Candidate for Chapter Cabinet-elect
Debal C. Kar
Biography
Debal C. Kar has been managing information organizations and providing information services for more than 23 years. In 1986, after receiving Masters Degrees in Philosophy and Graduate in Library and Information Science, Debal, driven by his desire to provide high quality user services, joined TERI, one of the foremost libraries in India and India's largest library focusing on the energy and environment. He was rapidly promoted to become a Fellow, Information Services and in that role serves as the Senior Management position recognized by TERI.
In the last two decades, Debal has become a leader in India's library community and has been instrumental in raising the visibility of India's LIS profession. He serves on numerous advisory and expert committees for the Government of India and professional bodies for digital library development and LIS professional development in India. Additionally, he has held senior positions in India's principal library associations. He is a professional member of the Indian Library Association (ILA) and the Indian Association Special Libraries and Information Centers (IASLIC). He was Chairperson of the Corporate Section of the Indian Library Association, 2004-2007, Editorial Board Member for the ILA Bulletin 2004-2007, and served as Council Member of IASLIC 2006-2008. He is presently a member of the editorial board of the DESIDOC Journal of Library and Information Technology and founding editor of the World Digital Libraries: An International Journal.
He has been invited to speak at many national and international conferences, edited three conference proceedings, published 26 papers, and served as a faculty member in many workshops and training programs. Additionally, for the last 15 years, he has organized international conferences, workshops and training programs for libraries and for information professionals that provided continuing education and networking opportunities. He is also a member of the International Association of Science and Technology for Development, Canada, Society for International Development, Computer Society of IEEE, ACM and ALA.
Debal has been very active in SLA. After serving successfully as Secretary of the Asian Chapter, he became President-elect and then Asian Chapter President in 2008. Currently, he is the Asian Chapter Past President, Membership Chair, Nominating Committee Chair, and a founding member of the Asian Chapter's Award's Committee. He is also actively involved in the Science & Technology Division and is an Award's Committee Member and Nominating Committee Member of the SLA Science & Technology Division.
While serving as a leader of the Asian Chapter, he undertook several major initiatives to increase SLA and Asian Chapter membership as well as to spread SLA's presence and message throughout Asia by traveling across Asia to promote SLA at multiple forums and conferences, which has had enormous benefits for SLA. He also organized many seminars, workshops, meetings, and conferences in India for SLA, including the 1st International Conference of the SLA Asian Chapter in New Delhi, 26-28 November 2008. Additionally, he is coordinator for SLA members who travel to Asia and wish to meet Asian Chapter members.
He is responsible for encouraging SLA to include the Indian Rupee as a form of payment. Additionally, he proposed and then led the effort to implement the "equitable dues structure," which was recently accepted by the SLA Board of Directors. This resulted in a reduction of the SLA membership fee to $35 for those earning under US$18,000. Because of his success in making membership affordable, information professionals throughout the world will now be able to expand their networks and learning opportunities through SLA.
Debal has been privileged to receive a number of awards recognizing his achievements. While a member of SLA, in 2007, he received the DLDP Award. In 2008, he received the Bonnie Hilditch International (SLA) Science-Technology and Engineering Division Award and in 2009, he received the SLA Presidential Citation Award. Debal was also a recipient of the ASIS&T Infoshare Award in 2007.
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