A national seminar on electronic publications was organized by the Centre for Information Science of Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Research and Social Action (MGNIRSA) at Hyderabad on March 23rd and 24th, 2006.
MGNIRSA was established by the Dr. D. Swaminadhan Research Foundation in 1995 with a vision to contribute to India’s development and offer social action while undertaking advanced studies and research.
Vilasini Kumar, Chief Coordinator Products and Planning, Chillibreeze participated in the seminar. It was a good learning experience since Chillibreeze is taking the first steps towards e-publishing, adapting the boot strapping method.
The seminar had dominant participation from academic circles and the participants were focused on learning about how information and library science was changing with e books and e publications.
Guest speakers and invitees at the inaugural session included:
Dr. K. Anjanappa, the Director General of MGNIRSA
Dr. D. Swaminadhan, Founder, Dr. D. Swaminadhan Research Foundation
Prof. K.C. Reddy, Chairman, The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education.
To view the some of the presentations, click here.
Interesting facts and figures on the Indian scenario that emerged during the various technical sessions and discussions:
The number of Internet users in India is more than 5 million, which is just 5% of the population;
Internet use is still English centric; The English speaking population of India is estimated to be 6%.
Internet costs in India are some of the cheapest in the world;
E learning through the Internet is emerging as the prime means of distance education in India. APNET, AP broadband network and Edusat are examples of satellite networks being used for e-education by IGNOU, UGC-INFLIBNET, states and central ministries.
India has a Technology Project in Mission Mode
The Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET) is a gateway to India’s academic and research community. It facilitates information and resource sharing between Indian universities. www.inflibnet.ac.in
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research of India (CSIR) http://www.csir.res.in/ is working on its first experiment to distribute e text books worth Rs. 100 million!
The Government of Kerala ( http://www.kerala.gov.in/) is working towards distributing electronic text books;
The Andhra Pradesh Government is working on developing four dimensional learning modules – to implement ‘read’, ‘write’, ‘listen’ and ‘speak’ (http://www.aponline.gov.in/apportal/index.asp)
For purchase of the seminar proceedings volume containing sixty papers, contact:
Dr. C.K. Ramaiah, Director, Centre for Information Science, MGNIRSA cis.dsrf@gmail.com
ISBN: 81-7525-727-X
The proceedings will be available in two weeks time for sales.
It is not handbook and it is seminar papers volume or later printed book is seminar proceedigns. So, you got to correct accordingly.
