GUJRAT: The University of Gujrat (UoG) marked Librarians’ Day at its Quaid-e-Azam Central Library with a seminar and panel discussion focusing on the changing role of academic libraries, digital research resources and information professionals in higher education.
The event also commemorated the birth anniversary of Dr S.R. Ranganathan, widely regarded as the father of library science in South Asia, whose five laws of library science helped shape modern library management and information services.
Speakers said academic libraries were no longer limited to storing books and journals, but had become central to research, digital access and scholarly support.
Libraries Remain Central to Academic Research
Senior Librarian Rameeza Mushtaq described the central library as the intellectual heart of a university, saying librarians now play a wider role in helping students and researchers navigate increasingly complex sources of information.
She said the profession had moved well beyond traditional custodial duties, with librarians now involved in research support, digital resource management and academic guidance.
Senior Librarian Liaquat Ali said physical books and print archives continued to hold significant academic value despite the rapid growth of digital media.
He said librarians remained an important link between researchers and reliable sources of knowledge, particularly at a time when students were exposed to large volumes of unverified online information.
Librarian Khadija Munawar highlighted the impact of technology on information management, saying modern librarians increasingly serve as “information navigators” who help users locate and access credible digital resources.
Chief Librarian Warns of Digital Misinformation
In his address, Chief Librarian A.R. Sheikh said academic libraries had a critical role in strengthening the research capacity of universities and preserving reliable knowledge.
He said one of the biggest challenges facing librarians today was distinguishing authentic academic material from misinformation in an era of overwhelming digital content.
Sheikh said libraries should be viewed as key institutions supporting a country’s intellectual and research development rather than simply as physical repositories of books.
UoG Library Expands Digital and Research Support
Highlighting the services offered by the Quaid-e-Azam Central Library, Sheikh said the facility provides access to Higher Education Commission digital resources, international peer-reviewed journals and the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC).
The library also maintains dedicated research facilities for MPhil and PhD scholars and provides similarity-indexing support for academic research.
The event concluded with a commemorative cake-cutting ceremony led by A.R. Sheikh alongside senior library staff.
Participants reaffirmed the university’s commitment to strengthening research support, information literacy and modern library services for students and scholars.
Also Read: GIKI, Nazarbayev University Sign MoU to Expand Academic and Research Cooperation
Today's E-Paper