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Electronic theses and dissertation (ETD) symposium is one of the major international activities of Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD), and its objectives provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge and skills relevant to ETD students, professors and information professionals. This symposium offers an opportunity to put forward innovative plans, debate on ideas and promote closer cooperation internationally. This report is a summary of selected events held during ETD international symposium 2016 on the theme “Data and Dissertations”, with a focus on the handling of research data.

It is a concise review of selected presentations during 19th electronic theses and dissertation annual symposium in University of Lille, France.

ETD 2016 meeting held in Lille was attended by nearly 100 attendees from 28 countries. This report includes a summary of selected presentations on research data, open-access and embargo policies, augmented ETDs and French system for ETDs. It is useful to managers of organizations, teachers and educators, librarians, open-access protagonists and members of information provider communities. The personal interaction with the participants from different countries enriched the author’s ideas about the ETD development.

The author, who was also a speaker, provides an overview of the selected presentations on the initiatives, namely, research data development, copyright laws, augmented digital theses, plagiarism, etc. The important events such as sight-seeing tours to a national museum, informal get-together are covered which may be useful to the audience who are not able to attend but interested to know about ETD 2016.

This paper aims to understand e-books’ popularity in India and the potential of mobile devices to reach huge number of readers because of content absorption through mobile phones and iPods.

To accomplish the goal of this study, the author used a mixed method of study: an analysis of the academic literature, data collection through personal interaction, questionnaire survey and library website to understand users’ perceptions on potential of mobile devices on access to content, and appraised on mobile-friendly services in libraries and strategies for promoting mobile content and best practices.

The mobile age has brought tremendous scope for reading on low-cost mobile devices that are within the reach of almost every Indian and has incorporated optimism in a highly populated country like India. The technology and expertise for digitisation in India correlate with not only digital-savvy but also multimedia- and animation-skilled workforce, which altogether developed an ecosystem favourable for e-book production.

The literature on e-books in India is scanty, although there are a handful of case studies on academic libraries conducted by librarians but no systematic large-scale research on initiatives, advocacy programs and promotional processes to improve the overall scenario; this paper is an attempt to fill the gap.

The purpose of this paper is to focus on selected presentations from the 29th Computers in Libraries (CIL) conference that took place at Washington Hilton hotel, Washington, DC. In addition to its content, the CIL (2014) conference provided opportunities to discuss best practices and emerging issues with IT professionals, vendors and “techno” librarians, especially from North America. There was a conference within a conference – the Internet@Schools track integrated into CIL 2014 as Track E on Monday, April 7, and Tuesday, April 8.

Reports from the viewpoint of a first-time attendee of CIL (2014) present a summary of the selected presentations with more detail on networking events and the exhibition. The CIL (2014) conference attracted librarians from 13 countries other than the USA. It is difficult to document the entire conference happenings in a single report because of several tracks (A-E) and number of speakers; therefore, a selective approach is used.

The CIL (2014) in Washington, DC, is considered a major North American library technology conference for librarians and information managers. As a first-time attendee, the author found that CIL (2014) is informative; it covered technology applications in libraries and strategies to enhance communication – useful to librarians and information professionals both in the USA and internationally. The conference was full of innovative ideas and revealed the diversity of current developments in library service delivery, especially in North America.

Today, more and more library users are using various innovative technologies including mobile apps, data visualization, application programming interfaces, open-source and multimedia. Phones (smart phones) and tablets are emerging as popular choices to access content. This report is a summary of selected educational sessions/presentations in CIL (2014) on diverse technology-related topics, especially mobile technology in libraries that will be of particular interest to readers and useful for professionals who did not attend CIL (2014) in Washington, DC.

The purpose of this paper is to present a summary report of the 35th Social Science Congress deliberations held in December 2011 at MGAHV, Wardha, India.

The report includes selected presentations and provides a review of some of the events of the ISSA's 35th Social Science Congress. The author's observation/participation and discussion on vital areas, namely, peaceful co‐existence and just world, created an insight to prepare this report.

The Indian Academy of Social Science (ISSA) was established on August 15, 1974 at Allahabad, with the vision to discover, develop and disseminate the science of Nature‐Humans‐Society with a view to enable people of India to enjoy higher quality of material, social and cultural life while living in peace and harmony with nature. Today corruption has taken center stage in India and at this juncture the discussion on the theme is most appropriate to evolve a blueprint for peaceful co‐existence and a just world. The congress programs were designed to help participants tackle current issues and prepare them for future challenges. The theme generated a lot of discussion on what is a just world and what is the right pathway towards working for peaceful co‐existence.

The 35th Social Science congress report will be of interest to every member of the society on a global scale to understand the challenges, issues, and opportunities for peaceful co‐existence with special reference to poor and disadvantaged populations.

The Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT), Government of Canada, through Shastri Indo‐Canadian Institute, encourages Indian scholars for Understanding Canada Faculty Research, Fellowships; the author visited Canada during March 2010 to study Canadian archival system, especially records management in archives in Ontario province; the driving rationale for the study was the realization that there existed very few or no archives and record management (ARM) programs in India. This study intends to report different types of ARM programs in Canada, with special reference to e‐records management, namely automation status, creation of virtual exhibits, preservation of digital images, metadata standard for e‐records, etc.

The author visited national, provincial and municipal archives and conducted unstructured interviews with archives staff/managers.

