VARANASI: Students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) can avail the facility of reading in Central Library round the clock. The library is gearing itself to capacitate around 500 students in an under construction air condition hall which will be open 24 hours for university students. Apart from that, the hall is likely to have over 100 computers installed in it so that students can have access to library's e-resources.
According to deputy librarian, Central Library, BHU, Dr M Anandamurugan, "this facility is likely to start from January onwards. All the students, whether residing in university hostel, private accommodation or day scholars including students of Women's College and Faculty of Education, Kamachha, can avail this facility.
At present, the scheduled library timings are 9am to 9pm which will be the same as far as issuing of new books is concerned. "No new books will be issued after 9pm, however, students will be allowed to read the already issued books and their own books in the library. Students can also bring their laptops to the library," said Anandamurugan. The hall will be provided with internet connections and over 100 computers will also be installed in the hall to provide access to online journals, research papers, and other publication among the students, he added.
According to university librarian, AK Srivastava, "in view of poor power supply in the city and to provide e-resource access among students who cannot afford to buy computers or laptops, vice- chancellor, BHU, Dr Lalji Singh proposed this idea. "The hall will take around one month for completion and is likely to be inaugurated during the culmination of 150th birth anniversary celebrations in December last," he informed.
Banaras Hindu University organizes special lecture by VC
The department of musicology, Banaras Hindu University, organised a special lecture on 'Science of Establishing Identities: Past, Present, Future' by vice-chancellor Dr Lalji Singh, noted scientist of molecular biology, on Tuesday.
Delivering the lecture, Singh said the 21st century is the century of science, and it is essential for everybody to keep information of scientific developments. Speaking about DNA fingerprinting, he said the technique is being extensively used for forensic investigation, paternity determination and seed stock verification.
DNA fingerprinting evidence is presented in the court of law. This indigenous technique is used in cases like paternity disputes, identification of missing children, identification of mutilated bodies, exchange of babies in maternity wards and cases of rape and murder. He said the DNA fingerprinting can effectively be used to infer the generic affinities among related group of animals.
The fingerprint profiles are believed to have evolved too rapidly to be informative over a large period of time. It is also being used for wildlife preservation and better management of endangered species in zoo and also for identification and isolation of genes for useful characters in silkworm races. This technology is also being used for medical diagnosis.
