No social networking at digital library

[NIRANJAN MOHAPATRA]

No social networking at digital library

Ref:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/12889894.cms

CHANDIGARH: Accessing the digital library at Panjab University's A C Joshi library would now mean serious business, as social networking sites and personal mail accounts have been blocked. Research scholars used to line up to access academic journals at digital library, while students continued social networking at leisure, so far.

Hardly a deterrent for offenders in past, even a notice put up, stating "accessing your mails or other websites/chatting is not allowed," did not serve purpose.

"Blocking the sites will ensure that non-serious students do not occupy the terminals for long. Even the notice put up in past did not work. It's a big relief for MPhil and Phd students and a welcome move," says Chavi Garg, a PU research scholar.

While this library houses a mammoth range of at least 5,000 online full text journals and more than 225 journals as part of print journals subscription, the misuse of computer terminals at digital library had been a perpetual scene in past.

"We asked the computer centre to block all frivolous sites and internet access on terminals meant for academic work," says Raj Kumar, librarian, AC Joshi library.

Recently, a library staff during a surprise visit caught five out of 10 students accessing a popular social networking website at the digital library, while several research scholars had lined up to access the systems.

"We have been issuing warning to students. Blocking the websites is the only option," said a library staff member.

[Siddhartha Shankar Ray]

Dear Sri Niranjan Mahapatra,

This is a good news and we also follow it in our library to make best use of our limited infrastructure. so also many other institutes. However, it is different that those who who are exempted of such censorship/imposition are working brilliantly. I am just putting on record certain statistics.The Report of the Fourth Review Committee of ICSSR published in the year 2007 (Indian Council of Social Science Research) reveals that in the year 2006 in the journal Economic & Political Weekly  45 articles were authored by the academics of Indian Universities;   20 articles were authored by academicians of ICSSR institutes (ICSSR has 27 institutes altogether) and 5 articles were authored by academics from Indian Colleges  That means altogether 70 articles were published by our illustrious  academicians while total number of faculties in Indian Colleges, Universities and ICSSR institutes is more than 20 Thousand!! (One can easily get the exact number from the UGC website )

My comment is based upon a table in p.20 of the report of the 4th, Review Committee of ICSSR dated March 2007.

As I presume these faculties have never faced any imposition or embargo, Admittedly, a good number of these people might not have access to Internet or e-materials Still there is no denying that a large number of them and virtually most of the University faculty have access to INFLIBNET's journal packages. So if the teachers are in the banking terms what is called NON PERFORMING ASSETS what good will do if we restrict students?

Sincerely,

Siddhartha S. Ray, Calcutta

[Ritesh Kumar Tiwari]

Yes It's the right step and student should understand the preciousness of their time as well by their own.