A librarian’s attire is not mere cloth; it is a fabric woven with dignity, heritage, service, and self-respect,” Dr. Shrivastava stated passionately, urging the community to rethink professional visibility in the 21st century.

Kota :  In a compelling and thought-provoking address, Dr. Deepak Kumar Shrivastava, Divisional Librarian and Nodal Officer of Public Libraries (Kota Region), delivered a landmark presentation at the One-Day Online International Conference on “Contemporary Innovations in Library Information Services and Technologies (CILIST-25),” organized by the Library Professionals Foundation (LPF).

Representing India on the global platform as a Resource Person, Dr. Shrivastava delivered his keynote on the unique and culturally significant topic “Threads of Identity: Tracing the Journey of Indian Librarians’ Attire and Social Image from Independence to Amrit Kaal.”

The session drew widespread acclaim from scholars, academicians, LIS professionals, and international delegates from Ireland, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and across India. His address spotlighted a rarely explored dimension of library science — the visual and symbolic identity of librarians, particularly through their attire, demeanor, and media portrayal.

“A librarian’s attire is not mere cloth; it is a fabric woven with dignity, heritage, service, and self-respect,” Dr. Shrivastava stated passionately, urging the community to rethink professional visibility in the 21st century.

His narrative spanned from the post-independence era to the aspirational Amrit Kaal, analysing how Indian librarians transitioned from being backroom intellectuals to front-facing facilitators of digital and inclusive knowledge services.

Highlights of the Address: Historical and cultural evolution of the Indian librarian’s professional image, Stereotypes reinforced by media and cinema -and how to challenge them, Case studies on iconic Indian librarians and their public engagement, the call for developing a visual digital archive on Indian librarian attire, Bridging tradition with professionalism to create a visible and respected LIS identity

The session stood out for its originality, scholarly depth, and emotional connection with the profession. It aligned strongly with Dr. Shrivastava’s known advocacy for inclusive, accessible, and community-rooted library services - a hallmark of his career as India’s leading public librarian.

Global Participation & Recognition:

The conference witnessed enthusiastic participation from library professionals and scholars from: Ireland (Er. Gaurav Joshi), Nepal (Rajendra Neupana), Sri Lanka (H.W. Kushala Sanjivani), India (Dr. Manju Kant, GNLU; Dr. Seema Parmar, Gujarat University, and others)

Dr. Shrivastava was formally appreciated by the organizing committee for his visionary insights and scholarly contribution, reaffirming his image as a national icon and global voice of public librarianship.