Many Reasons to Remember Library of BITS Pilani Rajasthan India today

April 24, 2009 - PRLog -- April 23 is just no ordinary date. Its a symbolic date for world literature, for this day happens to be the birth or death date of many renowned authors like Cervantes, Shakespeare, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, Maurice Druon, K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla and Manuel Mejia Vallejo.

It is a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference to pay a world-wide tribute to books and authors on this date. By celebrating this day throughout the world as World Book and Copyright Day, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.

Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to human race, which are delivered down from generation to generation as presents to the posterity of those who are yet born. For the 2009 edition of the Day, UNESCO has suggested to explore the topic of the paramount function of books for the development of quality education, as well as the link between publishing and human rights.

BITS offers degrees in various disciplines presently at Pilani, Dubai, Goa and Hyderabad campuses apart from an array of work integrated learning programmes for HRD of a vast spectrum of Indian corporates. Recently the National Assessment and Accreditation Council NAAC reaccredited BITS with 3.71 CGPA out of 4 and awarded “A” grade “Very Good” status.

The alumni of BITS Pilani who peak with Passion Quotient for Alma mater and spread across the globe from Australia to America are the true ambassadors of Brand BITS Pilani. Several of the famous authors like Narmada Damned Dilip D Souza, Hangman Journal Shashi Warrier, Splendours of Royal Mysore Vikram Sampath are indeed Proud to be BITSians. The magazine India Today in its review of BITS Pilani alumnus Shashi Warrier’s book Night of the Krait had thundered that Warrier can give Ludlum and Co a run for their money

With over 65000 sq. ft floor area and 750 seating, the Library of BITS Pilani Rajasthan is one of the biggest and finest library buildings of recent times. A large part of the floor is marbled, the building has been designed with a view to give palatial ambience and there is an abundance of place to walk around. The features include Dholpur stone pillars, Jharokas, Arches, Chandeliers, Rajasthani paintings and plenty of natural light. The high ceiling and skylights make it highly energy efficient and also provide the necessary insulation against the temperature extremities.

The BITS library is a good blend of Rajasthani architecture, aesthetics and modern technology. Facilities in the library include reading halls and stacks, restrooms, e library, study carrels, meeting hall, audio visual room, and informal seating areas. The greenery both inside and outside the library provide the necessary soothing to the eyes.

The present collection of BITS Library at Pilani is 225,839 books and back volumes of journals. The other statistics about BITS Library include Journals subscribed 549, Books issued per day 569, Readers visiting per day 543, E-Journals 4500 and CD-ROM collection 1885. The collection is specialized in the area of Science and Technology, Management and Pharmacy and Biological Sciences including rare old books, back volumes (since 1920s) and manuscripts.

Dr Ishwara Bhat the Librarian at BITS Pilani with his years British Council Library experience is the moving spirit behind various activities of BITS Library. He has always been urging the students and faculty of BITS not to publish or distribute or purchase pirated versions.

MATRIX which is an acronym for Mind And Thought in Radical Information Xchange is a club of students and faculty of the Institute regularly conducting book and movie reviews at BITS Pilani. MATRIX had the valedictory function for this semester on April 23 at Pilani and the highlights of the function included the invitees sharing their experiences of a good read from a book of their choice. It is indeed a befitting way to celebrate the World Book and Copyright day.

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Birla Institute of Technology and Science popularly known as BITS is a Deemed University established under section 3 of the UGC Act. 1956 under notification no. F.12-23/63.U-2 dated 18th June, 1964.