Aligarh: The Department of Library and Information Science at Aligarh Muslim University has commenced its much-anticipated national seminar on Disaster Management in Libraries, Archives, and Museums: Prevention, Preparedness, and Action.

The inaugural session of this crucial event brought together notable figures in the field, including NDM members, senior consultants, archivists, and senior LIS professionals from across the country.

During the ceremony, the Chief Guest, Dr. Srikant K Panigrahi (Director General and Distinguished Research Fellow at IISD), and Prof. Mohammad Gulrez, Vice-Chancellor of AMU, jointly released the seminar's souvenir.

Prof. Gulrez expressed his hopes that the seminar would raise awareness and preparedness among attendees to swiftly respond to potential disasters. He emphasized the necessity of developing a robust policy framework, especially for institutions like the Maulana Azad Library, renowned for its extensive and invaluable manuscript collection.

In his address, Dr. Panigrahi, stressed the importance of safeguarding knowledge hubs such as libraries, museums, and archives through emergency preparedness. He underscored the need for proactive measures to minimize the impact of disasters, aligning with sustainable development goals.

Guest of Honor, Prof. N Laxman Rao, President of Telangana Library Association, advocated for the initiation of a course and the formulation of a national policy framework, commending DLIS AMU's potential to pioneer such efforts.

Mohammad Imran, AMU Registrar and Guest of Honour urged library science professionals to document individual roles in disaster prevention within a comprehensive policy plan.

Prof. Asmer Beg, Co-Patron of the seminar, extended his appreciation for the initiative on behalf of the social science faculty, anticipating a fruitful and enlightening session in the days to come.

Prof. Naushad Ali, Convener of the program, welcomed the participants, shedding light on the significance of addressing both natural and man-made disasters. He underscored the importance of collaborative efforts among universities, aligning with the Prime Minister's 10-point agenda

The organizing secretary, Prof. Nishat Fatima, concluded the inaugural session with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all participants and professionals contributing to the seminar, whereas Dr. Huma Parveen conducted the proceedings.