Records are considered as commodity and attempts to improve their management has necessitated a more integrated and controlled approach. In this study, it is noted that archivist and records managers have at present very little influence on policy implementation of archives and working under university librarian and less influence on decision making. All the university archives get a nominal amount from library budget. No separate budget for archives is available; modest budgets are allocated for rare book collection. The total archives concept in English Canada is based on the American system. The responsibility for collecting and copying its historical records fell to the government; with the so‐called convergence of technologies helping to fulfill new demands and rising expectations and to empower the end‐user. It was possible to establish very good relations with the archivists of these institutions and the author is keen to keep contact with them. It is expected that this study will serve as a building block to deeper examinations of broader issues such as the core competencies with respect to records management with special reference to e‐records management.

The prime objectives were to overview the current state of active and passive record keeping in the Government of Canada and identify the core competencies required to build effective record keeping infrastructures in the digital environment that has emerged in most government institutions. During a period of one month, the author was able to visit only selected archives in Toronto and Ottawa. The archives in other parts of Canada are not included in this study due to time limit.

The paper presents a study of the archival system in Canada and its role and contribution towards promoting a knowledge society in Canada.

Due to climate change and a considerable increase in man-made disasters, disaster risk management has gained a lot of importance. This article aims to summarize the proceedings of two days of discussion on natural and human-induced disasters organized by National Institute of Disaster Management at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The objective is to evolve a holistic national strategy for inclusion of disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies and programs into the mainstream of developmental activities. The libraries worldwide are witnessing a series of disasters, and DRR is one of the much-discussed topics within the library community. The literature on disaster risk management in libraries is scanty, and with less research being done, needs urgent attention. The library conferences in India and abroad hardly address the theme “DRR”; therefore, this report will be of interest to librarians and policy makers for libraries.

This report includes selected presentations and discussion during thematic and plenary sessions and provides a review of some of the events of the first session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR). The author's observation/participation and discussion on vital areas, namely disaster resilience, capacity building, risk insurance, global warming and climate change, created insight in preparation of this report.

A multi-stakeholder NPDRR has been constituted by the Government of India, with Home Minister as Chairman, in Resolution No. 47-31/2012-DM-III on 26 February 2013. The event was attended by various stakeholders such as policy makers, administrators, professional disaster managers, UN organizations, multilateral organizations, scientists, technocrats, academicians, corporate and private sectors, community leaders, representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (grass roots-level institutions in India preferably called a “village panchayat”), and NGOs. India is amongst 80 countries which have a national platform on disaster risk management like the NPDRR. The theme generated a lot of discussion on risk financing mechanisms, long-term recovery and rehabilitation, and holistic strategy for multi-hazard DRR.

This is an important topic in the area of disaster risk management which includes disaster resilience, capacity development, and policy planning. This discussion forum facilitated the enhancement of knowledge and the integration of DRR into the mainstream of development.

This report aims to summarize selected presentations of the International Federations of Librarians Associations and Institutions (IFLA) 79th world congress held at Suntec City centre, Singapore, and highlight Asian participation in the World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) 2013. In addition to its content, the IFLA congress provides opportunities to discuss emerging issues and best practices with colleagues, vendors, and consultants across the globe.

Reports from the viewpoint of an IFLA 2013 congress participant and paper presenter; presents an overview of the selected events with more detail on some of the presented papers and Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning (CPDWL) workshop. IFLA congress attracts librarians from all sectors and work environments from around the globe. It is difficult to document the entire conference happenings in a single report because of its huge and diverse nature; therefore a selective approach is used.

The WLIC in Singapore was one of the most exciting social and professional events of the year. Over the years, the author finds that IFLA congresses deliver the best value in professional development; the educational value of the IFLA congress that author has had attended is consistent and cost-beneficial.

It is not possible for any one person to cover all aspects of IFLA; it contains presentation summary of selected papers maybe of particular interest to readers who missed these sessions.

The Singapore congress was worthwhile and enlightening, revealing the diversity of current developments in library service delivery worldwide. This report summarizes information about the congress useful for professionals who did not attend.

The purpose of this paper is to review some of the current literature and discuss some ways to advocate for open access (OA) programs adopted by libraries in various institutions. It points out that the library and information science/system community's enthusiasm for innovations in OA may have unintended negative financial consequences. This overview provides a list of relevant literature/resources in the area of library advocacy, with regard to the ongoing needs of OA repositories. There is a focus on OA in India.

The literature review is not comprehensive but selective and fairly recent; it includes published resources from the last ten years and lists organizations advocating for a sustainable OA model.

The advocacy roles for librarians in promoting the OA movement, and the challenges they are facing in this era are discussed. The author stresses that a proactive approach in information handling and collaboration with information technology staff and academics are essential for OA to be sustainable.

Owing to poor or reduced government funding for libraries, librarians are forced to advocate for OA in new and different ways. Library officers/information managers serving in universities and academic institutions can launch a program to help faculty pay for publishing in OA journals, introducing the concept and securing funding through various means.

The author shares information about the American Library Association’s 133rd annual conference in Las Vegas. This conference served as an open forum for participants on incredible range of topics, namely, e-books, digital content, innovation and community engagement, library instruction, copyright, outreach, privacy, library advocacy, literacy, data-driven decision making, intellectual freedom, teen services, gaming, leadership and best practices on a range of library-related concerns.

This report is a brief outline of ALA 2014 annual conference in Las Vegas with focus on international programs. It summarizes selective events, including author’s presentation on e-books advocacy in India, International Librarians’ Reception and paper session organized by IRRT.

ALA annual conference at Las Vegas was one of the best professional development opportunities for librarians, with a large variety of programs, activities and exhibition. The event attracted librarians from all sectors and work environments from many countries and highlighted issues in librarianship and latest technology development; its use in libraries will be of interest to this journal’s readership, especially information professionals from all over the world.

ALA Annual conference in June 26-July 1, 2014 was the largest conference of librarians touched all topics in librarianship. It is difficult to describe the entire conference events even briefly in an article. The author’s experiences during the international events are highlighted.