIOU library is first one in the country which has scanned around 4,000 theses of PhD, MPhil, MS and Master's level, made available to the students with full text. The students across the country could benefit from these theses by visiting the university’s website.
The library has been switched over to the latest version of KOHA integrated library software that encompasses new facilities for the readers.