Panel Discussion

Crafting a Resilient Future of Library and Information Science Research and Services in Bangladesh: A Panel Discussion

Abstract 

It is obvious that we fail to navigate our voice in many areas where LIS researchers and practitioners could be the major actors in education and research activities. Researchers from other sectors lament that LIS researchers and practitioners are not the major part of many activities either in academia or other research organizations. In addition, inside and outside libraries are pinched on both sides. Increasing user demand and budget shortage make this situation harder. For addressing this, libraries must accept and embrace change and have to think about how to create change that benefits the organization. The panel will explore the opportunities that they feel for the future of Library and Information Science (LIS) research and practices in Bangladesh. For example, improving research activities and university ranking, providing library services during and after the pandemic time, access to digital scholarship activities, and incorporating new courses, lessons learned from the developed world could help libraries to be relevant. We must also continue in advocacy roles within our institutions to maintain strategic leadership for the sustainability of LIS education and professions. On the 50th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh, instead of looking back, we should be looking around and looking forward. How do libraries fit into it now, and in the future? The call to action is clear. We need more collaboration between the library and other sectors; adapt to business challenges and new needs that our consumers want and prove our necessity for how the library can add value based on organizational objectives. 

The panel seeks the following questions and probable recommendations 

  • How do LIS faculties, researchers and practitioners can create value based on the organizational objectives?     
  • How do libraries in Bangladesh cope-up with the COVID and Post-COVID situation? 
  • How can libraries support Open Access?
  • How is the LIS curriculum changing and how is it preparing resilient information professionals with the leadership and practical skills needed for the future?
Panel overview: 

This panel put together the key stakeholders to discuss their experiences and come forward with ideas on how libraries could reshape the future. This panel will also seek the active involvement of the audiences to foster the discussion between the panelists and audiences. We aim for meaningful dialogue at the panel

When: 9 April 2021 at 5:00 pm (Bangladesh time)

Registration: Free

Register here


Moderator

Md. Anwarul Islam

Dr Md. Anwarul Islam 

Md. Anwarul Islam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Science and Library Management, University of Dhaka. He received his PhD in 2016 from the School of Knowledge Science, JAIST, Japan. His research lies with KM, information-seeking behaviour, information literacy, and informetrics. He was a visiting fellow at iSchool, SLAIS@UBC, Canada; ACRC Fellow at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; VLIR-UOS Scholar at the University of Antwerp, Belgium. In 2017, he was awarded the ‘New Leaders Award’ and currently serves as Chair of the SIG-KM and Co-Chair (Elect) of SIG-III of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T). 


The Panel Members 

Panel chair

Dr Kazi Mostak Gausul Hoq

Dr Kazi Mostak Gausul Hoq (Panel chair)

Dr Kazi Mostak Gausul Hoq is a Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Information Science and Library Management, University of Dhaka.
He received his PhD degree in Information Science and Library Management from the University of Dhaka in 2012.
He is a famous author in Bangladesh and has successfully published several academic and fiction books. All his published academic books are taught at the bachelor and masters degree level in the library and information science departments of various institutes in Bangladesh.

 

 

 


Mostafa Azad Kamal, Professor & Dean, The School of Business, Bangladesh Open University

Professor Mostafa Azad Kamal

Professor Mostafa Azad Kamal is presently working at Bangladesh Open University as the Dean of the School of Business. He is a Professor in International and Development Economics. He has been engaged in open and distance learning for the last 22 years. He is currently working as a member of the International Academic Board for Commonwealth Executive MBA and MPA programs, Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver, Canada. He is also a part-time consultant of Commonwealth of Learning for TEL, ODL, and OER. Professor Mostafa is a Creative Commons (CC) Certified trainer on OER and Open Licences. He is also a Creative Commons Fellow for Open leadership.

Professor Mostafa is the Country Representative for Creative Commons Bangladesh Chapter and the member of the 15-member central Membership Committee of Creative Commons, USA. He is the President of the Centre for Open Knowledge (COK), Bangladesh. Professor Mostafa got experience in coordinating, supporting and evaluating several international and national projects relating to eLearning, OER, ODL and quality assurance in higher education.


Dr Dilara Begum Chairperson & Associate Professor, Information Studies and Library Management, East-West University

Dr Dilara Begum

Dr Dilara Begum is the Associate Professor and Chairperson in the Department of Information Studies and Library Management at East-West University. She has completed her B.A. (Hons.) and M.A. from the University of Dhaka and PhD from Punjabi University, India. Her research interest includes information management, digital library, information literacy, open access, and others. She is currently acting as the information coordinator in the Asia and Oceania Section and Standing Committee Member of the Management and Marketing Section at the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). She is also acting as General Secretary, DLNetSA. Besides these, she also played a significant and diversified role such as Country Coordinator of Information Literacy Consortium sponsored by UNESCO, Standing Committee Member of ECIL in 2013 to till now, elected Senior Vice President and Women Affairs Secretary of Library Association of Bangladesh (LAB) from 2009-2014. She was also the President (Acting) of the Library Association of Bangladesh (LAB) in 2011. She has more than Forty (40) national and international publications. She is considered one of the pioneers of Digital Library building in Bangladesh and as well as an international expert on the mentioned field. She has been awarded the prestigious award, “Prof. Indira Parikh 50 Women in Education Leaders” on 05th July 2018 in Mumbai at the World Education Congress recognizing her contribution to education.


Dr Md. Mofizur Rhaman, Professor, Department of Mass Communication & Journalism, University of Dhaka

Dr Mofizur Rhaman

Dr Mofizur Rhaman is a Professor and former Chairperson of the Department of Mass Communication & Journalism, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Dhaka. He received his PhD in 2018 from the University of Bergen, Norway. His research field includes Media Studies, Development Communication, Climate Change Journalism and Environmental Communication, Gender, Media and Journalism, Norms, and Journalism.

He has published two books named Elsebeth Frey, Mofizur Rhaman and Hamida El Bour (Eds.) Negotiating Journalism: Core Values and Cultural Diversities. Gothenburg: Nordicom, 2017 and Gitiara Nasreen, Mofizur Rhaman and Sitara Parvin (Eds.) GonoMadhom o Jonosomaj (Mass Media and Society). Dhaka: Srabon, 2002, along with his many more book sections and journal articles. He has received many national and international awards, including the GIZ conference travelling award for Deutsche-Welle Global Media Forum 2016 for participating in the Deutsche-Welle media forum as a Jury of the board to award journalists for anti-corruption reporting in Germany. He was an Honorary Chair of the PhD Steering Committee, Western Sydney University, Australia, for 2017-2018. He chaired the steering committee of the PhD project titled “The Psychological Impact of Labor Trafficking in Asia.”


Dr Md. Nasir Uddin Munshi, Professor & University Librarian, University of Dhaka

Professor Dr Md. Nasiruddin Munshi

Professor Dr Md. Nasiruddin Munshi is an acting University Librarian at the University of Dhaka. He received his PhD degree in Information Science and Library Management from the University of Dhaka in 2003. 

His research title was Marketing of Information Products and services: A Study on Some Selected Special Libraries in Bangladesh. His interest area includes Knowledge management; Marketing of information products and services; Information retrieval techniques; Information literacy skills; Digital and electronic libraries; Information needs and seeking behaviour, Library public relations.

He has received many national and international awards, including the IFLA/NLB Fellowship Grant in 2009, Singapore, International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) Awards, Department of States, United States, in 2011. 


Registration

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