ABCD : Library Automation Software

The SDC sponsored participants are learning ABCD - Library Automation Software in the Short-term / Attachment Training Programme at NISCAIR (on 13-14 Oct. 2011). ABCD, as an integrated package for library automation (both traditional but also digital/virtual libraries !) and a tool for documentation centers, is the culmination of several technologies developed by BIREME (OPS/PAHO, Brazil). The package contains an advanced database management (both creation/definition and data-entry/cataloging) module, an OPAC integrated into a 'library portal' page with meta-search functionality for either local or remote databases (iAH), a Serials Control module (SeCS), a module for Circulation and Statistics, a Thesaurus Manager and - to be added later - an Acquisition module. The software heavily relies on ISIS-database technology (developed by UNESCO).
ABCD is the acronym for a software suite for the automation of libraries and documentation centres. In Spanish this is, in full 'Automatisación de Bibliotécas y Centros de Documentación', which keeps the same acronym valid also for French (Automation des Bibliothèques et Centres de Documentacion) or Portugese (Automatização das Bibliotecas e dos Centros de Documentação). Even in other non-latin languages, with some slight but quite acceptable variations, -e.g. Dutch : 'Automatisering van Bibliotheken en Centra voor Documentatie' -the acronym can still be maintained.
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17th SAARC Summit - 2011

The Charter (Article III) of SAARC provides that the Heads of State or Government "shall meet once a year or more often as and when considered necessary by the Member States". However, the Summit has generally been convened at an interval of one and half year or so. The next i.e. Seventeenth Summit of the Heads of State or Government is scheduled to be held at Addu City, Maldives on 10-11 November 2011. Addu City or Seenu Atoll is the southernmost atoll of the Maldives. Most inhabited islands in Addu are in the western reef and these are Hithadhoo, Feydhoo, Maradhoo, Gan while the islands of Meedhoo, and Hulhudhoo share a large island in the east. One of the most populated atolls in the Maldives, with over 30,000 people, the islands are connected with each other through a ‘link road’ and the islands are comparatively larger than that of other islands in the Maldives.

“SAARC Summit 17: Building Bridges”, has been chosen by the Government of Maldives as the theme for the Seventeenth SAARC Summit to be held in Maldives in November this year. The theme has been selected as a visionary thought to link past, present and future of SAARC without undermining the achievements of 26 years of building SAARC.
For more information, visit the Official Website.....

2nd Short-term & Attachment Training Programme started

The second short-term & attachment training programme for the year 2011 were started on 3^rd October 2011 at SDC. Participants from various SAARC member states are attending the programmes. The programmes are being organized by NISCAIR and SDC sponsors SAARC nominated participants. The short-term training programme is a one-month programme on "Information Technology for Information Management", while the Attachment training programme is a three-month programme. During this period, participants will learn Open Source Software in Library Areas, Digital Library, DSpace, Green Stone Digital Library (GSDL), WINISIS, Koha, SQL etc. The participants will be introduced about the e-consortia system also.

17th Governing Board - 2011

17^th Governing Board Meeting of SDC is scheduled to be held on 15-16 September 2011 at SDC, New Delhi. In the meeting, activities carried out will be discussed and budget and activities for the next year will be finalized. It is expected that a number of new proposals will be finalized by the GB.
The GB acts as programme planning body and oversee the programme activities of SDC. The GB reviews the Report of Audited Accounts of the Centre and annual Budget in respect of Institutional and Programme Cost of the Centre and submits the same with its own recommendations and onward dispatch to the Standing Committee. The desiganted Members of the GB is responsible to monitor and coordinate activities of the Centre.
SDC welcomes all the Members in the Meeting.

