Special Lecture on Open Access Week 2025@DLIS, CUTN

Dear All, 

This is to inform you that Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu has organized a special online lecture as part of the International Open Access Week 2025 on 22nd October 2025 (Wednesday) through Google Meet. Mr. Mohamed Baessa, Interim Library Manager, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and Manager of Research Output & Preservation Services was invited as the speaker, and he delivered the talk on “Open Access: Institutional Pathways Toward Knowledge Ownership”.

The program commenced with a welcome address given by Prof. S. Thanuskodi, Head, Department of Library and Information Science, CUTN, Thiruvarur followed by a brief introduction of the resource person by Dr. Anila Sulochana, Assistant Professor at Department of Library and Information Science, CUTN. 

Mr. Mohamed Baessa, who serves as Interim Manager of the Library at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Manager of Research Output & Preservation Services, delivered a comprehensive talk. He began with an overview of KAUST and the global Open Access (OA) movement, offering a clear definition of “Open Access” and tracing its key institutionalization milestones. He then outlined the three main OA routes—Green OA (self-archiving in institutional repositories), Gold OA (publishing openly in journals), and Hybrid OA (subscription-based journals offering open-access options)—followed by an overview of the KAUST Library, established in 2009.

He elaborated on the library’s services and the university’s faculty-driven Open Access policy, highlighting the Institutional Research Tracking System (IRTS), a proactive mechanism that mandates the submission of manuscript versions of all university research outputs. He further noted that, from 2017 onward, KAUST implemented a Faculty Annual Review System and an Institutional Research Evaluation System, detailing how the library monitors and supports these internal processes.

Mr. Baessa also discussed the achievements and challenges encountered during policy implementation and concluded by sharing key takeaways from the KAUST experience. The program featured a lively Q&A session, with participants raising insightful questions on issues such as tracking institutional research outputs, ensuring faculty compliance with OA policies, and addressing incomplete metadata in repositories (e.g., missing titles or author names).

The lecture was coordinated by Dr. Anila Sulochana, Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, and attended by more than 50 participants from India and abroad. The session concluded with a formal vote of thanks proposed by Prof. Akhandanand Shukla. Ms. Anjali V., an MLIS second-year student, served as the rapporteur for the program.

The glimpses of the program are given below:

The Department extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended the program and generously shared their valuable time with us.

Admission to PhD (Entrance Exam Category) in Library & Information Science@DLIS CUTN, Thiruvarur

Dear All,

We are happy to inform you that Department of Library & Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu offers admission to PhD (Full-Time) under the Entrance Exam Category for the Academic Year 2025-2026. 

PhD Seat Vacancy: Full-Time - 05. 

Eligibility: Candidates willing to appear under Entrance Examination Category may check the detailed eligibility criteria or equivalent in our website PhD-Eligibility-criteria-AY-2025-2026_12062025.pdf 

Candidates who have completed:

• Two year/four semester Master's Degree after a three-year Bachelor Programme, with a minimum of 55% marks aggregate or equivalent grade OR
• One year/two semester Master's Degree after a four-year Bachelor Programme, with a minimum of 55% marks aggregate or equivalent grade OR
• Four-year bachelor's degree with a minimum of 75% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade OR M.Phil. Degree with 55% of marks or its equivalent grade.

Online Registration Link: Application form is to be submitted online in the link: https://cutnadm.samarth.edu.in/ 

Registration commences from 17.10.2025

Application Fee: All eligible candidates will be required to pay a non-refundable fee of Rs.2360/- (incl. GST) (GEN/OBC/EWS) and Rs.1770/- (incl. GST) (SC/ST/PWD/Third Gender)

A duly completed application form with the prescribed application fee must be submitted online on or before 31.10.2025. Entrance Exam will be conducted at CUTN, Thiruvarur on 15.11.2025. For admission queries, kindly mail to admissions@cutn.ac.in.

Job Achievement by Ms. Ardra Mohan

Dear All,

We are pleased to inform you that Ms. Ardra Mohan, a student of the MLIS program (2023–2025 batch) and an alumna of the Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, has been appointed as a Library Graduate Trainee at Alliance University, Bengaluru.

The Department extends its heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Ardra Mohan on this achievement and wishes her continued success in all her future endeavors.

Celebrating International Open Access Week 2025@DLIS CUTN

Dear All,

This is to inform you that the Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, has scheduled a celebration of International Open Access Week 2025. 

Mr. Mohamed Baessa, Interim Library Manager, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and Manager of Research Output & Preservation Services, will be the invited speaker to deliver a talk on “Open Access: Institutional Pathways Toward Knowledge Ownership” on October 22, 2025, at 2:00 PM (IST) through Google Meet.

Google Meet Link: https://meet.google.com/bwu-eunf-upz

Date & Time: 22nd October 2025, 02:00 PM (IST)

Abstract of the Program

Since the Budapest Open Access Declaration in 2001, the institutional Open Access (OA) movement has continued to reshape scholarly communication by making research outputs freely available online to anyone, anywhere, with minimal restrictions on use. The overarching goal has been to increase the visibility, usage, and impact of research, while addressing the central question behind this year’s Open Access Week theme: “Who owns our knowledge?”

Over the years, universities have adopted various approaches to answer this question through multiple OA pathways—primarily Green OA, which enables self-archiving through institutional repositories, and Gold OA, which provides immediate access via publishers. More recently, Transformative Agreements have emerged, converting subscription spending into support for open publishing. Each pathway offers distinct advantages; however, institutions often adopt a blend of these approaches to meet the diverse needs of disciplines and financial contexts.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), a graduate research university established in 2009 in Saudi Arabia, brings together faculty and students from over 120 nationalities to conduct cutting-edge research in key areas such as water, energy, environment, and food. KAUST has been at the forefront of advancing Open Access—establishing its institutional repository in 2011, adopting a Green OA policy in 2014, and signing its first Transformative Agreement in 2019. Today, KAUST maintains one of the highest Open Access compliance rates globally, exceeding 80% over the past five years through a combination of Green OA, Gold OA publishing, and transformative agreements with major STEM publishers.

