Medziphema, March 13 (MExN): A two-day Book Fair Exhibition organised by the School Library of the School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University concluded on March 13 at the Old Administrative Building of the university’s Medziphema campus.
According to a press release, the book fair aimed to provide a platform for students, research scholars and faculty members to explore and select new academic books for teaching, learning and research. The exhibition featured nationally reputed publishers and suppliers from Delhi and Guwahati.
Mhonbemo Ngullie, Deputy Librarian, SAS, NU, said that the purpose of the initiative was “to provide a plateform to academic community and encourage reading habits and research among the university community.” He added that “the response from the faculty members, students and research scholars had been quite encouraging.”
Ngullie further stated that the fair provided an opportunity for students and faculty members to access the latest publications and interact directly with publishers and suppliers.
Pro Vice-Chancellor of the SAS campus, Prof Depak Sinha, appreciated the initiative taken by the School Library and reiterated the importance of books in academia. While acknowledging that information and research publications are accessible in digital formats, he noted that books continue to offer greater value in obtaining a complete understanding and learning.
He also encouraged students to develop the habit of reading books regularly, stating that although information can be easily accessed online, “there is no substitute for reading a physical book and engaging with it thoroughly,” and advised students to make the best use of the books displayed in the university library.
Attendees at the fair shared that the availability of diverse academic publications in one place was beneficial for both teaching and research and lauded Nagaland University for sustaining a reading culture. Some faculty members also expressed hope that more publishers would participate in such fairs in the future.
Students and research scholars visiting the fair also shared positive feedback, noting that with upcoming examinations approaching, the event helped guide them in selecting useful academic resources and broaden their knowledge. Many students described books as their “best friends” in their academic journey.
A research scholar attending the fair observed that since the university campus is located in a relatively remote area with limited access to bookstores, the exhibition provided an opportunity to explore books from new publishers and discover titles relevant to research topics as well as competitive examinations.
The book fair, held on March 12–13, witnessed a good turnout of faculty members, students, research scholars and staff over the two days. Organisers stated that the event received positive feedback from participants and expressed hope that similar initiatives would continue to promote reading habits and strengthen academic engagement within the university community.
