A two day national conference on the impact of emerging information scenario on library information sciences education, research and training was inaugurated at Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib. The conference has been organised by the Indian Association of Teachers of Library and Information Science (IATLIS) in collaboration with Department of Library and information sciences of the University. Dr. I.V. Malhan, Dean Academic Affairs, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala delivered the keynote address while Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. Sukhdarshan Singh Khehra presided over the inaugural session of the conference. In his keynote address, Dr. Malhan said that information communication technologies have changed the way we communicate and effect of the same in the field of education, training and research has been tremendous. Dr. Malhan said that huge amounts of information are generated in a single day and we must devise ways and methods to ensure that only useful and quality information reaches the masses.
In his presidential address, Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. Sukhdarshan Singh Khehra that the present age is the age of information highways in which new information is rendered at a very fast pace. The Vice Chancellor said that we must keep pace with the changing times and technological advances while ensuring that people have cheap and easy access to information. Earlier, Dr Jagtar Singh, President of IALTIS and Professor In-Charge, Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha Library, Punjabi University, Patiala delivered the inaugural address and highlighted the theme of the conference. He told that the Indian Association of Teachers of Library and Information Science (IATLIS) was founded in 1969 and this is the 33rd edition of the conference. He thanked the University for collaborating with the association for this two day national conference. Organising Secretary of the conference and In-Charge, Department of Library and Information Sciences of the University, Dr. Khushpreet Singh told that about 40 papers will presented in the two day conference and the presentation of the papers will be done in separate technical sessions. At the end of the inaugural session, General Secretary, IALTIS and Professor, Department of Library and Information Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala Dr. HPS Kalra presented the vote of thanks. The association also honoured Dr. J.K. Sarkhel from Kalyani University, West Bengal with the IALTIS- Motiwale best library and information sciences teacher award 2017.
