Latest news with #LibraryandInformationScience
Observer
22-07-2025
- Science
- Observer
Dialogue debates libraries' role in sustainable development
MUSCAT: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth on Monday conducted a dialogue session titled 'Culture, Library Science, and Sustainable Development' as part of the Civilisational Horizons programme. The session debated the challenges facing libraries due to the digital revolution and the spread of the Internet, and how libraries have been able to adapt to these transformations and provide reliable information. It also highlighted the role libraries play in supporting education, scientific research and innovation. The session addressed the relationship between culture and Library and Information Science (LIS), and the role of libraries as cultural institutions that have contributed throughout the ages to enriching human culture and promoting the values of pluralism, tolerance and freedom of expression. The session highlighted the vital role libraries play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by organising knowledge and managing the vast intellectual output through smart systems that keep pace with technological developments. The session discussed the contributions of libraries to enhancing artificial intelligence, thanks to their vast databases, and their role in training users to use these technologies to produce reliable and knowledge-based texts. It also addressed the reality of LIS in the Sultanate of Oman, the information strategy and digital transformation within the Oman Vision 2040 as well as the most prominent challenges facing the library sector in the Sultanate of Oman. It also reviewed investment opportunities in cultural and creative industries and the role of libraries in this field. — ONA
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
How Bookstagram is changing the way we discover and discuss books
more by Anosha Rishi | 5 modern malayalam novels(Written by Anosha Rishi Kakanadan) When blogger Sneha Kapoor began posting her thoughts on books on Instagram in 2021, it was simply a way to escape the stillness of the pandemic. She did not expect them to strike a chord with thousands of readers around the world. By the time life returned to some semblance of normalcy, she had created a thriving Bookstagram page where literature, aesthetics, and community converged. 'With Instagram becoming second nature to most, Bookstagram is playing a major role in influencing readership. Whether skin care or eating habits, social media influences all, it is the same for books. People want to be part of what is trending,' says Kapoor. A post shared by Sneha | bookstagram (@bookbegum) Bookstagram, a portmanteau of books and Instagram, is a sub-community on the photo-sharing app, where readers around the world share their literary tastes and engage in bookish conversations. Its video-based counterpart, BookTok, has seen explosive growth on TikTok, the short-form video platform. But in India, where the platform remains banned, Bookstagram is the go-to digital space for bibliophiles. On Bookstagram, aesthetically shot book covers accompany expository book reviews and recommendations. Whether reviving old classics such as Fyodor Dostoevsky's White Nights (1848) or kindling interest in translated works, these communities are influencing readership, and shaping the publishing industry. There are currently over a hundred million posts tagged #Bookstagram. By the mid-2010s, Instagram had established itself as a popular social media platform, and Bookstagram was an offshoot of the same. Initially, Bookstagram focused on curated pictures of meticulously arranged books. However, the posts gradually became diversified featuring book recommendation lists glamorised through the use of graphic design and visually appealing pictures of book quotes and annotations. The introduction of Instagram reels in 2020 further diversified the content with Bookstagrammers now featuring in their reels and reviewing books. Most Bookstagrammers started their accounts to find a community or express their love for literature. For Suhani Bansal, a law student, her account @quillsandcovers_ was 'born out of a wish to connect with more bookish friends'. Although book reviews and recommendations dominate Bookstagram, it is not merely a transactional space, but also a platform for self-expression. Rachana Bardewa, a Library and Information Science student, who started her Bookstagram account @rachreeads in 2022, says, 'This space began almost accidentally as an act of love. I wanted somewhere to gather all the things that moved me: the words that felt like they were written just for me, the movies that made me feel so many emotions, and songs that held entire seasons.' As a democratic space that allows freedom of expression, Bookstagram offers a level of accessibility and inclusivity that distinguishes it from traditional literary criticism. It provides an informal space for readers of all backgrounds to share opinions, and champions diverse voices, without the mandate of formal training or institutional backing. Bookstagram allows creators to experiment with posts in various formats and styles, which allows for a diverse audience. Example: 'songs that remind me of a book'. These posts not only encourage new creative avenues on social media but also diversify readership. A post shared by rach (@rachreeads) 'Bookstagram has turned reading into something communal and accessible. We no longer find books only in libraries or dusty shop shelves. It has made reading more alive, more interwoven with daily life. It has also broadened horizons: I have found translated works, small publishing houses, and niche titles just scrolling through feeds. In many ways, it has made discovering books serendipitous and personal', says Bardewa. Bookstagram is encouraging readers to explore diverse voices and genres. While Western narratives have traditionally dominated reading lists, of late, there has been a deliberate attempt to decolonise literature. 