Commemorating the 134th Birth Anniversary of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan as National Librarians’ Day at VIT-AP University Library, Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati, August 14, 2026 : VIT-AP University Library, Andhra Pradesh, commemorated National Librarians’ Day on Wednesday to mark the 134th birth anniversary of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, widely regarded as the Father of Library Science in India. Dr. Ranganathan was an internationally renowned library scientist, a pioneer in library classification and cataloguing, a National Research Professor, and a recipient of the Padma Shri conferred by the Government of India. He was also honoured with the title of Rao Bahadur by the Maharaja of Mysore and made significant contributions as a professor of library science.
Dr. A. Hariharan, Former Head, Knowledge Resource Centre, CSIR–Structural Engineering Research Centre, Chennai, and Founder President of the Society for the Advancement of Library and Information Science (SALIS), Tamil Nadu, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
In his address, Dr. Hariharan highlighted the remarkable contributions of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan to the growth and development of library and information science and emphasised the transformative role of libraries in society. He explained the significance of observing National Librarians’ Day every year and reflected on the continuing influence of Ranganathan’s ideas and principles on contemporary libraries.
Dr. Hariharan elaborated on Dr. Ranganathan’s pioneering contributions to classification, cataloguing, reference services and library management. He also highlighted Ranganathan’s role in introducing library science education at various universities, developing innovative classification and cataloguing systems, authoring numerous books, and promoting the systematic development of libraries across India. He emphasised that Ranganathan’s vision continues to guide librarians and information professionals in the digital age.
He also addressed the academic community on research writing, research ethics and scholarly publishing. He provided valuable guidance on preparing quality research articles, selecting appropriate publication avenues, maintaining ethical standards in research, and ensuring that research contributes meaningfully to society and the nation. He encouraged faculty members, research scholars and students to make effective use of both print and electronic library resources and urged them to emulate Dr. Ranganathan’s dedication, perseverance and commitment to excellence in their respective fields.
Dr. Arul Mozhivarma, Vice-Chancellor, VIT-AP University, delivered the presidential address and highlighted the remarkable academic and professional journey of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. He recalled Ranganathan’s association with the University of Madras and Delhi University and noted that Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, then Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University, invited and appointed Ranganathan as the University Librarian. He also highlighted Ranganathan’s extraordinary dedication to library development, including his efforts in cataloguing a vast collection of books within a remarkably short period.
The Vice-Chancellor further highlighted Dr. Ranganathan’s leadership in professional library organisations, including his association with the Indian Library Association (ILA), the International Federation for Documentation (FID), and the Library Association of Great Britain. He also noted Ranganathan’s pioneering role in establishing the Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC), Bengaluru. His enduring intellectual legacy is evident from the large body of research conducted on his life, writings, publications, professional contributions and scholarly impact, including numerous doctoral studies and bibliometric analyses in India and abroad.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ch. Deepak, Director, Library, emphasised the vital role and importance of libraries in supporting teaching, learning and research. He urged the academic community to make effective and systematic use of library resources for their academic and professional development. He particularly encouraged faculty members, research scholars and students to utilise both print and electronic resources available through the University Library.
Dr. Ch. Veeranjaneyulu, University Librarian, in his introductory address, highlighted the outstanding contributions of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan to library and information science. He emphasised that every librarian should understand, follow and practise the principles, guidelines and best practices established by Ranganathan, particularly the Five Laws of Library Science, in their professional practice.
He further stressed the importance of ensuring that the entire university community is well informed about the library’s resources and services and utilises them effectively for academic, research, career and professional development. He highlighted the University Library’s extensive collection of subscribed electronic resources, including ScienceDirect, IEEE Xplore (IEL), Springer, Scopus, IOP Publishing, Cambridge University Press, and several other e-journals and e-databases, in addition to perpetual access to e-books, print books and print journals.
Dr. Veeranjaneyulu also outlined several innovative library best practices and user-oriented initiatives undertaken by the University Library. These include scanning the title and contents pages of newly added journals, providing QR codes for instant access, convenient remote access to electronic resources, conducting library orientation programmes for newly joined students and scholars, and organizing awareness programmes on various electronic resources with the support of subject experts. He further highlighted the extension activities undertaken by the library to enhance awareness, increase library usage and promote the effective utilization of available resources.
The programme was attended by faculty members, staff, research scholars and students of the University. As part of the celebrations, Best Review Awards were presented to participants of the “Read Books & Win Prizes” competition, and Best Library User Awards were presented to deserving students, research scholars and staff members in recognition of their effective utilization of library resources during the 2025–26 academic year.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, faculty members, staff, research scholars, students and everyone who contributed to the successful organization of the event. The programme concluded with the National Anthem.