Workshop on Open Access Resources for Academic Excellence

A workshop on Open Access Resources for Academic Excellence was conducted by the Library and Information Centre at the college on March 24, 2024. The program aims to introduce students and faculty to various open-access digital resources available for educational and research purposes.The resource person, Mr. Rajesha H.T., covered the following topics in detail:

1. Digital Libraries & Open Access Resources

• Karnataka Digital Public Library
• National Library of India – Digital Archives
• National Digital Library of India (NDLI)

2. INFLIBNET e-Consortium

• N-LIST (National Library and Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly Content)
• IndCat (Union Catalogue of Indian Universities)

3. INFLIBNET Open Access Initiatives

• Shodhganga & ShodhGangotri (Thesis Repositories)
• e-PG Pathshala, Vidya Mitra, and UGC-MOOCs
• Swayam Prabha and NPTEL (Educational Video Platforms)

4. Scholarly Networks & Research Databases

• VIDWAN (Expert Database of Scientists & Faculty)
• IRINS (Indian Research Information Network System)
• SheRNI (She Research Network in India)

5. Online Learning Platforms

• SWAYAM (MOOCs Platform for Higher Education)
• edX (Harvard-MIT Open Learning Platform)
• IIMBx Courses (Online Courses by IIM Bangalore)

Participants gained awareness of a wide range of freely available academic databases and digital libraries, enhancing their access to scholarly content. The session provided valuable insights into thesis repositories, expert databases, and scholarly communication networks, improving research opportunities. Additionally, step-by-step guidance was given on navigating and utilizing platforms like NDLI, INFLIBNET, and SWAYAM, ensuring practical knowledge of resource accessibility. Lastly, students and faculty were encouraged to explore free online courses, fostering a culture of self-learning and continuous academic growth beyond the classroom.

The workshop was highly informative and engaging, benefiting both students and faculty members. The session provided valuable knowledge on open-access resources, enabling participants to leverage digital tools for academic and research excellence.