FNU Celebrates World Book And Copyright Day

The Fiji National University (FNU) Library provided free textbooks to students to create awareness on the importance of reading while celebrating World Book and Copyright Day.

April 23rd is an important day on the United Nations calendar as United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) chose this day to celebrate the power of books and honor the work of prominent authors like William Shakespeare.

Pro Vice Chancellor Research Professor Mohini Singh said books were given to students because it was the most important tool for them.

“The university supports and promotes reading, publishing and copyright,” she said.

Professor Singh while quoting Director General UNESCO Audrey Azoulay said “When we celebrate books, we celebrate activities of writing, reading, translating and publishing which helps individuals to raise and build themselves and we celebrate in a fundamental way the freedom that make them possible.”

She said it was rather unfortunate that Libraries around the world are decreasing in size because of information and communication technology revolution that was changing the way books were read these days.

However, she said books were still popular but perhaps the way of reading particularly among the newer generation is changing from hard copies to online electronic versions.

Professor Singh said the FNU library believes in being committed to its community via knowledge sharing through various means as well as protecting the information rights of all the authors, researchers and others who publish.

Pro Vice Chancellor Learning and Teaching Professor James Pounder said reading books were one of the most relevant thing in anyone’s life.

“It is a celebration to promote enjoyment of books and reading. In fact, UNESCO chose to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day to promote peace in the world through

education,” said Professor Pounder. FNU Library subscribes to 40 electronic databases all of which are protecting copyright. These data- base includes articles written by prominent authors and academics, journalists, researchers and other

experts in the field.

FNU online platform currently has 2872 active users registered on FNU library platform. In addition, FNU libraries offers its users access to books, magazines, articles, images, charts and other reading materials via customized web pages providing users library resources that support learning, teaching and research for our undergraduate, post graduate and research students.

All electronic information at FNU is continuously updated.

Acting University Librarian Udya Shukla highlighted the importance of Learning Commons at the university libraries.

“These are advanced technologies and the electronic resources will be accessible at all campuses,” he said.

FNU’s first Learning Common facility was established at the College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (CAFF) in Koronivia in January this year.

This allows students to have more interactive, collaborative and inclusive learning environment.

A similar facility is expected to be constructed at the FNU’s Nasinu Campus.