Aligarh March 16: The Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis today inaugurated a Digital Resource Centre, Closed Circuit TV and Campus wide Online Catalogue at Maulana Azad Library of the Aligarh Muslim University.
Addressing the function Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis said that the new building of the Central Library equipped with internet facility will be constructed at a cost of Rs. Five Crore to provide better space to students, researchers and faculty members.
He said that the University is planning digital classrooms in the next two years and urged the faculty members to make this University a centre of excellence and help regain the glory of this historic institution.
Professor N. Laxman Rao of the Osmania University, Hyderabad said on this occasion that this is the first university library in India which opens from 8 O'clock morning to 2 O'clock night. He said that this library has created a history to install CCTV to maintain the functioning of the library.
Earlier, Professor Shabahat Husain, Librarian-in-charge, Mulana Azad Library said that the digital resources have now become an essential part of library collection. He said that we have installed ten systems to begin with in order to access to the digital resources loaded on to a high power server.
Prof. Shabahat said that Maulana Azad Library has an 'On-line Catalogue' for the past few years but its usability was restricted to the library premises only. Using the server of the Computer Centre, a link has been created on the internet to enable faculty members and students to access the on-line catalogue from anywhere in the campus.
He said that the modern CCTV installed in the Library not only gives the pictures of the different areas of the Library but also has facilities of recording and infrared photography. The present system of CCTV is also a boon for the security of the invaluable collection of manuscripts, as in case of any intrusion in odd hours, the system will send messages to three authorized persons.
He said that another important task ahead is the digitization of about 16000 manuscripts and about 5000 rare books in different languages.
Prof. Husain informed that the Vice Chancellor has approved the installation of automatic security gate through which no body would be able to take out any un-issued book outside the library by using unfair means.
This move is, however, not an easy task because every book of the gigantic collection of the Library will have to be provided with an electronic device which is a time consuming and painstaking job.
Prof. M. Saleemuddin of the Biotechnology Unit and Professor M. Saud Alam Qasmi, Dean Faculty of Theology also addressed the function. Nawab Ibne Saeed Khan of Chhatari and Prof. Shamim Ahmad, former acting Vice Chancellor and Professor A. A. Nizami, Dean Faculty of Engineering also graced the occasion.
(Dr. Rahat Abrar)
Public Relations' Officer