Special Lecture on Open Access Week 2026@DLIS, CUTN

Dear All,

We are pleased to inform you that the Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS), Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), Thiruvarur organised an invited talk titled “Beyond the Financial Veil: The Domino Costs of Open Access” on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at 3:00 PM via Google Meet. The programme was organised as part of the celebrations of International Open Access Week 2026, observed from 19 to 25 October 2026. 

The programme commenced with a welcome address by Prof. S. Thanuskodi, Head of the Department, who highlighted the importance of Open Access and the significance of International Open Access Week. He warmly welcomed the invited speaker, faculty members, research scholars, students, and other participants joining the programme online. 

The invited talk was delivered by Dr. Reggie Raju, Director of Research and Learning Services, University of Cape Town Libraries, South Africa. His presentation examined the challenges associated with existing Open Access systems, structural inequalities in scholarly communication, and possible approaches to making research publishing more inclusive and equitable. Tracing the evolution of scholarly communication from the establishment of learned societies to the subsequent commercialisation of academic publishing, Dr. Raju discussed how the Open Access movement emerged in response to the commodification of scholarly knowledge and inequalities within the publishing sector. He raised important questions about who owns, governs, produces, and preserves scholarly knowledge, emphasising the need to reconsider the existing structures of academic publishing. 

Dr. Raju observed that Open Access has the potential to expand the reach of scholarly communication and make research available to a wider community. However, he pointed out that existing systems do not always address local research needs and that the Global South continues to face challenges in achieving equitable representation. He also discussed concerns about biases in peer review and stressed the importance of empowering researchers to publish and disseminate their work while recognising diverse knowledge traditions. Various Open Access movements and declarations promoting greater equity in scholarly communication were also discussed. A significant part of the presentation focused on the Indian scholarly publishing landscape and the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) initiative. Dr. Raju highlighted the need to balance access to international scholarly literature with sustained investment in Indian journals and indigenous publishing platforms. Referring to the level of utilisation of subscribed resources, he noted that only around 20% of the subscribed content was being used, as discussed in his presentation. He argued that strengthening Indian journals could improve the visibility and reach of Indian research. He further emphasised that initiatives such as ONOS should address the structural challenges of scholarly communication in India rather than focusing primarily on access to international publications. 

The presentation also explored the broader meaning of the cost of knowledge, extending beyond direct financial expenditure to include structural inequalities, publishing biases, barriers to participation, and the challenges faced by researchers within existing scholarly communication systems. Dr. Raju stressed that the success of Open Access should be assessed not only by the availability of publications but also by the equity and inclusiveness of the systems through which knowledge is produced, published, disseminated, and preserved. Following the presentation, an interactive question-and-answer session was held. Participants raised questions concerning research assessment in Indian universities, the costs of scholarly communication, the promotion of indigenous scholarly publishing, and the inclusiveness of Diamond Open Access. The discussion provided an opportunity to clarify key issues and exchange perspectives on building a more equitable and sustainable scholarly publishing ecosystem. 

Overall, the invited talk provided valuable insights into the financial, structural, and ethical dimensions of Open Access. It highlighted the importance of addressing inequalities in scholarly publishing, strengthening indigenous publishing initiatives, reconsidering research evaluation practices, and promoting equitable participation in knowledge creation and dissemination. The programme reinforced the view that the true success of Open Access lies not merely in making scholarly publications available, but also in ensuring fairness, inclusiveness, and equity in the global scholarly communication system. 

The lecture program 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 34 participants from India and abroad. The session concluded with a formal vote of thanks proposed by Prof. Akhandanand Shukla. Ms. Anjali C. A., Junior Research Fellow, served as the rapporteur for the program.

Retractions: On the Rise, But Not Enough

Dear All, 

We are delighted to inform you that Department of Library & Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), Thiruvarur, organised a special online lecture under its series “Gyan Pravah: Online Lecture Series in LIS." The 10th lecture in the series was held on 7th January 2026 (Wednesday) from 06:30 PM to 07:30 PM via Google Meet. Dr. Ivan Oransky, MD, Co-Founder of Retraction Watch and Executive Director of the Center for Scientific Integrity, was invited as the resource person and delivered a lecture on the topic “Retractions: On the Rise, But Not Enough.” 

