Promotion of Library Automation and Networking in North-Eastern Region (PLANNER) is a bi-annual convention with a special focus to uplift academic libraries in the North-Eastern region, India in the aspect of library automation and networking. The event is organized by INFLIBNET Centre along with the universities located in the respective North-Eastern States. The first PLANNER was held in North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Meghalaya during 6 - 7 November 2003. Subsequent PLANNERS were held in Manipur University, Imphal, Assam University, Silchar, Mizoram University, Aizwal, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Nagaland University, Dimapur, Tezpur University, Tezpur, Sikkim University, Gangtok and Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh. The convention is a forum comprising of practicing and teaching librarians along with experts and students in the LIS profession who will deliberate upon a wide range of topics based upon the theme that is pertinent to library automation and modernization of libraries with a focus on the North-Eastern States of India. PLANNER 2016 is being organized by INFLIBNET Centre in collaboration with North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Meghalaya during 9 – 11 November, 2016 at NEHU, Permanent Campus, Shillong 793 022, Meghalaya.

The objective of the convention is to address the modern tools and techniques that have manifested in the form of ICT applications which had made an impact in today’s library management and services. It is evident that these disruptive innovations relentlessly moves up the preferred to-do list for librarians in view of their inherent characteristics of being readily adopted, adapted and evolving into new scenarios eventually displacing established procedures and techniques. In the entire process, while issues and challenges are visible, solutions too are expected as an outcome of the deliberations. It is also envisaged that the convention will not only further promote library automation and networking in North-Eastern states of India but will be an opportunity for the LIS professionals of North-Eastern states of India along with other participants to address the aforesaid issues and acquire new skills and techniques, in the process.