Islamabad :28 May:THE Allama Iqbal Open University has offered one million books to public libraries in the country for promoting education and research as well as acknowledging the fact that university’s 1.3 million students are consulting these libraries.

This offer was made by AIOU Vice-Chancellor Dr Nazir Ahmad Sangi while speaking at the launching ceremony of the International Journal of Information Management Science (IJIMS), organised by the Pakistan Librarian Welfare Organisation in collaboration with the Punjab Library Foundation at the Quaid-i-Azam Library this past week.

Dr Sangi said the university would upload the IJIMS on its website. He stressed that promotion of good books and journals was the collective responsibility of all concerned. Digitalisation of public libraries was also need of the hour, he added.

“The AIOU is ready to cooperate with public libraries to ensure that students may study their subjects and conduct research,” Dr Sangi said.

The VC said the Open University had recently launched a programme “Jahan Talib-i-ilm Wahan Ustad” with an objective to developing faculty at local level and promoting modern science disciplines.

Public Libraries Punjab Director-General Atta Muhammad Khan said the Punjab government was spending huge funds for the promotion and upgrade of libraries and research work. He said the nations, who continue to conduct research, never fall.Dawn.