Team

Academic Background & Overview

Dr. Mahesh Yaranal has served the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) since 1997 and currently holds the position of Librarian In-Charge. With nearly three decades of experience in academic law librarianship, his expertise spans library administration, digital scholarship, information systems, and technology-enabled academic services.

He holds a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from Karnatak University and a PhD in Library Sciences from Bangalore University, Bengaluru. His doctoral research focused on the digitization and digital preservation of rare and scholarly resources in university libraries across Karnataka, establishing a foundation for his career-long dedication to preserving scholarly heritage and broadening knowledge access.

Digital Infrastructure & Library Automation

A key advocate for digital transformation, Dr. Yaranal has played a central role in building and modernizing the NLSIU Library’s technological framework:

• Institutional Repository: Instrumental in establishing Digital Access to NLSIU Scholarship (DANS), the University’s DSpace-based repository that preserves and disseminates institutional research.

• Integrated Library Systems: Coordinated the development of NLS_LIS—NLSIU’s custom library management system launched in 2000—and subsequently directed the transition to Koha, an open-source platform serving as the Library’s central catalog and discovery interface.

• Automation & Security: Led the implementation of RFID technology for streamlined circulation, inventory management, and security, alongside recent upgrades to the Koha ecosystem to enhance reporting, data integrity, and digital reliability.

Collections, Research Support & Accessibility

Dr. Yaranal oversees overall library operations, managing print collections, subscription databases, e-journals, and remote-access platforms tailored to evolving legal education standards:

• Research Services: Expanded support for faculty and researchers through improved literature discovery tools, assistance with scholar profiles and persistent identifiers, and curated digital legal collections.

• Information Literacy: Coordinates ongoing orientation sessions, workshops, and information-literacy programs for students, researchers, and faculty.

• Inclusive Initiatives: Enhanced library accessibility by integrating assistive technologies and specialized services to support users with diverse learning and access needs.

Strategic Leadership & Scholarly Contributions

Dr. Yaranal actively contributes to the redevelopment of physical library spaces, the expansion of open-stack collections, and the conceptualization of new academic programs in information sciences.

His research interests include academic law librarianship, digital preservation, electronic resource management, and emerging library technologies. He has published widely in national and international journals, edited volumes, and book chapters, with his research profile available via Google Scholar.

Through nearly thirty years of sustained leadership, Dr. Yaranal has guided the NLSIU Library’s evolution from a traditional facility into a modern, technology-driven, research-oriented academic hub.

Madhu K S has been working with NLSIU since 2001. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Mysore in 2000 and completed his M.Phil in Library and Information Science from Alagappa University in 2011. He has over 23 years of work experience in Library and Information Science Practice and Research. During his academic tenure, he was a member of the University of Mysore Cricket Team for three years. Additionally, he represented the Mysore Zone in the Under-22 S.A. Srinivasan Memorial Cricket Tournament, organized under the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).

Prior to working at NLSIU, he was a Resource Person for the Library Automation Project at Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, and a Library Trainee at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore. He also cleared his Karnataka State Eligibility Test in 2015.

At the NLSIU library, he is in charge of acquisition, cataloguing, and maintenance of the books, eBooks, theses & dissertations, and also handles assistive technology for the visually impaired. Other responsibilities include uploading materials on to the digital library (Institutional repository), online and offline referral services, updating reading materials on LMS, maintaining question papers/answer keys, library orientation for new users, and management of information resources.

Besides working as the Assistant Librarian, he was also a member of the Sexual Harassment Committee of NLSIU, Admissions office staff for NLSIU 3 years LLB (Hons.) programme and Faculty Recruitment Shortlisting Committee.

With a few published papers to his credit, his interest areas in research are Use of social media in libraries, digital library and user’s study.

Some of his publications are available at Google Scholar.

With over 8 years of experience in university library management, Sidlingappa Huded holds a master’s degree in library and information science from Karnatak University, Dharwad, and a postgraduate diploma in library automation and networking from the University of Hyderabad. He has qualified for UGC-NET and K-SET.

Before his tenure at NLSIU, Sidlingappa made significant contributions at Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, where he oversees collection development, library services, user training, scholarly communication, and technology implementation. As a core member of the archives team, he contributed to the Schoolbooks Archive—an open-access repository preserving textbooks and related artifacts spanning the last two centuries on the subcontinent. He also played a key role in establishing the Dr. PM Bhargava Archives.

He is interested in community libraries and actively supports village panchayat libraries around Azim Premji University. He has spearheaded various initiatives aimed at engaging community members and improving library accessibility.

His research contributions extend across journals, conferences, book chapters, and newspapers. Sidlingappa’s diverse interests include bibliometrics, user studies, community libraries, electronic information resources, archives, and open access. His publications can be accessed here.