Dhaka: The Bangladesh Association of Librarians, Information Scientists and Documentalists (BALID) marked its 40th anniversary with a notable conference on Friday, emphasizing the 'Digital Transformation of Libraries with Artificial Intelligence' at the WVA Auditorium in Dhanmondi.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the event was inaugurated by BALID Chairman Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman. Prof. Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman, serving as the conference convenor, underscored the importance of digital transformation in libraries. Guest of honour Dr. Nasim Iqbal contributed by sharing insights from his professional experience in Australia, further enriching the discussions.
The conference was meticulously organized by BALID Secretary General AKM Nurul Alam (Apu), and the open discussion session was adeptly moderated by Vice-Chairman Razina Akhtar. The event featured five research papers presented over three technical sessions, chaired by Prof. Dr. S. M. Zabed Ahmed, Prof. Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, and Dr. Md. Zahid Hossain Shoeb. The presenters, including Zakir Hossain, Jahid Bin Sultan, Dr. Md. Nurul Islam Mahfuz, Md. Mubassir Ahsan, and Md. Atikuzzaman, offered their expertise on various aspects of AI in library transformation.
The conference attracted over 70 participants from diverse professional backgrounds, including library and information science professionals, academicians, and ICT experts. The open discussion saw senior professionals advocating for the continuation of BALID's efforts in adapting to the digital age. The celebration concluded with a ceremonial cake-cutting by members of BALID, marking four decades of their contributions to the field.