These achievements underscore the University’s strong commitment to Open Access and faculty engagement, demonstrating how coordinated institutional strategies can enhance research visibility and foster knowledge ownership within and beyond the academic community.

This program will take you through KAUST’s Open Access journey, highlighting key milestones, lessons learned, and strategies that have strengthened research visibility, faculty engagement, and knowledge ownership both within and beyond the University.

All are invited to attend the program.

Job Achievement by Ms. Ananya Boruah

Dear All, 

We are pleased to inform you that Ms. Ananya Boruah, a student of the MLIS program (2023–2025 batch) and an alumna of the Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, has been appointed as a Librarian at The Shriram Millennium International Junior School, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. 

The Department extends its heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Ananya Boruah on this achievement and wishes her continued success in all her future endeavors.

National Conference on Legacy to Legendary: Digital Rebuilding of the Foundations for Future Libraries (LDRF-2025)

Dear All, 

We are pleased to announce that the Department of Library & Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, is organizing a National Conference on Legacy to Legendary: Digital Rebuilding of the Foundations for Future Libraries (LDRF-2025) on 7th-8th November 2025.

LDRF-2025 presents an excellent opportunity for information professionals and researchers to share and enrich their research experiences and professional expertise. The National Conference on Legacy to Legendary: Digital Rebuilding of the Foundations for Future Libraries focuses on the latest trends and innovations in the field of librarianship. With thoughtfully curated themes and sub-themes, LDRF-2025 addresses diverse facets such as AI-driven smart libraries, the role of libraries in preserving and disseminating Indian Knowledge Systems, vibrant contemporary library systems, and reformed library policies promoting inclusivity and diversity. This conference serves as a dynamic platform for academics and practitioners from across the country to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange ideas, and explore the transformative potential of digital foundations in shaping legendary libraries of the future.

LDRF-2025 invites research papers in the following themes and sub-themes:

Theme: Legacy to Legendary: Digital Rebuilding of the Foundations for Future Libraries

Sub-themes:

• Smart Libraries: AI Driven Systems for Libraries
• Future of Research Metrics
• Indian Knowledge System & Libraries
• Transformative Libraries: Traditional to Vibrant Social Spaces
• Emerging IPR Challenges and Libraries
• Reforming Library Policies: Embracing Inclusivity and Diversity

The full paper (in Word format, including an abstract of no more than 200 words and at least five keywords) should be submitted as an email attachment to ldrf2025@gmail.com. The deadline for submitting full papers is 25th October 2025 and the last date for registration is 4th November 2025.

For more details, please visit the following link: LDRF-2025.

All are invited to participate in the LDRF-2025.

Celebration of Pustak Puja 2025

Dear All,

We would like to inform you that the Department of Library and Information Science at the Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, celebrated "Pustak Puja" on September 29, 2025. Faculty members, scholars, PG students, and staff participated in the celebration. 

The program was organized by Prof. S. Thanuskodi, Head of the Department, along with faculty members Prof. Akhandanand Shukla, Dr. S. Ravikumar, Dr. K. G. Sudhier, Dr. Anila Sulochana, Dr. V. K. Dhanyasree and office staff Mrs. Chithra M., as well as PG students and research scholars of the Department. 

Glimpses of the program are provided below:

Successful Participation in 3rd International CLSTL-2025 by Dr. K. G. Sudhier

Dear All, 

This is to inform you that Dr. K. G. Sudhier, Assistant Professor in the Department, participated in and presented a paper at the 3rd International Conference on “Changing Landscape of Science & Technology Libraries: Enhancing Library Experiences with AI” (CLSTL-2025), organized by the Central Library, IIT Gandhinagar, during September 25–27, 2025. 

He successfully presented a co-authored paper with Dr. Abhijith B. titled “A Semi-Automated Conflict Resolution Model for Cross-Domain Ontology Alignment using Open-Source LLM.” The paper proposes a novel semi-automated model for resolving semantic conflicts in cross-domain ontology alignment. By integrating the contextual and semantic capabilities of open-source LLMs (Llama 3) with the precision and reliability of human expert validation, the model addresses key limitations of purely rule-based or machine learning-based systems.

The Department congratulates Dr. K. G. Sudhier on his successful participation and presentation at the 3rd International Conference CLSTL-2025.

Fresher's Welcome - 2025@DLIS, CUTN

Dear All,

We are pleased to inform you that the 3rd Semester MLIS students of the Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, organized a fresher’s welcome function titled “RETROPOP” on September 23, 2025, to welcome the new batch of students for the academic year 2025–2026.

Prof. S. Thanuskodi, Head of the Department, formally welcomed the newly admitted students. This was followed by an address from Prof. S. Ravi, Former Head of the Department and Chief Guest of the function, who enlightened the students by sharing his experiences and stories about the struggles and contributions of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan to the LIS domain. Other faculty members also shared their views on the occasion. The event was well managed by the 3rd Semester MLIS students, with Rifat Jahan serving as the compere, Doli Basumatary delivering the welcome address, and Minakshi Mohanty proposing the formal vote of thanks. Various activities were conducted during the program, and the teachers also shared their insights along with the students.

Glimpses of the program are provided below:

The department wishes all students a bright future and a fulfilling life.