Press Information Bureau

The CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (CSIR-NIScPR) successfully organised a two-week skill training programme on “Skill Training in Library Automation, Digitization and Artificial Intelligence for Libraries” during 5–16 October 2026 under the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative (Phase III). Organised by the Institute’s Training Division, the programme aimed to strengthen the technical competencies of library and information science professionals, academicians, researchers, students and IT professionals in library automation, digitisation, digital repository management and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in library services. A total of 16 participants from universities, research institutions, libraries, and other organizations across the country attended the programme.

Dr. Geeta Vani Rasayam, Director, CSIR-NIScPR, inaugurated the programme and encouraged participants to actively engage in the training. Shri Mukesh A. Pund, Head, Training Division, CSIR-NIScPR, introduced the objectives of the programme and highlighted the importance of skill development in library automation, digitisation and the adoption of emerging technologies. Shri Salim Ansari moderated the inaugural session.

Designed with an emphasis on experiential learning, the programme combined expert lectures, demonstrations and hands-on sessions on Koha Integrated Library Management System (ILMS) and DSpace digital repository software.

The Koha sessions covered open-source software fundamentals, installation of the Linux operating system and Koha, catalogue management, patron management, circulation workflows, report generation, system customisation, and backup and restoration. Participants gained practical experience in configuring and managing library automation functions and workflows.

The DSpace sessions focused on installation and administration, management of communities and collections, item submission, e-people registration and authorisation, Dublin Core and Bitstream Registry management, basic customisation, and backup and restoration. These sessions provided practical exposure to digital repository management for the organisation, preservation and dissemination of scholarly and institutional knowledge.

The programme also covered emerging applications of Artificial Intelligence in libraries, including AI tools and metadata extraction using AI. A special session on iThenticate was conducted on 15 October 2026 to familiarise participants with text similarity checking and its relevance to responsible academic and scholarly writing.

As part of the programme, participants visited the National Science Library to gain insights into its resources and services. The academic sessions were conducted by Shri Mukesh Pund, Shri Sanjay Burde, Dr. Avinash Kshitij, Shri Salim Ansari and Shri Bharath Natarajan. The practical exercises enabled participants to apply the concepts covered during the training.

The valedictory session acknowledged the participants’ engagement and encouraged them to apply the knowledge and practical skills acquired during the training in their respective institutions. The programme was coordinated by Ms. Meetali Bharti, Programme Coordinator and Nodal Principal Investigator (PI), with Mr. Salim Ansari, Co-PI and Course Co-Coordinator, and Mr. Mukesh A. Pund, Head, Training Division and Course Coordinator.

Through the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative (Phase III), CSIR-NIScPR continues to strengthen professional capacity in library and information science and promote the adoption of open-source technologies and Artificial Intelligence in library services, contributing to the modernisation of libraries and digital knowledge management across academic and research institutions.

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