The programme commenced with a welcome address, followed by the introduction of the speaker by Prof. S. Thanuskodi, Professor & Head of the Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur who highlighted the speaker’s contributions to research integrity and scholarly publishing.

The invited speaker, Dr. Ivan Oransky, delivered a one-hour lecture focusing on the role of retractions in correcting the scholarly record and maintaining public trust in research. He emphasized that retractions are intended to correct the literature rather than punish authors, and that despite an increase in retractions, they are still not sufficient in proportion to the volume of unreliable research. During the lecture, Dr. Oransky discussed why retractions matter, particularly in cases of large-scale falsification and editorial failures that risk undermining confidence in science. He explained what gets retracted and who decides, noting that editors may retract publications when confidence in the results is lost, in line with established publication ethics guidelines. The speaker outlined common reasons for retractions, including duplication, plagiarism, image manipulation, faked data, fake peer review, publisher errors, authorship issues, legal reasons, paper mills, and voluntary retractions undertaken as an act of doing the right thing. He clearly distinguished between research misconduct, fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism, and honest error, emphasizing that honest mistakes and differences of opinion do not constitute misconduct. An emerging trend discussed during the session was the appearance of AI-generated or AI-assisted writing in papers and peer-review reports. Dr. Oransky emphasized the importance of transparency and careful editorial judgment in handling such cases. He also cautioned that ranking systems and policy frameworks that penalize retractions may discourage responsible self-correction and transparency. The lecture was followed by an interactive Q&A session, during which participants engaged in discussions related to retraction practices, research misconduct, AI in scholarly publishing, and research evaluation systems.

The programme was coordinated by Dr. Anila Sulochana, Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, and attended by more than 40 participants. The session concluded with a formal vote of thanks proposed by Dr. S. Ravikumar, Associate Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, who thanked the speaker and participants for their valuable contributions. 

The virtual invited talk was informative and beneficial to faculty members, research scholars, and students, offering important insights into contemporary challenges in scholarly communication and research integrity.

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.

Successful Completion of Open Ph.D. Viva-Voce of Mrs. Hasbi Alikunju, PhD Scholar

Dear All,

We are pleased to inform you that Mrs. Hasbi Alikunju, Ph.D. Scholar of the Department successfully defended her open Ph.D. viva-voce held at the Smart Classroom on 28th August 2025 at 11:00 AM. Her research topic was: "An Assessment of Health Information Poverty among Transgender Community in Kerala." Mrs. Hasbi Alikunju presented her research in detail and satisfactorily answered the queries raised during the open viva-voce. Prof. Sanjay Kumar Singh from the Department of Library & Information Science, Gauhati University, Guwahati, served as the external examiner for the PhD viva-voce. Dr. Anila Sulochana, Assistant Professor and Research Supervisor, was the Convener of the session. 

The session was attended by Prof. S. Thanuskodi, Head of the Department, RAC members of the scholar, faculty members, research scholars from the Department and other departments, postgraduate students, non-teaching staff, and staff from the Central Library. The PhD viva-voce was conducted in hybrid mode.

The Department congratulates her on the successful completion of her Ph.D. viva-voce.

Awareness Program on Research Data Management@CUTN

Dear All, 

The Department of Library and Information Science at the Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), Thiruvarur, in collaboration with the INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar, and sponsored by DataCite-GAF Programme & Central University of Tamil Nadu, organized a one-day awareness program on Research Data Management (RDM) on 25th November 2024. The event, held at the Media Theatre, CUTN, aimed to educate participants on the importance and best practices for managing research data effectively.

The program began with the traditional Tamil Thai Vazhthu and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by a welcome address from Prof. S. Thanuskodi, Head of the Department of Library and Information Science, CUTN. The session featured addresses from Prof. B. Radha, Dean of the School of Communication, Prof. S. Ravi, Former Dean, and the Honourable Vice Chancellor, Prof. M. Krishnan, who emphasized the role of RDM in advancing research transparency. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Akhandanand Shukla, Programme Coordinator and Faculty at DLIS CUTN. 

