Central University of Punjab successfully organized One-Week National Workshop on KOHA OSLS Library Management System

Bathinda, August 9, 2023: The Central University of Punjab successfully organized a one-week National Workshop on ‘KOHA OSLS – An Open-Source Library Management System’ from August 4 to 8, 2023, in a hybrid mode. Under the guidance of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, the Department of Library and Information Sciences orchestrated the valedictory ceremony of the workshop on Tuesday. Prof. Aditya Tripathi, the Head of the Department of Library and Information Science at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, graced the event as the Chief Guest.

At the outset, Dr. Bhaw Nath Pandey, Workshop Coordinator, Head of the Department of Library & Information Sciences, and Dean of the School of Information and Communication Studies, welcomed the attendees during the valedictory session. He mentioned that the workshop had successfully achieved its objective of enhancing capacity building on KOHA–OSLS, as it drew in 93 participants, including faculty members, research scholars, and librarians from various universities.
 

During the workshop report presentation, Dr. Florance Guite shared that the workshop comprised 10 sessions delivered by two experts, Shri Vinod Kumar Mishra, Assistant Librarian at NIT Rourkela, and Shri Hemant Kumar Biswal, Assistant Librarian at IIT Kharagpur. The diverse topics covered during these sessions included an overarching view of Koha and its intricate system configuration, insights into the Acquisitions Module within Koha, an in-depth exploration of Cataloging using MARC 21 tags for new records, the process of creating new patron accounts, the establishment of journal records, the intricacies of electronic resource management & the customization of the Web OPAC and ERM, effective circulation management strategies, techniques for barcode and member card creation, as well as guidance on the creation of reading lists. Additionally, participants were provided a glimpse into the anticipated future developments in Koha.
 

The Chief Guest of the Valedictory session, Prof. Aditya Tripathi, praised the organizing team for hosting a workshop cantered around a meaningful theme. He emphasized the pivotal role of open-source software in modern library management and encouraged all participants to actively implement the insights gained from the workshop by integrating KOHA OSLS into their respective institutions.
 

In her concluding remarks, Prof. Monisha Dhiman, Director of IQAC, shed light on the workshop's substantial contribution in cultivating an ecosystem for library automation. She further highlighted its role in enhancing the capacity of library professionals, faculty, and scholars in the field of Library and Information Sciences, in using the world-renowned open-source software for Library Management, KOHA OSLS.
 

During the feedback session, participants from across the country voiced their gratitude to the organizing team for facilitating the opportunity to attend the workshop. They expressed how the hands-on training on KOHA OSLS had empowered them significantly. Towards the end, Dr. Rishabh Shrivastava thanked everyone, who contributed to the overwhelming success of the program.