'Creators are making a conscious effort to spotlight voices beyond the usual. Works translated from Japanese, Korean and Indian languages offer such fresh perspectives, ' says Anjali Anil, an engineer, who started her page in 2024 to 'inspire somebody to pick up a book.' Bookstagrammers engage with their community in creative ways: issuing reading challenges or starting book clubs. 'Book clubs are a great initiative to bring readers from all around the world together. There are also active reading challenges which are aimed at diversifying your reading with reading prompts, which could be serious (eg world literature) or fun (eg read a book with a blue cover),' Resh Susan, a freelance writer and the curator of the account @thebooksatchel, had started a book club, which picked a book every month. 'I used to host a yearly challenge in March called #femmemarch focussed on celebrating work by women. There are several such challenges on Instagram that encourage reading.' A post shared by BookClub #readwithresh (@thesatchelbookclub) Like any other section, Bookstagram is not immune to the algorithm and sweeping trends, which means some books are widely discussed, while others not so much. 'Sometimes, because of social media algorithms, it feels like everybody is reading the same book, or the one with the best marketing team,' says Susan. Despite meddling algorithms, she maintains that Bookstagram is still an excellent place for book recommendations, especially if one finds pages or people whose taste aligns with them. Several influencers often get reading inspiration from their mutual Bookstagrammers. Over the last few years, many books that were widely discussed on Bookstagram and Booktok became international bestsellers, including Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life (2015), Casey McQuiston's Red, White and Royal Blue (2019), Taylor Jenkin Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (2017). The impact of Bookstagram in the book market is immense. It is common for publishing houses to send books to Bookstagrammers for review. Authors often reach out directly to Bookstagrammers and send them ARCs (advance copies). This is done as a marketing strategy to increase the reach of a book before it hits the shelves. While not all book influencers earn revenue directly through Instagram, they often earn from paid collaborations. However, for most creators, Bookstagram is first and foremost a place to find a community. 'If collaborations come in, that is really great, but the real joy is in sharing books with others,' says Anil, who runs the Bookstagram account @literatewanderer. For those who run pages on Bookstagram, and their growing audiences, the platform is a dynamic, decentralised literary ecosystem. (The writer is an intern with The Indian Express).
India Gazette
01-07-2025
- Science
- India Gazette
Jamia Millia Islamia gets approval to establish Department of Library and Information Science
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): After nearly four decades, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) is poised to establish a Department of Library and Information Science, following the Ministry of Education, Government of India's recent approval of six teaching posts for the university. According to a statement from the university, this is a remarkable expansion, given that since 1985, JMI has been running the Bachelor of Library and Information Science ( course without permanent faculty members. The sanctioning of these faculty positions will infuse fresh energy and vitality into the much sought-after programme. Vice Chancellor of JMI, Prof. Mazhar Asif, and Registrar Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister, the Union Education Minister, the Ministry of Finance, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) for their support and approval of the university's proposal to establish a Department of Library and Information Science. They stated that this support has played a key role in enabling the expansion, which will enhance JMI's academic structure and contribute to the development of the field of library sciences. Furthermore, Prof. Asif and Prof. Rizvi congratulated the JMI fraternity on this significant augmentation to the current teaching and dissemination of skills in the field of library and information sciences. Prof. Asif, expressing his views on the development, said, 'Being a cornerstone of academic life on campus, libraries shape the trajectory of research and are central to advancing knowledge, especially in the information age. My vision is to strengthen teaching in librarianship and information science by setting up a full-fledged department of library sciences to train the next generation of highly skilled and learned librarians who can do justice to our rich collection of books, rare manuscripts, and journals, as well as embrace modern techniques to remain relevant and cutting-edge in a digital milieu.' He added, 'Not only will the faculty and students of this proposed department contribute to advancing the study of the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), but also its digitisation and preservation for the future.' Prof. Rizvi, Registrar of JMI, congratulated the university community on the development and said, 'Libraries serve as a focal point of a university and hold tremendous significance, more so at a time when the world is witnessing rapid technological advancement. It has far-reaching implications for how knowledge and information will be stored, curated, organised, and retrieved in the future.' 'To that end, it is imperative that we train and equip our students and researchers with the tools, skill sets, theoretical understanding, and practical insights so that JMI can emerge as a leader in the discipline of library and information sciences. So far, JMI has been offering limited teaching in this important area with the help of guest faculty and contractual staff. With the addition of teaching faculty, JMI will soon offer courses that address contemporary issues and challenges in a data-driven world,' Rizvi said. It is worth noting that this development will give a significant boost to the 105-year-old university, whose Central Library was established in 1920, the year of its founding. (ANI)
