Awards and honours

Universe is all encompassing.......

So kind of you Venkata Kesavan (TimesArchives)...

So kind of you Venkata...!!!

Ref: BOSLA LECTURE AND BOSLA ELECTIONS : MAY 10, 2008.

Ever since I heard you talking at TISS (BOSLA Lecture) on "Future of Librarianship - the Road Ahead"..........I was indeed restless to talk to you.........interact with you! It so happened that the organizers of the Lecture could not manage to give time to the audience....for interaction with the Speaker and the distinguished Chair of the session (Prof.A.C.Tikekar). I thought I will have a little time later after the lecture is over. Oh no!.........I couldnot indeed. What followed not the least, was the process of election and nominations....and the associational business of BOSLA. Rest is now a history! Prof.Koganurmath got reinstated as Chairman and Prof. Kademani bagged Vice-Chairmanship........ Congrats gurus!

The evening after....ie on May 10 I desparately tried to talk to Venkat.......the lines were not clear he could not hear me. .... Of course I told him that I will call him back later. I tried to communicate to him by a mail......................gosh.......the mail gets bounced....! Spoke to Vijay and told him that I am unable to reach his boss........he said he will give me a mail in the morning, which did not happen. I thought may be it is not the time..........I may get in touch for interaction..........later elsewhere. Surpirse!.........may be it was........at 4.00pm today......a sweet voice......of an young Librarian was heard over my telephone.....yes it was Venkat.......hats off. This is what a professional is. Prof.Tikekar in his lecture was telling............. : the serivcies of the librarians earlier used to get terminated.....and now the services of the librarians never get terminated........
Now you see...............till he reached me to speak........he did not close the matter. What a warm communication. Venkat your you have grown as a professional beyond your age and qualifications......hats off.............
Who are the role models in our profession,..............Professors like Prof.Tikekar are yes..........ad to the list names like R.Venkata Kesavan.
The journey of professioalism never ends............Venkat keep it up..........Cheers.!!!!!!!
Librarianship is a happening and a happy profession.Good night all.

Note : Reach Mr.R.Venkata Kesavan by email : venkata.kesavan@timesgroup.com. Please find my letter to Mr. Venkat else where in this blog.....http://indialibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/05/brilliant-lecture-by-mr-venkat-kesavan.html

A brilliant lecture by Mr. Venkat Kesavan (Times Group) on : "Future of Librarianship : The Road Ahead" , at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

AKRUTI CITYGOLD INSTITUTE
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Library
May 12, 2008

Mr.Venkata Kesavan
Chief Manager,
Times Archives and Knowledge Centre,
Bennet Coleman and Co Ltd, Times of India Building,
Email : venkata.kesavan@timesgroup.com

Dear Mr.Venkat,

Subject : BOSLA LECTURE / ELECTION

Warm Greetings!

It was indeed my pleasure to meet you at TISS on 10th May 2008. Your lecture was informative and timely. Most of us (librarians) unnecessarily think that it is a waste to talk about profession, professionalism and future of the profession. It will be too late if we continue to think that such discussions and deliveries are a fancy and time pass. Unfortunately even the senior colleagues many a times tend to think in the same way. We un knowlingly think that these are the topics which are meant only for those people who are to address valedictories at Seminars and Conferences.

The topic of Profession, Professionalism as you must have realized is a serious research enterprise. It is a research enterprise addressed seriously by Economists, Historians, Sociologists , Political Scientists and Philosophers. We the librarians have to come out of our shells and realize the importance this literature which is ample. This kind of studies as must have realized are known popularly by such terms as : Professiology, Sociology of Professions and Works. The studies in this regard fit into an age old Research Model which encompass models like Functionalism, Conflict, Evolution and Power. There are lots of such studies addressing Engineers, Doctors, Nurses, Teaching and so on. Unfortunately the librarians are rarely addressed by these researchers. Works of Dr.Chopra, Dr.Anand, P.K.Jayswal may be mentioned here.

