Report on Reading Inspiration Day - 2025

 

The Learning and Information Resource Centre of St. Francis Institute of Technology celebrated Reading Inspiration Day on 15th October 2025 in remembrance of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, our beloved former President and visionary scientist, fondly known as The Missile Man of India. The event aimed to honor Dr. Kalam’s inspiring legacy by spreading the light of knowledge and the joy of reading among students and faculty members.

Overview of Activities

The celebration was organized over four days, featuring a variety of engaging and educational activities designed to promote reading habits and creativity:

In-House Book Exhibition (13th October 2025): The event commenced with an exhibition showcasing a diverse collection of books available in  English and Marathi languages. Students were encouraged to explore new titles and genres, fostering curiosity and a love for reading.

Digital Library Treasure Hunt (14th October 2025): Participants enthusiastically took part in an interactive treasure hunt within the digital library system, aimed at creating an awareness on the seamless access to a treasure trove of information on e books, e journals from Knimbus M Library portal and a plethora of books in Indian languages from AICTE E KUMBH.

Best Library User Award (2024–2025) (15th October 2025): To recognize dedication and consistent engagement with library resources, the “Best Library User Award” was presented to the most active readers of the academic year 2024-2025. Congratulations to Dr. Sunil R. Pansare (HOD, Department of Mechanical Engineering), Mohsin Dalvi (Department of Mechanical Engineering), Varsha Thandasarry (Department of Electrical Engineering), Dhammapal Gaikwad (Department of Mechanical Engineering), Owais Shaikh, Student at Department of Information Technology at SFIT, RAJAN Zagade Student at Department of Electrical Engineering), Om Kate, Student at Department of Electronics and Telecommunications.

Old Book Sale (16th October 2025): The celebration concluded with a sale of old books at nominal prices, encouraging participants to take home books and continue nurturing the joy of reading.

The celebration of Reading Inspiration Day successfully honored Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s vision of a knowledgeable and enlightened society. The series of activities encouraged students to read, learn, and lead towards a brighter tomorrow. The event not only paid tribute to a great leader but also reinforced the institute’s commitment to promoting lifelong learning and intellectual growth among its members.

Knowledge Connect (27): NIELIT's International Conference on Communication, Electronics and Digital Technologies (NICEDT-2026)

More details: https://nicedt.org/

The accepted paper will be published with Springer, subject to compliance with Springer’s standards and quality checks. The remaining papers will be published in the International Journal of Digital Technologies (IJDT).

 

Knowledge Connect (26): Call for Book Chapters in AI in Speech and Language Processing by Springer

 

Books. Brains. Brilliance – Honouring SFIT’s Best Library Users on Reading Inspiration Day

Every once in a while, a reader is born who doesn’t just flip pages—they build bridges to new worlds, new ideas, and new dreams. At St. Francis Institute Of Technology (SFIT), we believe in celebrating these readers.hashtag

On October 15, 2025, celebrated as hashtag#ReadingInspirationDay in hashtag#Maharashtra, we honoured the hashtag#BestLibraryUsers of the Academic Year 2024–2025—readers whose love for books lit up our library, minds, and campus corridors.
Congratulations to Dr. Sunil R. Pansare (HOD, Department of Mechanical Engineering), Mohsin Dalvi (Department of Mechanical Engineering), Varsha Thandasarry (Department of Electrical Engineering), Dhammapal Gaikwad (Department of Mechanical Engineering), Owais Shaikh, Student at Department of Information Technology at SFIT, RAJAN Zagade Student at Department of Electrical Engineering), Om Kate, Student at Department of Electronics and Telecommunications

Why October 15?
It’s no ordinary day—it’s the birth anniversary of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Missile Man of India, a scientist, a visionary, and above all—a passionate advocate of reading. He once said, “Learning gives creativity, creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge, and knowledge makes you great.”

Adding to this legacy, our own Director, Bro. Shantilal Kujur, is a voracious reader himself, regularly visiting book exhibitions to discover new ideas and inspire our students. His passion fuels the culture of reading at our Institute and reminds us all that leaders are readers.

🏆 Awarded by our Director, these library members stood out for:

• Deep and consistent reading habits (beyond just exam prep!)
• Borrowing and exploring diverse books—fiction, non-fiction, journals, research papers
• Sharing recommendations, participating in activities, and inspiring others

📖 Why Reading Still Rules

• It stimulates your brain like no screen can
• It nurtures focus, creativity, and empathy
• It aligns beautifully with #NEP2020, which encourages curiosity-driven, learner-led education

💡Inspired by Indian Reading Icons
Let’s not forget homegrown heroes who swear by the power of books:
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam – a daily reader and youth motivator
Sudha Murty – who makes stories feel like warm cups of chai
Amish Tripathi – who redefined mythology for modern readers
Chetan Bhagat – who brought books to every Indian college student’s backpack
Narendra Modi – who champions reading through ‘hashtag#ParikshaPeCharcha’

So here’s to every reader who ever got “lost” in a book—and came out wiser, kinder, and more curious.
📚💫 Keep turning the pages. Because readers today are the leaders tomorrow.

hashtag#ReadingInspirationDay hashtag#SFITLibrary hashtag#ReadToLead hashtag#KalamInspires hashtag#NEP2020 hashtag#SFITReaders hashtag#BookLove

SFIT Receives Certificate of Appreciation from National Digital Library of India (NDLI)

We are proud to share a moment of honor and celebration for St. Francis Institute of Technology (SFIT), Borivali West, Mumbai. The NDLI Club of SFIT has been awarded a prestigious Certificate of Appreciation by the National Digital Library of India (NDLI) — a project under the Ministry of Education and led by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur).
This recognition highlights the SFIT NDLI Club’s outstanding performance and unwavering dedication in promoting digital learning and knowledge dissemination through the NDLI platform.

