Please listen seminar organisers

[Vimal Kumar V.]

Lot of seminars in national level announced recently. Announcement appeared in most of the discussion forums, blogs and social networking sites for library professionals. Paper presentation is the attraction of the seminar. Invitation mainly for attending the conference and inviting papers for presentation. Both participants and those who submit papers are need to register and pay the fee. Often, seminar registration fee is between Rs. 500 and 5000. Organisers also receiving fund from other agencies.

Unfortunately, seminar organisers are not ensure the quality and content of the seminar. Most of the papers are equivalent to class assignment. All papers are accepted without peer reviewing. And no provision for plagiarism checking. It seems that main aim of the organisers are collect money by receiving maximum number of registration.

Seminars should encourage the advancement of knowledge. Such events should act as a platform for showcasing current trends in the topic and participants can brush up their existing knowledge. Seminar organisers must ensure the quality of the event by receiving papers only after strict checking. And organisers should not receive registration fee from participants who like to submit papers. Prize for best paper is ideal for encourage authors to prepare quality publications. Separate prizes should distribute for best paper from student and working professionals. Organisers should send certificate to authors who could not attend the seminar.

Another suggestion is select limited number of good papers and allow them sufficient time for presentation. Often authors get five minutes for presentation.

Many organisers promise that the papers will publish as a book with ISBN book, nothing will happen after the seminar. If no budget for printing, try to publish book in ebook format with ISBN. And make available online.

I request seminar organisers to rethink about existing practices followed in scholarly communication events.

[Vimal Kumar V.]

Yes Sir,

I completely agree your points.

In certain extent only journals review the paper meticulous.

Nobody follows a quality checking system for selecting conference papers.

Anybody can submit anything as in the form of a paper, after registration, paper is ready for presentation !!