British Council Corner at the Bangladesh Bank Library
Craig Lancaster Marr
Please share us something about your personal life and professional life.
My name is Craig Lancaster Marr, known as Harry, and I am 50 years old and from the UK. I work as a Librarian at the International School Dhaka (ISD) in Bangladesh. For me, home is the UK and the Philippines where my wife and children currently live. I have a BA (Honours) degree in librarianship from Leeds Polytechnic (now called Leeds Beckett University) and I became a Chartered Associate of the Library Association (UK) in 1991. Becoming Chartered was more common in those days than doing a Master’s degree.
How long have you been working in International schools and where have you worked?
I have been a Librarian for over 30 years, starting out in public libraries in the UK before moving to college libraries. I left the UK in 2007 to start working internationally, and have worked in Japan, the UAE, Qatar, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and now Bangladesh.
What was your career in the UK before you worked internationally?
I started my career in public libraries (because there were more job opportunities in that sector when I graduated) but in 1996 I moved to London as a college librarian. In 2001 I returned to my home county of Lancashire where I worked as a Reference Librarian, a prison librarian and finally again as a college librarian. In 2007 I decided to work overseas to gain new experiences.
What do you think about how we can make an effective school Library?
Involve your students and teachers – invite and encourage class visits to share research skills lessons and literature appreciation, encourage staff and student recommendations for new stock purchases.
A group of library and archives professionals along with historians visited InfoFort 22 Mile, Savar, on 01 December 2018. InfoFort is a leading Records and Information Management Solution Provider in the Middle East and Africa offering services in United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Algeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda. They have started their operation in Bangladesh since 2014.
In response to the invitation of InfoFort Director & CEO Mr M.H. Khusru, Bangladesh Archives and Records Management Society (BARMS) organized the programme. Professor Dr Sharif Uddin Ahmed, » Read more
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Bangladesh Association of Librarians, Information Scientists and Documentalists(BALID) and the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and Pacific(CIRDAP) on 25 November 2018 at Chameli House, CIRDAP office, Topkhana Road, Dhaka-1000. Mr. Tevita G. Boseiwaqa Taginavulau, Director General, Dr. Usharani Boruah, Librarian and other high officials represented from CIRDAP whereas Dr. Mirza Mohd. Rezaul Islam, Chairman, Mr. Humayun Kabir, Secretary-General, Ms. Razina Akhter, Vice-president, Dr. Mostafizur Rahman, Member, and other present and ex officio members were present on behalf of BALID during the MoU signing moment of the said date early in the morning.
The First International Children’s Libraries Symposium was held on 14-17 November 2018 at the University of Marmara, Istanbul, Turkey. Ms Razina Akhter, Librarian, Bangladesh Shishu Academy was invited with a grant to present a paper in the symposium. Department of Information and Records Management University of Marmara, Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Culture and Tourism Libraries and the Publications General Directorate Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Development Directorate of KOP Regional Development Administration jointly organized the event.
Ms Rezina presented a paper on the Reading habit of Comics by children and comics as reading materials in children’s libraries with other two participants from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh National Scientific and Technical Documentation Centre (BANSDOC) organized a day-long workshop on Application of Digital System in Information Management and E-book preparation on 26 November 2018 at the meeting room, BANSDOC, Agargaon, Dhaka. » Read more
Ahasan, Dhaka, 25 November 2018
A day-long Training on Library Automation and Digitization Software SLiMS was held at East Delta University (EDU), Chittagong on 21 November 2018. SLiMS Country Coordinator (Bangladesh) Mr A.K.M. Nurul Alam (Apu) was the resource person on the programme. Mr Alam provided hands-on training on SLiMS installation and use to the participants. Sk. Md. Ali Abbas, Assistant Librarian, BAF Shaheen College was the Resource Person Associate on the training. 27 participants from different institutions including practising library professionals and students took part in the training.
Mr Nurul Islam Mahfuz, Senior Assistant Librarian, IIUC along with Mr Md. Amranul Haque, Assistant Librarian, CUET, Md. Monirul Islam, Librarian, Army Medical College Chittagong and Ms Tahmina Afrad Sharmi, Assistant Librarian, EDU organized the training programme.
Tanveer, NSU
A library orientation program was held recently organized by North South University Library for the students of Fall 2018 semester with an opportunity to become acquainted with all aspects of NSU Library Systems, Services, Resources and facilities. Dr Md. Zahid Hossain Shoeb, University Librarian of NSU, invited to attend the library orientation program at library building, 4th floor as the schedule.
CIRDAP Aziz-ul Haq Library celebrated International Open Access Week (OA) on 28th October 2018. The International Open Access Week (OA) was celebrating all over the world during 22-28 October every year. Open access (OA) refers to free, unrestricted online access to research outputs such as journal articles and books. OA content is open to all, with no access fees. A global event is an opportunity for the academic and research community to continue to learn about the potential benefits of Open Access, to share what they’ve learned with colleagues, and to help inspire wider participation in helping to make Open Access a new norm in scholarship and research. It has direct and widespread implications for academia, medicine, science, industry, and for society as a whole.
Ahasan, Dhaka, 4 November 2018
Rajshahi Divisional Government Public Library organized several competitions including Easy Writing and Drawing competition on the occasion of National Mourning Day and development fair. To give awards and certificates, the library organized a Prize and Certificate giving Session on 30 October 2018 at Divisional Government Public Library, Rajshahi.