The technical sessions commenced with Mr. Hitesh Kumar Solanki presenting an overview of Research Data Management, discussing the types of research data and the importance of open data for transparency, collaboration, and innovation. The second session, led by Mr. Pallab Pradhan, focused on Data Management Plans (DMP), explaining how these plans ensure effective handling, storage, sharing, and preservation of research data. Mr. Pradhan also introduced tools for creating DMPs and their benefits. In the third session, Mr. Pradhan elaborated on the role of Persistent Identifiers (PIDs), DataCite, and Metadata Standards in research data, explaining the importance of DOI and other identifiers for research data deposition. He also touched on the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy and the principles of data citation. The fourth session, led by Mr. Solanki, covered the National Research Data Repository (NRDR), including its policy, workflow, and key features for institutional coordinators and researchers. A demonstration on how to access and upload data to the NRDR was provided.

The program concluded with a valedictory session, where Dr. Taddi Murali welcomed the dignitaries, and Dr. S. Ravikumar presented the program report. Feedback from participants highlighted the program's effectiveness in enhancing their understanding of RDM. Mr. Pallab Pradhan, Scientist-C at INFLIBNET Centre, served as the Guest of Honour, while Dr. R. Parameswaran, Librarian at Chozha Central Library, CUTN, emphasized the importance of electronic resources and RDM principles at the institutional level. Dr. S. Dhanavandan, Deputy Librarian, CUTN, delivered a felicitation address, recognizing the program's success. Dr. K. G. Sudhier, Assistant Professor at DLIS CUTN, delivered the vote of thanks. The session closed with the National Anthem and tea/snacks. The program was attended by 98 registered participants, including PG students, research scholars, library professionals, and faculty members from various subject fields. The program was compered by Dr. V. K. Dhanyashree, and research scholars Ms. Bhavya K. P., Ms. Rishika Sohni, Ms. Komal Sahu, and Mr. Abhijit Roy worked as rapporteurs for the sessions.

Glimpses of the program are provided below:

Successful PhD Pre-Submission Seminar of Ms. Hasbi Alikunju

Dear All, 

This is to inform you that Ms. Hasbi Alikunju, a Ph.D. scholar (R191905), successfully presented her Ph.D. Pre-Submission Seminar in the Smart Classroom of the Department of Library and Information Science, CUTN, on 14th November 2024, at 11:00 AM. The topic of her research is "An Assessment of Health Information Poverty among the Transgender Community in Kerala." Her research supervisor is Dr. Anila Sulochana. 

The Ph.D. Pre-Submission Seminar was attended by faculty members, research scholars, and students of the department, as well as research scholars and faculty members from other departments. 

The department extends its blessings to her for this academic achievement and congratulates her on the successful presentation of her Ph.D. Pre-Submission Seminar.

Celebration of National Librarian’s Day 2024, jointly organized by the DLIS, CUTN and IASLIC, Kolkata (South Zone)

Dear All,

The library community in India observes National Librarian’s Day on August 12, 2024, to commemorate the birth anniversary of Padmashri Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. This year also marks the centenary of Prof. S. R. Ranganathan’s entry into the LIS profession. The Department of Library & Information Science at Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), Thiruvarur, in association with the Indian Association of Special Libraries & Information Centers (IASLIC, Kolkata, South Zone), jointly organized National Librarian’s Day 2024 on August 14, 2024, at 3:00 PM to celebrate the 132nd birthday of Padmashri Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. 

On this occasion, the DLIS, CUTN, invited Prof. B. Ramesh Babu, Commonwealth Fellow (Loughborough University) and former Professor in the Department of Library & Information Science at the University of Madras, as the special guest to deliver a keynote address on “Dr. Ranganathan’s Legacy in the Indian LIS Profession.”