In a passing way, if I am right you said……………… “……. Times have changes, LIS Professors still continue to teach age old papers like Classification, Cataloguing etc…….. Here I would like to add : For any profession to flourish and bloom into their full being they need :

Ø A core knowledge base
Ø A core value base
Ø A core service base
Ø A core identity

Can we stand upright on our own comfortably by mechanically, technically and technologically fit by moving away from our central issues listed above…..? It is at this moment a loud thinking and proposition. Is it not possible to imbibe the best of contemporary developments not leaving our central base and values visualized by Prof.Ranganathan?

This has been my topic of groping for the last more than 10 years or so. I could not stop writing this letter to you……mainly because of my background. Thanks for sensitizing me once on the issues dearer to my long study and research in this regard. I am shortly to register my self for Ph.D in LIS on the themes listed above. I wish you will respond to my letter and share your concerns in this regard. It is my pleasure to find a professional colleague who has concerns dearer to me. Enclosed as an attachment is one of my papers published in this regard.

Thanking you
Yours sincerely


Rajashekhar
Librarian
My Blog/Website : http://indialibrarian.blogspot.com/

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Library, Akruti Citygold Institute: email address : lotus5673@yahoo.co.in

INDIA LIBRARIAN 1816 .... gbgv .... WRITES... PUBLISHES ....

List of this Bloggers Important Publications : Papers, Essays : Library and Information Science

Prasad Rao, VTV and Devarai, RS. Place of Library In progressive methods of Teaching. Vidyalaya Patrika, Kendriya Vidyalaya No.II Uppal Hyderabad., 1987

Devarai, R.S. and Damodaram, T.. Ranganathan and the professional development of Librarians : a study in Professiology. University News. November 9, 30(45), 11-13., 1992. http://www.aiuweb.org/university/universitynews.asp

Devarai, R.S. and Damodaram, T. 1993. Information for the common man and the future of Librarianship : a critical analysis. Indian Journal of Information, Library and Society.6(1-2) 84-92.

Kalyane, V.L. and Devarai, R.S. Empathy in Public Librarianship. Indian Journal of Information, Library and Society.7 (1-2) 87-104 pp., 1994. http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00001421/

Ramesh, L.S.R.C.V. and Devarai, R.S. Evaluation of Public Relations under the changed concept of Public Libraries. Library Today 16 (5) 2-5pp., 1994

V.L.Kalyane and Devarai, R.S. 1994. Round the Clock Librarianship vis-à-vis Profession and Society. IN New Vistas in Library and Information Science. New Delhi : Vikas. Prof.G.V.S.L.N. Raju Festschrift Volume. http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00003052/. 1984

Kalyane, V.L. and Devarai, R.S.1994. Informatics on C.S.Venkatram. IN New Horizons in Library and Information Science : Dr.Velaga Venkatappiah Festschrift Volume. Madras : T.R.Publications. http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00003042/

Devarai, R.S. Kademani, B.S. and Damodaram, T. Obsolescence in Library and Information Professionals : a critical view. Herald of Library Science., 1993. http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00003269/

Ramesh, L.S.R.C.V. and Devarai, R.S.1994. Librarians Reference tools and the users/readers - a critical analysis. Library Today 16 (11) : 1-3., 1994

Damodaram, T. and Devarai, R.S. Growth of Research in Oilseeds and Collaboration Trends : a case study. Library Science with a slant to Documentation. 1994.

Ramesh, L.S.R.C.V. and Devarai, R.S. Dr. S.R.Ranganathan : a potential library architect. Indian Journal of Information, Library and Society. 1994.