Empowering Learners Through 17 Dynamic Activities

In the academic year, the SFIT NDLI Club successfully conducted 17 impactful activities engaging over 700 participants. These activities were designed not just to educate, but also to inspire curiosity and foster a culture of active learning among students.

Some of the notable initiatives included:

• Aptitude Quizzes to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills

• National Space Day Celebrations, exploring India's space achievements

• IPMV (Image Processing and Machine Vision) to introduce ExTC students to basic concepts

• Sessions on Plagiarism Awareness, guiding students on originality and academic integrity

Each activity was carefully curated to utilize the vast resources of NDLI while also addressing key areas of academic and personal development.

Orientation of Digital Resources @ SFIT LIRC for the Department of Computer Engineering

Participants with the Librarian and Asst. Librarian of the Session

Date: October 1, 2025

Conducted by: Ms. Chinmayee Bhange, Librarian, SFIT LIRC
Participants: 24

On October 1, 2025, the Department of Computer Engineering at SFIT hosted a comprehensive Orientation on Digital Resources, aimed at familiarizing faculty and staff members with the extensive digital collections and tools available for academic and research purposes.

The session, conducted by the Librarian, was attended by 24 enthusiastic participants eager to enhance their research capabilities through digital means.

Overview of Digital Resources Covered:

1. AICTE E-KUMBH e-Books
   The orientation began with an introduction to the AICTE E-KUMBH platform, a vast repository of e-books available in multiple languages. Participants learned how to access and utilize this resource to tap into diverse academic literature conveniently.

2. DSpace Institute Repository
   The Librarian then demonstrated the usage of the DSpace Institute Repository. This institutional repository provides access to theses, dissertations, research papers, and other scholarly works generated within SFIT, facilitating knowledge sharing and academic visibility.

3. IEEE ASPP (All Society Periodicals Package)
   Next, attendees explored the IEEE ASPP collection, which offers an extensive archive of journals and periodicals spanning multiple disciplines in engineering and technology, supporting cutting-edge research.

4. IEEE CSDL (Computer Society Digital Library)
   The session included detailed insights into the IEEE Computer Society Digital Library, a specialized collection focusing on computer science and related fields, providing access to conference proceedings, journals, and standards.

5. MAGZTER
   Participants were also introduced to MAGZTER, a digital magazine platform offering a wide array of magazines across varied topics, supporting both academic and general interests.

6. NDLI (National Digital Library of India)
   Finally, the Librarian showcased the NDLI platform, a flagship initiative providing access to millions of digital resources from Indian and international sources, including books, articles, audio-visual materials, and more.

Key Takeaways

The orientation successfully equipped participants with the knowledge to efficiently navigate and utilize these digital resources, significantly enhancing their research and learning experience. The Librarian emphasized the importance of integrating these digital tools into daily academic workflows to stay current and competitive.

Feedback and Future Plans

Participants expressed appreciation for the detailed walkthrough and practical tips provided during the session. Requests were made for more frequent workshops and hands-on training to deepen understanding of these valuable digital platforms.

The Orientation of Digital Resources at SFIT LIRC was an insightful initiative that bridged the gap between users and digital academic resources. Such efforts are vital in empowering the SFIT community to leverage technology effectively in their educational and research endeavors.

Many thanks to Dr. Dakshata Panchal, HOD, Department of Computer Engineering for this initiative and Ms. Rupali Sawant, Asst. Librarian for the constant help and support throughout the session!

Library Orientation and Information Literacy Sessions for First-Year Engineering Students

Introduction

To support the academic journey of our first-year engineering students, the Library Orientation and Information Literacy Sessions were conducted to familiarize them with library resources, research methodologies, and essential information skills needed for their coursework and projects.

Number of Participants

The sessions were attended by more than 300 first-year engineering students, who actively engaged in learning about the various resources and services offered by the library.

Key Areas Covered

The orientation focused on the following critical areas:

• Introduction to the Library: Overview of the library layout, borrowing policies, and available facilities tailored for engineering students.

• Accessing Engineering Resources: Guidance on finding textbooks, reference materials, and technical journals specific to engineering disciplines.

• Online Databases and E-Resources: Training on how to use digital libraries, engineering databases (such as IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect), and e-books effectively.

• Library Support Services: Information on getting help from librarians, interlibrary loans, and accessing study spaces.

Participant Feedback

Students expressed appreciation for the session’s practical approach and hands-on demonstrations, noting increased confidence in navigating both physical and digital resources. Many found the AICTE E KUMBH and Knimbus M Library portal to be very helpful for their academics.

In Conclusion...

The Library Orientation and Information Literacy Sessions successfully introduced first-year engineering students to essential academic resources and research practices. These sessions are a vital step toward fostering independent learning and research excellence within the engineering faculty.