Libraries becoming gateways to digital learning and space for community dialogue, says Mysore varsity V-C

N.K. Lokanath, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore, said here on Saturday that libraries across the world are transforming and becoming gateways to digital learning and space for community dialogue.

Speaking at the inauguration of a seminar on ‘Turning Pages and Beyond: Recalibrating Librarianship for a Connected and Creative World’, Prof. Lokanath said people question whether libraries were needed in this age of smartphones. “But when we look closely, we realise something deeper: the need for credible, organised, and ethical access to information, and it has never been greater. If anything, librarianship is not in decline but is in transition,” he said.

Prof. Lokanath said there was a tremendous scope for libraries to strengthen its existing services and meet the growing demands of research and innovation.

Prof. Lokanath called for investments in systems that support faculty in accessing global scholarly resources, publishing high quality journals, and pursuing intellectual property filings.

The Vice-Chancellor said the quality of a university is not judged by its teaching but also by its scholarly output, citations, and contributions to innovations. Libraries have a foundational role to play in that journey, provided they are empowered, modernised, and aligned with the academic goals, he said.

He said that library and information professionals have a role to play in ensuring equitable access to knowledge in safeguarding digital rights and privacy and in promoting truth and trust in the face of misinformation. Library professionals should be positioned as strategic partners in academia and not just support staff, he added.

M. Chandrashekar, chairman and dean, Department of Studies in Library and Information Science, and others were present.