Moushumi Vyas and Devarai, R.S.. Public Libraries and the future of Library and Information Science as a profession. IN Library and Information Science : Some perspectives/M.Shanker Reddy et.al. Hyderabad : Viabhav Agencies. 1998

Devarai, R.S. and Devarai, K.S.. Extended Library hours. Indian Journal of Information , Library and Society. 1997. http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00002992/

Devarai, R.S., Ramesh, L.S.R.C.V and Vali, H.M. Informatics on M.N.Srinivas. Annals of Library Science and Documentation.45(4). http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00003042., 1998

Devarai, R.S., Ramesh L.S.R.C.V. and Padmavathi, J. Librarianship and the professional issues. IN Vistas in Library Information Systems and Networks/Venugopal, M.V. et.al.(eds). Agra: Y.K.Publishers. 1999.

Devarai, Rajashekhar S. and Ramesh, L. S. R. C. V. Librarianship and the professional model : A sociological tutorial and critique. Library Science with a slant to Documentation and Information Studies 36(3):pp. 155-164. 1999. http://eprints.rclis.org/archive/00002991/

Devarai R.S. "Biotechnology, IPR and Biodiversity/M.B.Rao and Manjula Guru .-New Delhi: Dorling Kindersley(Pearson Edn), 2007,pp229, Rs.600.00" : A book review.-Akruti Journal of Infrastructure 1(3)April 2008., pp250-251. http://indialibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/05/book-review-on-biotechnology-ipr-and.html

Congratulations Dr.Muttayya.......!!

BOSLA - BOSLA - BOSLA - BOSLA - BOSLA - BOSLA - BOSLA -

HOT NEWS INDEED !! May 10, 2008 : BOSLA LECTURE AND ELECTIONS !!

LIS CONTINUES TO BE A HOT AND HAPPENING PROFESSION!!!

• Dr.Muttayya Koganurmath renominated as Chairman of BOSLA.
• Mr.Kademani Basavaraj nominated as Vice Chairman.
• Mr.Venkat Kesavan-Chief Manager - Times Archives and Knowledge Centre delivers Lecture on "Future of Librrianship : the road ahead".........assessed LIS by SWOT ANALYSIS.
• Prof.Tikekar A.C blessed budding professionals and members of BOSLA. He threw a catch word : "Respect Past, and welcome future"
• For more details go at : http://www.bosla.org.in/

enthusiasm

Norman Vincent Peale
Life's blows cannot break a person whose spirit is warmed at the fire of enthusiasm.

Source : http://quotations.about.com/cs/inspirationquotes/a/Enthusiasm1.htm

A book review on Biotechnology, IPR and Biodiversity/M.B.Rao and Manjula Guru

Devarai, R. S.2008. "Biotechnolgy, IPRs and Biodiversity/M.B.Rao and Manjula Guru.,New Delhi: Dorling Kindersley (Pearson Edn), 2007,pp229,Rs.6oo" : A Book Review.- Akruti Journal of Infrastructure.- 1(3)April 2008.,pp250-251.
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It is indeed a challenging task to author a book on the three contemporary topics, viz., ‘Biotechnology, IPRs and Biodiversity’ together placed in relation to each other. The authors M.B.Rao and Manjula Guru claim to have brought out their diverse and multidimensional deliberations on the topics cited above in unison and in interaction and inter relation with each other. One can notice ample of literature on the topics of Biotechnology (BT), Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and Biodiversity (BD). This literature cuts across disciplinary boundaries, covering various issues with diverse facets. The topics BT, IPR’s and BD have become so common in the media and professional literature, that these have become part and parcel of common sense and conventional wisdom.

It is in this background that the authors in one go, have attempted to analyse the details of the concerns and commitments of the developed and developing countries about issues pertaining to Science, Technology, Policy, social/survival issues directly or indirectly related to BT, IPRs and BD. The book is spread out in ten chapters. Chapter 1 covers the topic ‘biotechnology’ with emphasis on its positive and negative impacts on society. In Chapter 2, the authors give an overview of disastrous effects of Genetically Modified Food (GMFs) and the laws enacted by various countries in this regard for mitigating their harmful effects. Chapters 3 and 4 deal with biotechnology, patent law and the role played by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for the conclusion of a ‘binding agreement’ on the conservation of Plant Genetic Resources. Authors lay a special emphasis on the fact that the FAO’s role in this regard did not yield desired results due to opposition of the developed countries. Rao and Guru dwell on issues and concerns like : the need to preserve biodiversity, agreements on the conservation of Flora and Fauna and protection of ecosystems/habitats, backgrounds which led to the signing of the historical Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), The Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety etc in Chapters 5-10. All through the chapters, the authors skillfully glide from science, social science, social work, law to technology easily with ample of comfort to explain the general concerns pertaining to BT, IPR & BD.

