Punjab Information Technology Board on the directions of Chief Minister Punjab has established Abul Hasan ash-Shadhili Research Hub. It has been established at the Punjab Information Technology Board data center to provide online access to e-books, e-journals, e-thesis, online reference collections, Nobel Laureate collections, documentaries, simulated videos, and other local and international resources. A catalogue of Abul Hasan ash-Shadhili Research Hub has also been developed to facilitate sharing of researches across Punjab.
The major objective of this research hub is to assist the researches, intellectuals and planners to have access to the international researches and databases available along with infusing the culture of reading and learning in the general public, especially in children, youth, and senior citizens. The research center is focused to:
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Inculcate e-reading and e-learning culture amongst the researchers, intellectuals, students, teachers, and our society at large
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Provide avenues to the general public for networking, exchange of views, and help in curbing extremism
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Provide open access to free online resources and limited access to members for subscribed resources
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Organize, social, and educational activities at the local level
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The research hub will facilitate special persons (visually impaired, deaf, and physical disabilities)
In addition, the research center will provide:
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Free Wi-Fi internet access on the research center's devices and EM-based security system
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Provide 3,000 high-quality print books, documentaries, and magazines
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Provide around 35 computers, tablets, and multimedia
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Auditorium facility for around 45 persons for community activities, seminars
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Facilitate exposure of latest technologies at the local level
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Extension of digital contents to universities, colleges, and schools in Punjab and other provinces
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Training of locals in the effective use of the internet, digital resources, books, and magazines
Centralized Research Hub
A centralized research hub has been established and hosted at the PITB Data Center. It provides access to general e-books, e-thesis, documentaries, videos, audios, local and international e-newspapers, e-magazines and journals, text and reference books, data sets, and e-newspapers through user-friendly searching. The collections have international standard metadata and are classified into specific categories of subjects. Thousands of indigenous documents are accessible remotely free. Subscribed documents are accessible through computer terminals at the research hub. Access rights have also be defined accordingly.
On a long-term basis, this project will lead to the creation of indigenous digital books and documentaries, lectures of notables, Nobel Laureates, and experts of different subjects.
The centralized research hub team will also focus on:
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Digitization of printed materials
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Digitization of documentaries, audios, videos
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Creation of indigenous resources (e-lectures, videos)
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Organization of digital information according to metadata standards
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Information retrieval
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User interface
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Archiving and preservation
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Services and social issue
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Evaluation and applications to particular areas
Staffing
The success of any organization, project, or activity mainly depends on the performance of people. Therefore, highly competent staff have been hired to manage of Abul Hasan ash-Shadhili Research Hub.