British Council may launch e-library

LAHORE: The British Council is considering launching an online digital library in Pakistan.

“We will actively consider providing online library services in Pakistan to help students and institutions in their research,” Frances Tait, British Council South Asia information coordinator, told APP.

The British Council libraries had thousands of members but were closed down two years ago due to security concerns. Their books were donated to various schools.

Ms Tait ruled out the resumption of British Council library services in Pakistan in the near future. She and ten other British Council officials working in South Asia were in Lahore to attend a regional conference on updating educational and social services.

Ms Tait said the British Council could help the Higher Education Commission launch a national digital library of scientific literature. The HEC’s Programme for Enhancement of Research Information will include the International Network for Scientific Publications.

Pakistan’s inclusion in the network will mean public universities, colleges, research institutes and organisations get access to over 11,600 peer-reviewed online academic journals from some of the world’s top publishing houses. In addition, users in Pakistan will have access to many of the world’s leading bibliographic and reference databases.

“We could certainly give our input to your national digital library because Britain is keen to develop and promote education and other social sectors in Pakistan,” Ms Tait said.

She said the British Council had recently opened an office in Kabul. —APP

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