The program began with a welcome address by Dr. Taddi Murali, Head of DLIS, CUTN, followed by an introduction by Dr. K. G. Sudhier, Assistant Professor, DLIS, CUTN, and Vice President of IASLIC, Kolkata. Dr. Sudhier provided an overview of Prof. B. Ramesh Babu, a distinguished figure in Library & Information Science in India. Prof. Ramesh Babu interacted with students, research scholars, faculty, and senior professionals nationwide through a Google Meet session organized by the department. He delivered an insightful talk about Dr. S. R. Ranganathan and his transformative impact on the field of librarianship in India. Prof. Ramesh Babu elaborated on Dr. Ranganathan’s teachings, such as the 'Five Laws of Library Science' and the 'Colon Classification' system, highlighting their continued relevance in today’s LIS profession and their role in fostering new research ideas. He also noted that the decline in the quality of the LIS profession in India is partly due to the insufficient implementation of Dr. Ranganathan’s principles and recommendations. Prof. Ramesh Babu emphasized the obligation of library professionals to uphold Dr. Ranganathan’s legacy and advance the field by embracing his values.

The glimpses of the program are given below:

Dr. V. K. Dhanyasree, Assistant Professor, DLIS, CUTN, delivered the concluding remarks, summarizing the guest speaker’s address. Dr. Anila Sulochana, Assistant Professor, DLIS, CUTN, offered a vote of thanks to the dignitaries and participants. Dr. K. G. Sudhier, Vice President of IASLIC, expressed gratitude to all who attended the celebration, particularly the students, research scholars, and LIS professionals across the country. Over 50 LIS professionals participated in the online event.

Thanks.

Padma Shri Dr. S. R. Ranganathan's 131st Birth Anniversary Celebration on 12th August, 2023

Dear All, 

This is to inform you that the Department of Library & Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur and Indian Association of Special Libraries and Information Centers (IASLIC), Kolkata have jointly organized National Librarians' Day Celebration on the occasion of Padma Shri Dr. S. R. Ranganathan's 131st birth anniversary on 12th August 2023 at 12:00 PM through Google Meet. On this occasion, Department has invited Prof. S. Ravi, Former Dean, School of Communication & Head of the Department of Library & Information Science, CUTN as a special guest to deliver the theme talk "Dr. S. R. Ranganathan: The Epitome of Librarianship".

The program commenced with a warm welcome address delivered by Dr. Anila Sulochana, Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur followed by an introduction about the resource person Prof. S. Ravi, Former Dean & Head, Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, a distinguished figure in the field of Library and Information Science. The presentation by Prof. S. Ravi underscored the enduring impact of Dr. Ranganathan’s contributions to the field of Library and Information Science. The speaker emphasized the pivotal role of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan in shaping library science education and librarianship in India. The session resonated with the audience, as Prof. Ravi not only shed light on Dr. S. R. Ranganathan’s contributions but also contextualized their relevance in the modern library and information landscape.

The invited talk was coordinated by Dr. Anila Sulochana, Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, and attended by 30 LIS professionals. The event’s closure was marked by a formal vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Taddi Murali, Assistant Professor, DLIS, CUTN, Thiruvarur. Dr. Murali expressed gratitude to the participants for their active engagement and to Prof. Ravi for his enlightening presentation. Ms. Bhavya K. P., Junior Research Fellow worked as rapporteur in the program.

Thanks.

Successful Completion of Open Ph.D. Viva-Voce of Mr. H. Fakrudhin Ali Ahamed, PhD Scholar

Dear All,

This is to inform you all that Mr. H. Fakrudhin Ali Ahamed, Ph.D. Scholar of the Department successfully defended his open Ph.D. viva-voce held at the Smart Classroom on 25th January 2023 on 11:00 AM. The Scholar has elaborated on the research work and answered the queries raised during the open viva-voce. Prof. R. K. Mahapatra, Head, Department of Library & Information Science, Tripura University, Agartala was the external examiner for his open Ph.D. viva-voce. Dr. Anila Sulochana, Assistant Professor and Supervisor was the Convener of the function. The other members were Dr. Akhandanand Shukla, Head of the Department. Research Scholars from the Department as well as from other departments, PG Students, Faculty Members, Non-teaching staff of the Department, and Central Library staff were present during the open Ph.D. viva-voce.

Department congrats to him for the successful completion of his Ph.D. viva-voce.

Thanks.