Interview for the post of Librarian (GSS-II) at SDC

A walk-in-Interview for the post of Librarian (GSS-II) at SAARC Documentation Centre, New Delhi will be held on 14^th September 2011 at 9:30 AM. The venue is: SAARC Documentation Centre, NISCAIR Building, 14, Satsang Vihar Marg, Near J.N.U. East Gate (JNU VC Residence Gate), New Delhi - 110067.
For details, visit the SDC Website: www.sdc.gov.in
OR
alternatively one can visit the following website also:
www.sites.google.com/site/saarcdocumentationcentre/

25th Anniversary of RIM, Bhutan, an NFP of SDC

August 10, 2011 marks the Solver Era of Royal Institute of Management (RIM), Bhutan. RIM is a National Focal Point (NFP) of SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC) in Bhutan. The RIM was established in 1986 as the premier management institute in the country with the mandate to "impart, promote and improve professional knowledge and skills in management and public administrator for both the public and private sectors". The Institute was established during an important phase, when the Royal Government initiated the decentralization process. In 1908s, the Institute focused mainly on certificate level courses in office management, accounts and audit. In 1990s, RIM began to offer diploma and PG Diploma programmes in Public Administartion, Financial Management, National Law and Information Management System including series of short in-service management development programmes. Besides training programmes, RIM was and is actively involved in providing a number of advisory and consultancy services to the civil service and corporate sectors towards professionalizing their management systems. The Institute had organized and hosted the South Asian Management Forum twice.

RIM Library designated as the NFP of SDC in 1994.
The Institute offers host of programmes from Diploma and PG Diploma levels in the field of Public Administration, Financial Management, National Law and Information Management Systems. RIM is launching in-country master's programmes namely Master of Public Adminstration (MPA) and Master of Management (MM) in August 2011. Two more master's programme in Business Administration and Supply Chain Management will introduced in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
The Institute is located in the heart of Thimphu city.
Best wishes to RIM family.
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7th SDC NFP Coordinators Meeting held on 28-29 July 2011

7^th SDC NFP Coordinators Meeting held on 28-29 July 2011 at SDC, New Delhi. The meeting was attended by Bangladesh, India, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Mr. Bikash Chandra Saha [Principal Scientific Officer, BANSDOC, Dhaka] attended the meeting on behalf of SDC NFP Coordinator (Bangladesh), Mr. Indra Sen, SDC NFP Coordinator (India) [Sr. Technical Officer(3), NISCAIR, New Delhi], Ms. S. D. I. Arachchige [Planning Assistant (Library), Centre for Development Information, Department of National Planning, Ministry of Finance & Planning, Treasury Building, Colombo] attended the meeting on behalf of SDC NFP Coordinator (Sri Lanka) and Ms. Thifla Umar, SDC NFP Coordinator (Maldives) [National Library of Maldives, Male] attended the meeting. Ms. Thifla Umar attended the meeting via Internet based Video Chat mode. This is the first time in the history of SDC, Internet based Video Chat mode was used. Besides, Dr. Gangan Prathap (Director, SDC), Mrs. Kesang Dechen (Deputy Director, SDC), Mr. Rajeev Kumar (Computer Officer, SDC) and Mr. Ahmed Rasheed (IT Staff, National Libray of Maldives, Male) also attended the meeting. Mr. Ahmed Rasheed attended the meeting via Internet based Video Chat mode. Pakistan and Bhutan sent thier country papers, which were read in the meeting.

The 2-day Seventh Meeting of the SDC NFP Coordinators (SAARC Documentation Centre National Focal Point Coordinators) began with introduction of each of the member present in the meeting by the Mrs. Kesang Dechen, Deputy Director, SDC followed by the welcome of address by Dr. Gangan Prathap, Director, SDC on July 28, 2011 (Thursday) at 10:30 AM. Bangladesh was elected as Chair.
In the meeting, efforts made by SDC to fulfill its objectives was widely appreciated. Several suggestions were given on HRD and Database projects. The Digital Library Service of SDC was discussed and Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka show there interests to use the service.
The meeting was declared closed by the Chair after vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Indra Sen on 29^th July 2011 at 1:30 PM.