The text is a good blend of the experience, exposure and credentials of the authors. Mr. Rao is an advocate and a senior bureaucrat. Ms.Manjula Guru is an advocate at Delhi High Court. She is a member of the American Association of Agricultural Economists. Both of them have number of papers and publications to their credit. The authors are successful in educating the reader on BT, IPR & BD. They have tried to highlight the critical issues like biodiversity laws, vested interests of the developed countries on IPRs and Patents, marginalization of the indigenous people, vested interest of MNCs etc which are a matter of great concern to both developed and developing countries. The authors have crisply brought out the fact of USA not signing the CBD. They have highlighted USA’s concerns over its MNCs and their ‘Biotechnology business’, than about the concerns and issues of developing countries.

By and large the book is a narrative and probably a result mainly of the reading, scholarship and experience of the authors. No study or survey seems to form the base of the deliberations by the authors. Nevertheless this book on Biotechnology, IPRs and Biodiversity is a welcome addition to the already burgeoning list of books in this field. The authors’ efforts are appreciable., as they are successful in sensitizing and raising the curiosities of the readers to know more in this regard.

Rajashekhar Devarai
_________________________
JAIN’S SEZ MANUAL 2007 by Abha Jain, India Investment Publications, New Delhi, April 2007, pp 410, Rs. 470
Indian Special Economic zones (SEZs’) are zones within the territory of India that operate on a global paradigm of business practices, regulatory framework and enjoy the freedom to do business and trade without government restrictions. They have access to all the advantages pertaining

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
"Libraries are as the shrines where all the relics of the ancient saints, full of true virtue, and that without delusion or imposture, are preserved and reposed."
Submitted by Samantha Fasolino, Kim Kuhn

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested" ("Of Studies" Essays II)
Submitted by Melanie J. Lewis, Debbi Healy, Jill Stanwich, Barb Coogan

"Knowledge is power."
Submitted by Jennifer Thomas and Pam Fordham

“Read not to contradict nor to take for granted, but to weigh and consider.”
submitted by Dorothy Wright

2008

NEW YEAR COME TO ALL OF US WITH A NEW BANG. LET BEST OF NEW YEAR 2008 BE YOURS...IN ALL OF YOUR ENDEAVOURS.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.

RAJLIBRARIAN
lotus5673@yahoo.co.in

SCHOLARSHIP IS BACK TO ITS BEST FORM. SOONER NOT LATER BE A PART OF THIS MOVEMENT.

We are bound to succeed!!......

We are bound to succeed friends.....because we are back to scholarship once again for good......Knowledge is real power.....and no one can stop us from being powerful.....
God bless you to believe this firmly....
with best wishes

RajLibrarian
lotus5673@yahoo.co.in

HELLO

HAPPY DEEPAVLI TO ALL OF YOU

RAJ-LIBRARIAN

lotus5673@yahoo.co.in

____________________________________

let us take the challenge

We are truly at cross roads friends/librarians.....................surprised at the words/lines!!!!!............being at cross roads you can imagine........how wonderful it is ...........in fact we must pray to be at cross roads always..............we have the advantage to meet and see every one.........................

let us face.........let us be bold in what we stand for...........we are people who are special...........we are a special breed.................let us not bother whether people understand what we know.......to answer them..............

Best wishes......and see you at the cross roads again and again................
Raj-Librarian
lotus5673@yahoo.co.in
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