Digital information and what it takes to access them from repositories

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, March 8: The Indian Statistical Institute organised a three-day workshop on the subject of digital libraries and open source software (OSS) for digital repositories.
Participants from across Northeast India are taking part in the workshop which is being conducted from Mar. 8 and till the 10th at the ICFAI University at Sovima village in Dimapur. The event is being conducted In collaboration with the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India (ICFAI) University, Nagaland.
OSS is a software with source codes that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance, it was informed. The workshop will impart practical knowledge about the use of open source tools in libraries. An OSS known as DSpace will be introduced for the first time in the state. DSpace is an open source repository software package typically used for creating open access repositories for scholars and for published digital content.
The workshop will feature lectures from experts in the related topics of digital libraries and tools that build and manage content for self-archiving and to create institutional repositories.
Dr Charles P Alexander, vice chancellor of the ICFAI, said that 20 “fortunate” participants were selected from across the Northeast to take part in the workshop. He made it known that the ‘demerits of knowledge and information’ meant for institutes and libraries are sold by software companies and eventually become the property of the company. That said, he felt it was the right time for OSS to be made available to institutes, libraries, and to the professional community at large.
The head of documentation research and training centre at Indian Statistical Institute, Dr. ARD Prasad, has lauded the university. On a personal note, Prasad believes that “nothing is permanent in life” and technology will be replaced by something else.
“People are made to think that any document digitalised would last,” he said. He spoke about how access to information should be made easier for one to make changes or preserve through software technology.
Puchosale Yori, joint director of the dept. of Art & Culture also was present at the inaugural event of the workshop. She highlighted the importance of imparting skills and how digital libraries would not have to be confined to the ‘four walls of a building’ but be accessible from anywhere.
It was informed that the participants at the workshop are all library and information science-qualified professionals either teaching the subject or working in libraries.
The workshop is sponsored by the Indian Statistical Institute and the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation which is a central autonomous organization established and fully financed by the central ministry of Culture.