To deliberate upon the changing nature of library and information science in the era of global technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI), a successful two-day National Conference was organized by the MATS School of Library Science of MATS University. The main theme of this conference was “Transforming Libraries through Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Viksit Bharat@2047 (NCTLAI-VB@2047).” The conference’s outcomes, including over 40 research papers and expert insights, aim to inspire ongoing progress in library modernization. The grand event commenced with the formal inauguration of the conference, marked by the lighting of the lamp by the distinguished dignitaries on the stage. Dr. Kalpana Chandrakar, Head of the Department of Library and Information Science and Convenor, shared her views along with a detailed description of the department’s achievements and the objectives of the conference. She explained how AI technology will affect the status of libraries in the times to come. Chief Guest of the program, Dr. Amit Keshav, Professor of Chemical Engineering, NIT Raipur; Special Guest, Shri Dr. Sunil Kumar Satpathy, Deputy Librarian, NIT Raipur; and Honorable Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) K. P. Yadav shared their important views on the resolution of ‘AI and Viksit Bharat’. The Vice-Chancellor, in his address, stated that technology and digital literacy will make the biggest contribution to making India a developed nation by the year 2047, and that equipping libraries with modern AI tools is a revolutionary step. The Chief Guest and Special Guests also emphasized the importance of library automation, data security, and machine learning. During the conference, more than 40 research papers were presented by research scholars, academicians, and students from various states on topics such as AI-enhanced library services, open access, digital knowledge management, ethical issues, and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. In this two-day National Conference, prominent speakers from across the country shared their knowledge in various technical sessions, including Dr. Sunil Kumar Satpathy (Deputy Librarian, NIT Raipur), Dr. Md. Shoaib Ansari (In-charge IT Cell, Directorate of Higher Education, Nava Raipur), Dr. Syed Shaz Hussain (Assistant Librarian, Aligarh Muslim University, UP), Dr. Navneet Kumar Sharma (Scientist-B(LS), INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar), and Dr. Abhay Chaurasia, Assistant Librarian, Delhi University, Dr. Mridu Sahu, Associate Professor, IT Department, NIT Raipur. On the successful organization of the program, MATS University Chancellor Shri Gajraj Pagariya, Director General Shri Priyesh Pagariya, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr. Deepika Dhand, and Registrar Shri Gokulananda Panda congratulated and extended best wishes for this commendable effort to the entire organizing committee’s Co-Convenor Dr. Pramod Kumar, Coordinator Dr. Sahityanjali Chandra, and Shri Sanjay Shahjit, as well as Assistant Professor Omlata Sahu, Lukesh Mirche, Assistant Librarian Shashikant Kosre, and all the members of the team.
