| Staff REPORTER |
ITANAGAR, Aug 12: National Librarians’ Day was observed at the State Central Library here on Wednesday to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr S R Ranganathan, widely regarded as the Father of Library Science in India.
Observed every year on August 12, the day honours Dr Ranganathan (1892–1972) and recognises the significant contribution of librarians to education, research and the dissemination of knowledge.
Addressing the gathering, Education Commissioner Amjad Tak highlighted the importance of libraries in students’ lives and urged them to cultivate the habit of reading and writing instead of becoming overly dependent on artificial intelligence (AI) tools and social media.
“Library is an integral part of student life. Students should make reading and writing a habit instead of focusing on AI and social media. Reading and writing enhance one’s knowledge,” he said.
Tak also advised students to focus on creative ideas and make effective use of available resources.
Director of Public Libraries Yayum Riba said the role of libraries has become even more significant in the rapidly evolving digital world. She noted that modern libraries have transformed from repositories of printed books into knowledge hubs offering digital resources, online catalogues, electronic databases, lifelong learning opportunities and inclusive spaces for people of all ages.
She, however, said the essence of a library remains unchanged—to provide free and equitable access to knowledge without discrimination.
Riba called for strengthening public libraries as vibrant centres of learning, digital inclusion, research, creativity and community development. She urged children and youth to cultivate reading habits, support local authors, preserve indigenous knowledge and help build libraries that remain relevant in the 21st century.
She also called upon educational institutions, civil society organisations, community leaders and citizens to work together to foster a strong reading culture. “A society that reads is a society that thinks, innovates, and progresses,” she added.
On the occasion, Deputy Director of Public Libraries Lingam Ete was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Counter Assistant Thangru Siadu received the Best Library Staff Award. Tadu Novin and Toko Jirniya were recognised as the Best Library Users.
The Department of Public Libraries also felicitated four authors for their contributions to different genres. They included retired Deputy Director of IPR Department Denhang Bosai for reporting/public relations, PHED Chief Engineer (Sanitation) Sentum Yomcha for social documentation, senior RGU professor Dr Ashan Riddi for social documentation, and DNGC Assistant Professor Nending Omo for poetry.
Secretary, Public Libraries, Mamata Riba, and Assistant Director Yajap Kena were present at the programme. Departmental officers, writers, research scholars and students from four schools, accompanied by their teachers, also attended the event.
The programme concluded with an interaction on creative writing, literature, ideas and the importance of nurturing creativity and reading habits between the invited guests and the enthusiastic young participants.