Page 64 - DLIS007_LIBRARY AUTOMATION

Unit 3: Basic Knowledge of Library Software

Punjabi language. Other languages spoken in Punjab are English, Hindi, Urdu and Bihari. Notes
Punjabi is the most spoken immigrant language in England and fourth most spoken
language in Canada according to official census. Among the world languages, Punjabi is
the 11th most spoken language in the world.
India is known for having been a pioneer in higher education. Taxila University, which is
oldest in the world, has been in existence during 414 A.D. in the city of Gandhara in
northwest India (now in Pakistan). At present there are 563 universities in India including
central, state, deemed, and private universities. Punjab state has 12 universities and 380
colleges.

Punjabi University, Patiala
Punjabi University, Patiala is named after a state language, the second University in the
world to have such a distinction. It was originally conceived and started in 1962 as a
unitary multi-faculty teaching and research university and primarily meant for the
development and enrichment of Punjabi language and culture. However, sensitive to the
social and educational requirements of the state, it grew into an affiliating one in 1969. It
has since developed in significant dimensions and acquired a unique character among the
centres of education and research in the country. Punjabi University library was renamed
after the famous Punjabi lexicographer and encyclopaedist Bhai Khan Singh of Nabha city
which is close to Patiala. The library was established with two main objectives (a) to build
a basic minimum collection of essential publications (including current periodical
publications) relating primarily to subjects in which the University was starting
postgraduate teaching and (b) to organize the publications with a view to facilitating and
promoting their use among students and teachers. Bhai Khan Singh Nabha, Punjabi
University Library is a centre of academic and research activities. It is housed in a large
modern building and stocks around 4,96,815 volumes including 4,44,215 books and 52,600
bound periodicals. The latest books are added regularly every year. Besides those in
English, the collection is in different languages as per the following:

Language Collection
Hindi 25,360
Punjabi 24,240
Urdu 1,800
Sanskrit 2,100
Persian 180
Greek 225
Russian 360
Bengali 480
Assamese 20
Kashmiri 40
Marathi 100
Gujarati 50
Hebrew, Arabic, etc. 60
Dravidian (Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, etc.) 200

Introduction of information communication technologies (ICTs) and its use in library
operations has changed information needs and behaviour of the users especially for those
Contd...

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 59