Srinagar, June 28: The Vice-Chancellor, Kashmir University, Prof Riyaz Punjabi Monday said his ambitious e-governance project would soon connect the university with 40 degree colleges in the Valley.
 “Completion of phase II of the e-governance project will help the varsity to be in touch with 40 Valley colleges and this will help make Kashmir a Knowledge Society in the practical sense,” Professor Punjabi said while speaking at the inaugural session of a 5-day National Workshop on Building and Managing Institutional Repositories organized by KU’s Department of Library and Information Sciences in collaboration with Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), Ahmadabad.
 Professor Punjabi added: “We have made a beginning in our state by developing a digital repository, a unique one in bringing premiere institutes like University of Kashmir, SKAUST – Kashmir, and SKIMS on the map to aggregate research contributions. Within a short span of time, it has accumulated in research contributions and we at KU look forward to make it more inclusive.”
 Expert on library sciences, Prof WA Alwi while delivering keynote address said: “The growing consciousness about use of information has given rise to movements such as universal availability of information, right to information, global-sharing of information and automation of information generation, access and control.”
 Dean Academic Affairs, Prof AR Yousuf while appreciating role of repositories said they could play a vital role in knowledge-society promotion.
 While welcoming delegates the Head Department of Library and Information Sciences, Prof SM Shafi said the workshop would prove a “milestone in sensitizing professionals in developing, customizing and managing institutional repositories of research contributions, course wares besides cultural assets.
 “It equally offers challenges but throws open new pastures for different stake holders and professionals” he said.
 He asked information and library professionals not to shy away from such learning opportunities and hoped they would come forward to learn.
 On the occasion, resource persons from INFLIBNET, Ahmadabad, NISCAIR, New Delhi, Registrar KU, Prof S Fayyaz Ahmad and Prof Shabir Ahmad, besides senior officers of the Varsity were present at the session.
The KU PRO said: “During the course of the workshop, experts will be training participants in DSpace – an Open Archive Initiative (OAI) compliant open-source software for archiving e-prints and other kinds of academic content; its installation and administration, besides in depth deliberation on digital preservation strategies and a case study of Knowledge repository Open Network (KNor).”

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