OREANDA-NEWS. The Minister of State (Independent Charge) Textiles Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar today inaugurated the Second International Conference on the Convergence of Libraries, Archives and Museums (ICLAM) in New Delhi from 27th to 29th November, 2014 on the theme of “Innovative ideas, technologies and services”.

The conference is positioned and conceptualized as the only library conference series in India that goes beyond the Library world and offers the library professionals an opportunity to exchange ideas with professionals from archives, museums and various other domains. One of the objectives of the conference is facilitating and enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration among various memory institutions, i.e., libraries, archives and museums. It is in keeping with the demands of time and concerns of a growing knowledge driven economy to have such disparate groups on a common platform. The conference aims to foster the spirit of innovation among all the professionals of the knowledge sector in order to attain the goal of long-term preservation of the collective memory of mankind. In the 21st century the core issue in memory institutions is innovative applications of digital technologies in all the spheres of activities ranging from management to collaboration. Technological innovation is vital to reinforce the roles of libraries, archives and museums in promotion of formal and informal learning. However, innovations - whether internal or external, radical or incremental - are not limited to applications of technologies. Critical changes are taking place in paradigms and products in libraries, archives and museums. Analyses of transformative influences of new organizational formations, processes, services, etc. become significant in the present context.

Spread over three days and 16 technical sessions, a number of invited talks, product presentations and a panel discussion, the conference is set to brainstorm these issues by a galaxy of eminent experts sourced together from all over the world. On the basis of deliberations on various aspects of innovation the conference will suggest effective strategies for creating sustainable culture of innovation in institutions managing scientific and cultural heritage resources.