OATH TAKING CEREMONY OF GCU LIBRARY SOCIETY HELD

The 13th executive-body of the Government College University Lahore Library Society is formed for the academic session 2010-11. GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman administrated oath to the new office-bearers at a welcome ceremony at Fazal-I-Hussain Reading Room. The Deans of the University were also present on the occasion. Recitation of Quranic Verses and Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool initiated a formal start. Prof. Dr. Ikram ul Haq, Dean of Science and Technology, Prof. Dr. Khalid Pervaiz , Dean of Arts and Social Sciences & Islamic Language and Oriental Learning and Chief Librarian distributed the certificates to the former office bearers of the society.

The members of GCU Library Society pose for a photo with Vice Chancellor, GCU Lahore.

The Vice Chancellor solemnly took oath from the new office bearers in front of the large group of students. The history and previous activities of Library Society were shown to the participants by a documentary. The Vice chancellor appreciated the efforts made by the students to organize several lectures, exhibitions during the year. He said, if the students want to get success in their life then they should try to get themselves involved in such activities by taking assistance from their teachers and their education. The event ended at High-Tea.

(21 & 28 -12-2011)

LIST OF OFFICE BEARERS 2011-2012

(21-12-2011)

VICE CHANCELLOR GCU APPRECIATES GCU LIBRARY SOCIETY

GC University Library Society organized a farewell dinner at Ambassador Hotel Lahore Prof. Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq (SI) Former Vice Chancellor of GC University Lahore was the Chief Guest at the occasion. Chief Librarian Abdul Waheed, Librarians Samreen Lateef, Abu Baker Siddique, Mr. Khurram Shahzad and Mr. Tufail Khan were also present along-with all the members of the Society. The dinner was followed by a number of activities like musical chairs, parodies, jokes, parcel passing, voting for the most attractive personality etc.

Prof. Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq (SI) Vice Chancellor GCU addressing to the audience	Prof. Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq (SI) Vice Chancellor GCU along-with Library Professional Staff and selected members of Library Society

Addressing to the audience, Prof. Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq lauded the services of the library and contribution of the society to organize innovative activities of several important functions including the organization of Book Fair at GCU Campus to enhance reading culture. Chief Librarian shared some past memories on the occasion and appreciated the efforts of Prof. Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq for providing the latest computers to the Library and his role for the promotion of research and education in Pakistan. The Advisor Library Society did also highlight the different significant features of the Society and acknowledged the selfless struggle of all society members to promote the use of library resources.

Group Photo of Library Society with Prof. Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq (SI) Vice Chancellor GCU

Later on, Chief Librarian thanked Prof. Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq for sparing his time for the farewell party of GCU Library Society and presented him souvenir.

(25-08-2011)

8,000 BOOKS SOLD OUT AT GCU BOOK FAIR

The three-day Book Fair, organized by the GC University Lahore Library Society, has proven that Pakistani youth has retained its interest in book reading in the cyber age. The Library Society’s survey reveals that students purchased over 8,000 books out of their meager pocket money from the Book Fair housing more than 80,000 on various subjects.

Addressing the closing ceremony, noted journalist and Old Ravian Khalid Ahmed said that reading and writing is a Muslim tradition. He said “read” is the first Quranic commandment of Allah for Muslims. The Prophet (PBUH) encouraged Muslims to leave their homes and proceed to destinations as far away as China to seek knowledge. It implied that one ought to part with one’s pre-conceived notions to approach a source of knowledge such as books, so that meaningful learning is not obstructed by one’s long standing prejudices.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Khalid Aftab said the university education entails unbiased learning which enables the youth to chalk out their destination based on their individual journey in the realm of intellect. He assured the audience that GCU would continue to take such initiatives in the future. He thanked the publishers for providing discounts to students on books. He also appreciated the role of GCU Library Society’s office bearers.   

GCU Chief Librarian Abdul Waheed said that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) monitors both the number and type of books published per country per year as an important index of standard of living and education, and of a country's self-awareness. However, he expressed dejection that no such record is available to UNESCO in connection with Pakistan.

Talking to media, the GCU students claimed that the Book Fair implied as if the fountain of knowledge itself had walked up to them to quench their thirst. A student of BA (Hons) English, said that she had bough seven books of literature. She said that she would have needed 10 days to find these if she buys them from Urdu Bazaar. She said that it is a blessing to have all the books one needs available on concession under one roof.

(10-01-2010)

GCU Book Fair gets warm response

The Book Fair at the GC University Lahore has got a warm response with its opening on Tuesday by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Khalid Aftab. The three-day book fair organized by GCU Library Society has brought more than 80,000 books under one-roof with an aim to rejuvenate students’ love for books. Besides sellers, as many as 37 publishers have set up their stalls at the Book Fair and are giving up to 50 percent discount on their books.  

The Vice Chancellor visited all the book stalls and asked the publishers to provide maximum discounts keeping in view that those who are buying are “students.” Prof. Aftab said that that GCU would continue to organize more of such activities in the future to promote reading culture among the youth. Talking to students and media, GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Khalid Aftab said that books still have their own significance in the age internet. The vision, awareness, understating and knowledge you get by reading books; you can never have it by just reading book reviews and summaries on internet. Prof. Dr. Khalid Aftab issued directions to all the academic departments to draw maximum advantage from the Book Fair and purchase the latest quality books being provided by publishers on discount, adding that GCU Library would provide funds to the departments for this purpose.

