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5-day National Training Workshop on Library Automation Package KOHA.

A 5-day National Training Workshop on Library Automation Package KOHA, organized by Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Centre (PASTIC), a subsidiary organization of Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), started on Monday at PSF.

Quaid-e-Azam University Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof. Dr. Masoom Yasinzai was the chief guest while PSF Chairman Prof. Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro presided over the inaugural ceremony of the workshop.

Addressing the inaugural session of the workshop, Dr. Yasinzai stressed the need for a consortium of libraries to work together for up-gradation of library services. He also called for grading of libraries in order to strengthen them. Dr. Yasinzai said there should be follow-up of training programs to fully utilize them and people should not participate in them just to add it in their CVs. He congratulated PASTIC for bringing together library professionals to improve library services.

PSF Chairman Prof. Dr. Manzoor H. Soomro introduced the PSF and its subsidiary organizations PMNH and PASTIC activities for promotion and popularization of science and technology. He assured the participants full institutional support from PSF for libraries automation in the country. He said PSF will provide funding for research in the field of library services. He suggested signing of MoUs by the PASTIC, National Library and Department of Libraries in this regard.

National Library DG Chaudhry Nazir Ahmad said the biggest issue of libraries automation was financial support. He said by adopting Koha software, which is an open source package, these financial hindrances could be overcome. He said there was no shortage of funds for libraries at the federal government level, however there was lack of commitment by the library managers. He lauded the efforts of PASTIC for taking up this ignored, but important area of knowledge.

Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmood from the Department of Library and Information Science, University of the Punjab, said Koha package was in the category of open source, which is suitable for financially weak libraries. He said the open source packages market had surpassed the commercial packages market. He said libraries needed institutional support of Higher Education Commission, professional associations, library schools and software houses for pay-for-support model and library consortia. He sought support of the QAU VC and the PSF Chairman for sharing of library resources.

PASTIC DG Dr. Khalil Ahmad Ibupoto and Director Ms Nageen Annudin also addressed the session.