IIA Librarian Honored with SATKAL National Librarian Award 2025
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Library takes immense pride in announcing that Librarian Dr. Arumugam Pitchai has been deeply honoured and humbled to receive the SATKAL National Librarian Award for the year 2025. This prestigious recognition acknowledges outstanding contributions to the field of library and information science and reflects a continued commitment to advancing librarianship in India.
The Librarian expresses sincere gratitude to the Satinder Kaur Ramdev Memorial Trust for Advancement of Librarianship for recognizing the invaluable role of library professionals and for their sustained efforts in supporting the growth and development of the profession. The award was presented during the READ India Summit 2026, held in Gurugram on 18 March 2026. Appreciation is extended to the organizers for providing a meaningful platform to celebrate the contributions and impact of library professionals across the country.
This recognition marks not only a significant personal milestone but also represents the collective efforts of colleagues, mentors, and the wider library community who believe in the transformative power of libraries. Libraries are envisioned not merely as repositories of books, but as dynamic gateways to knowledge, innovation, and lifelong learning—playing a crucial role in empowering students, researchers, and communities.
Over the years, the Librarian’s work has focused on strengthening research library services through technology-driven, innovative, and user-centered approaches. A key initiative includes the successful implementation of the Koha Integrated Library Management System, along with the migration of legacy data from Libsys 4.0. This transformation enabled the development of an enhanced and unified discovery platform, significantly improving access to both print and electronic resources.Efforts have also been directed toward advancing digital preservation and open access through the migration of the Institutional Repository from DSpace 4 to DSpace 6, ensuring improved visibility and long-term accessibility of scholarly outputs.
Archival development has been another major focus area. The Librarian has contributed to organizing and digitizing archival collections and to developing an AtoM-based Online Archives Finding Aids Portal. These initiatives aim to make historically significant collections, including valuable astronomical heritage records, more accessible to researchers worldwide.
In addition, the Librarian has actively strengthened research support services by facilitating access to tools such as Overleaf, iThenticate, and Grammarly. Serving as the nodal officer for the NKRC consortium, the Librarian also coordinates efforts to enhance access to scholarly resources and supports national initiatives like One Nation One Subscription.
Beyond institutional initiatives, there is a strong commitment to outreach and knowledge sharing through workshops, training programmes, invited talks, and research publications, contributing to the broader academic and library community.
This award is dedicated to colleagues, mentors, and the institutions whose support, encouragement, and collaboration have been invaluable throughout this journey. In an era where libraries are rapidly evolving into integrated knowledge hubs—combining technology, open access, and user-focused services—this recognition serves as a motivation to continue exploring innovative ways to enhance access to knowledge and support research and learning.
The Librarian extends heartfelt thanks to Jagtar Singh, the Board of Trustees, the award committee, the organizers of the READ India Summit, and everyone who has been part of this meaningful journey.
