The library at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) is getting a major facelift.
Winner of the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) national award for online document delivery, the varsity’s library will soon have a common reading room open to students round-the-clock.
Vice Chancellor J. Letha said that other additions included audio-visual research centre, Skype and teleconferencing facilities, language lab, etc. The facilities would be housed in a new three-storied building on the main campus, she said.
Cusat authorities pointed out that the modernisation process would help students witness academic exhibitions of high quality, and classes and speeches by experts. It would provide a space for exchange of ideas with experts and ensure participation in research initiatives across the globe. Students would get a chance to enrol for online open courses. They would receive an opportunity to even develop new online courses, they said.
Garden library
Book exhibitions, seminars and workshops have also been planned in the new facility, besides a garden library to promote reading habit. C. Beena, Librarian, said the availability of a good store of reference books and CDs and science-related documentaries/cinemas and facility for debates and discussions would immensely help those preparing for national and international examinations.
The library also plans to conduct short-term training programmes in retrieval of technical data.
The librarians under the Kerala State Library Council would be offered training in the first phase, she said.
Many graduates across the State are members of the library, besides the varsity community. Several central and State research institutions, industrial establishments and educational institutions have membership at the library. Officials said the library also enjoyed the presence of direct and online visitors for reference of technical publications.
Cusat library has also implemented several measures to digitalise data that include research theses. It had received developmental assistance in addition to more than 15,000 online journals provided by the UGC.
