Punjab University celebrate World Books Day with great enthusiasm

Pakistan News & Features Services

The University of the Punjab (PU), Lahore, has been in the forefront in promoting the book culture and they celebrated the World Book and Copyright Day 2013 on April 23 with tremendous enthusiasm.

   

The PU Department of Library & Information Science in collaboration with the PU Library, the Pakistan Library Association (PLA) and the Punjab University Library & Information Science Alumni Association (PULISAA) organized a walk and a seminar to mark the occasion. 

The walk, with colorful banners and placards held aloft by the students, started from the LIS department at 10 am and reached Al-Razi Hall where more students, faculty members and library professionals joined it with the messages of promoting books reading and their role in society. 

The seminar on the Role of Books, Reading and Libraries in the Modern Age: Scholars’ Perspective was followed by the walk. The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, was the chief guest in the seminar in which Orya Maqbool Jan, Secretary Archives and Libraries, Government of the Punjab and Prof Dr Arifa Syeda Zehra, historian and writer, were the guest speakers. They highlighted the importance of books and reading in the society. 

   

Orya Maqbool regretted the lack of interest of the governments in establishing public libraries, acknowledging that books, reading and research played a vital role in the development of society and nation.  

Prof Dr Arifa Syeda Zehra stressed on the value of books and reading in a literary manner. Prof Dr Kamran Mujahid urged that the books should be priced on the lower side and they should be made available at the youth’s doorstep. 

Prof Dr Kanwal Ameen (Chairperson, DLIS) advised the young librarians to modify their roles and become information providers. She asked the audience to set a tradition to gift books to each other to promote reading habits. 

Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, President, PLA, thanked the participants, guest speakers and event collaborators for making the day.