National Library to ink MoUs with universities to boost research, skill development and innovation
Times of India | 21 December 2025
KOLKATA: The National Library of India (NLI) is set to sign a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with universities across the country, marking a significant step towards strengthening academic collaboration, research capacity and human resource development in the field of Library and Information Science (LIS).
The proposed agreements aim to create a structured framework for cooperation between the National Library and partnering universities, focusing on advanced research, academic exchange, technology promotion, and industry-linked innovation.
NLI director general Ajay Pratap Singh said, “The MoUs are designed to unlock the vast, and often underexplored, special collections of the National Library for focused academic engagement, while simultaneously preparing students and scholars to meet future challenges in the knowledge and information sector.”
At the core of the agreement is the promotion of collaborative research and academic programmes of mutual interest. The MoUs will facilitate the exchange of ideas on research publications, curriculum development and joint research projects, while also encouraging initiatives related to technology development, incubation and startups in knowledge-driven domains.
Under the agreement, qualified undergraduate and postgraduate students from partner universities will be encouraged to undertake study and research at the National Library. The NLI will provide research guidance through senior officers, including the DG, Principal Library and Information Officer (PLIO) and Library and Information Officers (LIOs), who hold doctoral degrees in Library and Information Science and meet University Grants Commission eligibility norms for research supervision.
The collaboration will also enable shared access to research instrumentation and library facilities available at both institutions, with costs of specific consumables to be borne by the respective organisations. In addition, M.L.I.Sc. students from universities may undergo short-term practical training of one to two months at the National Library, gaining hands-on exposure to professional practices across different aspects of library science.
Joint academic meetings, seminars, workshops and symposia will form a key component of the partnership, along with the exchange of scientific publications, course materials and academic data. The MoUs also allow for joint submission of research proposals to central and state government departments under various funding schemes, leveraging each institution’s strengths.
The vice-chancellor of the partner university and the DG of the National Library will oversee the implementation of the MoU. An advisory committee will meet at least once a year—alternately at the National Library and the university campus—to review progress and present academic and research activities in an open forum for students, faculty and researchers.
The agreements will initially be valid for five years, with provisions for periodic review, amendment or extension by mutual consent. Both parties have reaffirmed their commitment to principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination in the execution of all collaborative activities.
Singh said the initiative reflects the National Library’s evolving role as not just a repository of knowledge, but as an active partner in higher education, research and innovation, aligned with national priorities in interdisciplinary research and skill development. Moreover, Singh said, the initiative will ensure optimum utilisation of existing resources and infrastructure without incurring additional cost.