XLRI Jamshedpur celebrates National Librarians’ Day

Librarians are custodians of human development: Fr. George

XLRI Library App launched 

Jamshedpur, Aug 13: “Librarians are not merely facilitators of books and information; they are custodians of human development,” said Dr. (Fr.) Sebastian George, SJ, Director of XLRI – Xavier School of Management, as the Sir Jehangir Ghandy Library celebrated National Librarians’ Day 2025 with a vibrant programme on Tuesday. The event honoured the invaluable contribution of libraries, library professionals, and the culture of knowledge sharing while also launching new digital initiatives.

The celebration was attended by senior XLRI leaders including Dr. (Fr.) Donald D’Silva, SJ, Dean – Administration & Finance, Dr. Sanjay Patro, Dean – Academics, and Dr. H. K. Pradhan, Finance Area Chair. Mr. D. T. Edwin, Head – Library, along with the dedicated library team, hosted the programme, which featured speeches, felicitation of outstanding users, digital launches, and prize distributions.

Three major digital initiatives were unveiled during the occasion: the XLRI Library App, inaugurated by Dr. (Fr.) Sebastian George; the XLRI RemoteXs App, inaugurated by Dr. (Fr.) Donald D’Silva; and Nova | XL-LibBot 2.0, inaugurated by Dr. Sanjay Patro. These initiatives aim to strengthen digital access to library resources and enhance the user experience for students, faculty, and researchers.

Outstanding users were felicitated in multiple categories, including those borrowing the most books across student, faculty, and staff categories, most frequent library user, most frequent online catalogue users, most frequent discussion room user, Library Quiz 2025 winners, and top Coursera learners for July 2025. Special recognition was also given to library staff for their dedication and service to the academic community.

In his address, Dr. (Fr.) Donald D’Silva lauded the professionalism and tireless contribution of the library team, noting their crucial role in enriching the academic journey of students and faculty alike. Prof. Sanjay Patro highlighted the rising significance of digital resources and stressed the need to bridge information gaps, particularly in developing nations. Dr. H. K. Pradhan reflected on the transformation of libraries from traditional physical collections into modern research hubs, underscoring their irreplaceable role in higher education and intellectual growth.

The event also paid tribute to Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, the father of Library Science in India, whose vision continues to shape library services in the country. The celebration reaffirmed XLRI’s commitment to promoting knowledge, research, and digital innovation in library services, blending tradition with modernity to meet the needs of the academic community in an evolving digital era.