State Central Library Hyderabad

State Central Library Hyderabad
Country	India
Type	State library
Established	1891
Location	Afzal Gunj, Hyderabad
Collection
Items collected	books, journals, newspapers, magazines, and manuscripts
Size	~ 5,00,000 books/magazines
Legal deposit	Yes
Access and use
Access requirements	Open

The State Central Library Hyderabad,^[1](Urdu: مكتب اصفيا) better known as the State Central Library (SCL), is a public library in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. The building was constructed in 1891 by Nawab Imad-ul-Mulk.^[2] Formerly known as the Asafia Library, it is one of the most imposing structures in the city and was granted heritage status in 1998 by INTACH, Hyderabad.^[3]

The library is located at Afzal Gunj on the bank of the River Musi. It houses 500,000 books and magazines including some rare palmleaf manuscripts. This library is the apex of the state's library system.^[4]

History

The State Central Library began in 1891 due to the efforts of Moulvi Syed Hussain Bilgrami (Nawab Imadul Mulk Bahadur), whose personal library formed the institution's initial core. The library was located at Abids and then known as the Asafia State Library after the Asaf Jah dynasty. Syed Tassaduq Hussain, a scholar, was appointed as Superintendent of the Library. He became the first librarian of the State Central Library in 1936.^[5]

The library building has an area of 72,247 square yards and was built under the supervision of Mr. Aziz Ali. The foundation stone was laid in January 1932 by Prince Mir Osman Ali Khan. At the construction's completion, the Asafia Library shifted to the new building in 1936 to mark Nizam VII's silver jubilee. The architecture is reminiscent of a palace with its huge halls and high ceilings.

In 1941, the Asafia State Library celebrated its Golden Jubilee. When the Hyderabad Public Libraries Act became law in 1955, Asafia State Library became the State Central Library for Hyderabad State. After linguistic reorganisation of States in 1956, it became the State Central Library for Andhra Pradesh. An annex building was constructed in 1961.

In 1975, the library transferred its Arabic script manuscript collection to the newly formed Oriental Manuscripts Library and Research Institute.^[6]

Objectives

1. The main objective is to collect literature on Science, Technology and similar subjects.

2. It should be Andhra Pradesh's main source of reference materials for researchers and scholars.

3. It should serve as a focal point and organizing agency for the interlibrary loan of books.

4. The library, in accordance with its objectives, maintains a strong reference collection including State and Central Government Publications.

5. The library organizes book exhibitions, professional seminars, conferences, and nationwide week celebrations.

6. A main objective is to create awareness and to establish the habit of reading in its students. This is emphasized and highlighted during National Library Week.

7. The library provides literature for research scholars, children of various ages, students, and readers of all standards (including blind readers).

Collection

The Library has an excellent collection of over four million books published since the early 19th century, including books in English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Sanskrit, Urdu, Arabic and Persian. Nearly 17,000 manuscripts dating to the fifth and sixth centuries were transferred to the Andhra Pradesh Oriental Manuscripts Library in 1967.

Digitalization

The first phase of computerisation and networking in libraries through e-Grandhalaya software developed by National Informatics Centre has begun. The project will begin on an experimental basis in Warangal and Hyderabad. Over 40,000 books have already been digitised at SCL with the help of Carnegie Mellon University's Universal Online Library Projects. The digitised works include titles in Hindi, English, Telugu, Urdu and Persian. Carnegie Mellon University provides the funding for this project.

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ State Central Library to sport a grand look again at The Hindu.
3. ^ State Central Library calls for uplift in The Hindu.
4. ^ "Public Library Services in India: Systems and Deficiencies", R. Bhattacharjee, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, 19 September 2002.
5. ^ "State Central Library", SheharENaaz, accessed 8 December 2009.
6. ^ "Andhra Pradesh Government - Oriental Manuscripts Library and Research Institute (OMLRI) - Osmania University Campus, Hyderabad 500 007", accessed 17 December 2009.

External links

• State Central Library at Shehar-e-naaz.com with its majestic picture.