Sonia Mukesh Desai
Library is a social institution, which plays a significant role for a nation by preserving its cultural heritage. A librarian plays a challenging role in the digital era with the plethora of information to assist the society by maintaining and disseminating the relevant and right information to the right user at the right time.
Librarian connects the resources to the information seeker and creates opportunities for learning, supporting literacy, education and assists in shaping the novel ideas and outlook that are central to creative and innovative society.
An American author Sarah McIntyre once said: “A trained librarian is a powerful search engine with a heart,” this phrase is appropriate in the case of one such librarian in Goa. Dr Carlos Fernandes, who is assistant professor and teacher in-charge at department of library and information science (DLISC) and also in-charge of university library at Goa University. Formerly, he has played a role as a curator of Krishnadas Shama Goa Central Library. On this occasion of National Librarians’ Day, I am making an attempt to pen down some words complimenting one of my mentors of my library profession.
Dr Carlos has been instrumental in setting many Public and Academic libraries across Goa. His long and established career began in 1989 as Assistant Librarian in Gomant Vidya Niketan Public Library, Margao. After accomplishing his goal in setting up various colleges, including Goa College of Engineering in mid-90’s for ten years, he was appointed as a Curator of Goa Central Library in 2006 where he managed and developed the information programs and systems for the public and ensured the information was well organised in such a way that users’ needs are satisfied.
Dr Carlos has designed a separate Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) Number for Konkani Language and Literature (Call NO.) from DDC Division of Library of Congress in USA in 2001. He was also a team leader of Department of Library and Information Science (DDC) numbers for Asanas and Pranayam (615.824) in Yoga from Library of Congress, DDC Division, New York, USA. He also has obtained two separate call numbers for Goa and Daman and Diu in geographical areas from the same institutes in 2003.
He has contributed his research papers in international journals like library research, world, has contributed in Konkani literature through his world in Tiatr Machi, Yaditale Goem, Part 1-3, Bye-Laws/Rules of Devasthan/Temples in Goa 1881-1958.
Along with extensive contribution in research and literature, Dr. Carlos has had a huge role to play in encouraging digitisation of library information in Goa. He has pushed and encouraged, mentored several librarians in the subject of Library Information Science over the years.
Dr Carlos Fernandes has been recognised for his noble work in his professional career. In his 2014 he was honoured with the Goa State Best Librarians’ Award. He is also a recipient of lifetime award for his writing and directing of tiatr shows at 125th Anniversary of Tiatr Celebration. He was felicitated at All India Konkani Parishad, Mangalore for obtaining separate DDC recognition number for Konkani and literature from Library of Congress, DDC Division, New York, USA.
Recently he has been conferred with Gulab awards 2020 and felicitated by Gulab, the popular Konkani monthly and Fr Freddy J da Costa Memorial Trust, for the year 2020 and he has been declared Gulab’s Personality of the year 2020. He was felicitated for his work by several professional institutes.
(Writer is College Librarian at Swami Vivekanand College of Commerce, Borim Goa)
