If everything begins with an idea and knowledge is the foundation of all progress, libraries will continue to play an important role in development, especially in the age of knowledge and knowledge-based societies. Dramatic changes in digital technologies, in fact, have had transformative implication for the libraries of the future and the way we manage and order knowledge and information. Sixteen senior librarians from six Himalayan countries (Afghanistan,Bangladesh, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan) that are members of the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) met in Kathmandu, Nepal from 26-27 August 2010 to map a plan of action that would better link the Himalayan university libraries and their respective library collections. The benefits are many and include, among others, that research done in the region will be more accessible and visible to the world at large and can be used to better serve the people and development initiatives. Libraries linked will provide greater access to regional knowledge including grey literature and PhD dissertations, and easier access within and outside the region to regional research. This trend is in keeping with the trend of libraries all over the world towards greater network access in a seamless world made possible by digital technology. Read More
