Honoured to Receive the SATKAL National Librarian Award 2025

I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive the SATKAL National Librarian Award for the year 2025. I sincerely thank the Satinder Kaur Ramdev Memorial Trust for Advancement of Librarianship (SATKAL) for recognizing the contributions of library professionals and for their continued efforts in supporting the growth of librarianship in India. The award was presented during the READ India Summit 2026, held in Gurugram on 18 March 2026. I am grateful to the organizers for providing such a meaningful platform to celebrate the work and impact of library professionals across the country.

This recognition is not only a personal milestone but also a reflection of the collective efforts of many individuals who believe in the transformative power of libraries. To me, libraries are far more than repositories of books—they are dynamic gateways to knowledge, innovation, and lifelong learning, playing a vital role in empowering students, researchers, and communities.

Over the years, my work has focused on strengthening research library services through technology, innovation, and user-centered approaches. One of the key initiatives has been the implementation of the Koha Integrated Library Management System at the Institute, including the migration of legacy data from Libsys 4.0. This effort enabled the development of an enhanced and unified discovery platform, significantly improving access to both print and electronic resources. I have also worked on improving digital preservation and open access through the migration of the Institutional Repository from DSpace 4 to DSpace 6, ensuring better visibility and long-term accessibility of scholarly outputs.

Archival development has been another important area of my work. I have been involved in organizing and digitizing archival collections and in developing an AtoM-based Online Archives Finding Aids Portal. These initiatives aim to make historically significant collections, including astronomical heritage records, more accessible to researchers worldwide.

In addition, I have been actively engaged in strengthening research support services by facilitating access to tools such as Overleaf, iThenticate, and Grammarly. As the nodal officer for the NKRC consortium, I also coordinate efforts to enhance access to scholarly resources and support national initiatives like One Nation One Subscription. Beyond these initiatives, I strongly believe in the importance of outreach and knowledge sharing. Through workshops, training programmes, invited talks, and research publications, I have tried to contribute to the broader library and academic community.

I dedicate this award to my colleagues, mentors, and the institutions that have supported me throughout my journey. Their encouragement and collaboration have been invaluable. We are living in a time when libraries are rapidly evolving into integrated knowledge hubs—combining technology, open access, and user-focused services. This recognition motivates me to continue exploring new ways to enhance access to knowledge and support research and learning. I hope that, together, we will continue to strengthen libraries as vibrant centres of learning, research, and community engagement.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to Prof. Jagtar Singh, the Board of Trustees, the award committee, the organizers of the READ India Summit, and everyone who has been part of this journey.

Thank you.