The Department of Library at St. Joseph Vaz College celebrated National Librarians’ Day on 12th August 2026 in the College Library to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, the Father of Library Science in India, and to reaffirm the enduring role of libraries in education, knowledge creation and lifelong learning.

The programme commenced with a Prayer Service led by Ms. Rosalina Antao, Library Staff, seeking God’s blessings for the occasion. This was followed by a floral tribute to Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, offered by Ms. Viona Correia, Vice Principal, and Ms. Manali Acharya, College Librarian, along with the staff and students.

In her address, Ms. Manali Acharya, College Librarian, highlighted the library as a vibrant centre of learning, research, knowledge sharing and intellectual growth. She emphasized that a library is much more than a place where books are borrowed and returned but it is a space that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, independent learning and lifelong education.

She also revisited Dr. S. R. Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science, explaining how these principles continue to shape the services and activities of the College Library. From ensuring that books are actively used and reach their readers by organizing various activities to saving readers’ time through digital resources, e-books, e-journals and the Library Chatbot, the library continues
to adapt to the changing needs of students.

The address concluded with an inspiring invitation to students to explore the newly acquired books displayed in the Seminar Hall. Students were encouraged not merely to look at the books, but to pick one up, open its first page and discover where it might lead them. The message that “a library is not just a room filled with books; it is a room filled with possibilities” captured the spirit of the celebration.

Following the address, a Prize Distribution Ceremony was held for the competitions organized by the Department of Library on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The competitions sought to create awareness among students about the harmful effects of drug abuse and the importance of making responsible and healthy choices. The prize distribution ceremony recognized the winners of the competitions organized by the Department of Library. In the Essay Competition, Ms. Mariette Pinto secured the First Place, followed by Ms. Priya Saroj in Second Place and Jesiah Guru in Third Place. In the Slogan Competition, Ms. Salome Chawan won First Place, Ms. Blessiya Lucas secured Second Place, and Ms. Andini Borkar stood Third. In the Poster-Making Competition, Ms. Subhra Malvalkar emerged as the First Place winner, Ms. Andini Borkar secured Second Place, and Ms. Pratiksha Jadhav won Third Place.

The celebration continued with a thoughtful speech by Ms. Seimoon Khazi of T.Y. B.Sc. She encouraged students to make the library an integral part of their academic lives and not merely for assignments and projects, but also for independent learning, competitive examination preparation, exploration of new areas of knowledge and staying informed beyond the prescribed curriculum. She emphasized that regular engagement with the library can cultivate a lasting culture of reading, research and lifelong learning.

The programme concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Elroy Pinto, Director of Physical Education and Sports and Member of the Library Committee, who expressed gratitude to the management, staff, students and all those who contributed to the successful conduct of the celebration.

The programme was compered by Mr. Ludiloy A. Pereira, Library Staff.

The National Librarians’ Day celebration was more than a commemoration , it was a reminder of the transformative power of libraries. By bringing together reflection, recognition, student participation and a renewed invitation to read, the celebration reinforced the message that every book has the potential to spark an idea, broaden a perspective and inspire a new direction in life.

The occasion concluded with a simple yet powerful message for every student: Step into the library, pick up a book, and discover the possibilities waiting within its pages.