Talking to media, publishers said that their stalls are thronged by students and but not all are purchasing. They said that according to their experience, students buy books at the last date of such fairs. However, they also said that the university teachers and students preparing for various public service examinations has been showing great interest in books since opening and they have sold many to them in just few hours.

According to a survey being conducted by the GCU Library Society, as many as 1,835 books were sold in the first five hours of the opening of the Book Fair. GCU Chief Librarian said that around 3,500 students, researchers and teachers have visited the Book Fair on the first day. He said that students and teachers from other universities are also coming to the Book Fair.

GCU Library Society President said that visiting Book Fair is a great experience even if you don’t have a temptation to buy book. It makes you aware that what kind of latest books are available on various topics.

(06-01-2011)

GCU VICE CHANCELLOR extends Book Fair for one day

GC University Lahore Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Khalid Aftab Thursday extended the GCU Book Fair for one more day keeping in view the warm response of students and now the Book Fair will remain open on Friday. The Book Fair 2011 was organized for three days from Tuesday to Thursday, but it remained close on Wednesday on account the assassination of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

The closing ceremony of the Book Fair will be held on Friday (today) 2:30 pm in which shields would be given to the publishers who have set up their stalls.

It is pertinent to mention her that the publishers are especially providing up to 50 percent discount for students at the Book Fair. 

(07-01-2011)

GCU Book Fair gets warm response

The Book Fair at the GC University Lahore has got a warm response with its opening on Tuesday by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Khalid Aftab. The three-day book fair organized by GCU Library Society has brought more than 80,000 books under one-roof with an aim to rejuvenate students’ love for books...(more)

(06-01-2011)

GCU engages youth to promote reading culture

The GCU Library Lahore has engaged a team of university talented students to promote reading culture among the youth. The team named GCU Library Society Tuesday took oath to remain committed to their cause. Punjab Technical Education Board Chairman Dr. Muhammad Shafique, an Old Ravian, was the chief guest on this occasion.

Addressing the oath-taking ceremony, GCU Chief Librarian Abdul Waheed said that the oldest library in the history of mankind dates to around 2700 years ago in Sennacherib's Palace in Nineveh which shows how long ago the concept of leaving a piece of your wisdom behind started being formed into the organized collection to preserve the work. This hard-earned knowledge and information which mankind has accumulated in thousands of years remain preserved just because of the concept of libraries. Thousands of manuscripts had been written by the wise men of the very earlier times but many of them were destroyed due to the lack of proper means of preservation. He said that the culture of reading needs to be cultivated in the country. He said that these days our youth places greater value to burgers than it does on books!

The Adviser Library Society Samreen Lateef announced that the society would hold a mass Kitab Mela in January at GCU to promote the culture of reading.

(15-12-2010)

Office Bearers of Library Society 2010-2011

Following students are selected for the Office Bearers:

President                                 Arslan Warraich

Senior Vice President                 Ahsan Shakoor

Vice President (Boys)                Syed Atif Hussain

Vice President (Girls)                 Shan-e-Fatima

General Secretary                     Faizan Khan

Joint Secretary                         Sadaf ur Rahman

Assistant Secretary                   Usman Raza

Press Secretary                        Sohail Sarwar

Finance Secretary                     Usman Zamurrad

Stage Secretary (English)           M. Moaz Siddiqui

Stage Secretary (Urdu)              Khurram Mirza

Office Secretary                       Abdul Munim

Photographer                           Usman Tasaddiq

Information Section                   Ijlal Ahmed

Executive Members

Zaheer Nawaz, Muhammad Shahzaib, Arif Masud Baig, Usama Naqvi, Atif Ameer, Bilal Ahmed, Umara Ameen, Iqra Shoukat, Anam Jameel, Hafiz Erfa Khurshid, Muhammad Arslan, Hazrat Wali Kaker, Faiza Khaleel, Abdul Majid, Basan Khan, Syed Ahmed Raza, & Umair Asif.

(16-11-2010)

GCU Library Society organizes debates on role of media

The media has a responsibility. It should give priority to wider national interests than the popular public demand. You will not give people poison, even if they demand it, said noted columnist Muir Ahmed Qureshi, popularly know as Munno Bhai, while addressing a seminar on ‘the role of media in society’ organised by the GCU Library Society Lahore. A large number of students and teachers attended the seminar.

Munir Ahmed said that media should follow journalism’s code of ethics and laws of morality to bring a positive change in society.  In reply to questions by students, he said that print media is comparatively less popular just because of low literacy rate and lack of reading habits. He, however, said comprehensives of newspapers cannot be ignored altogether.

Addressing the seminar, noted researcher and GCU Chief Librarian Abdul Waheed summed up his debate, saying that media coaches the youth to gift roses on Valentine’s Day but it does not educate them to exchange or gift books. However, senior advocate Rashid Javed Lodhi discussed the positive role played by the media in shaping public opinion about the war on terror. He said that the major responsibility of media is to bring forth the truth impartially. He quoted Franklin D. Roosevelt “we cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” At the last Muhammad Rafiq Advisor Library Society thanked the guests.

(29-03-2010)