State Central Library, Kerala

State Central Library of Kerala is also known as Trivandrum Public Library.It is situated at the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital of Kerala. It is supposed to be the first public library in India.

History

The Library was established in the year 1829 A. D. during the reign of His Highness Sree Swathi Thirunal Maharaja of Travancore. The work of starting and organising the Library was entrusted to Col. Edward Cadogan, then the British Resident who was the grand son of Sir Hans Sloane, the founder of the British Museum. Col. Cadogan was the first president of the Trivandrum Public Library committee, which managed the affairs of the Library. At that time, only a privileged class who were called to attend the Durbar of His Highness the Maharaja was allowed admission to the Library. The Library was then known as “Trivandrum People’s Library”.

Other landmarks in the history of library are:

* 1898 AD - The assets of Trivandrum People’s Library were transferred to the administrative control of Government and was opened to the public.
* 1900 AD - His Highness Sree Moolam Thirunal constructed the present building for housing the library, which is an architectural beauty in the Gothic style, in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.
* 1938 AD - The administration of the Trivandrum Public Library was handed over to University of Travancore (now University of Kerala).
* 1948 - The State Government was directed to take over the administration of the Library from the University by a resolution of the State Legislature.
* 1958 - The Library was declared as the ‘State Central Library’ of Kerala.
* 1988 - The library was given the status of a minor department under the administrative control of Higher Education Department of Government of Kerala.
*2005 - A New Heritage Model building was constructed within the campus for Children's Library.

Sections in Library

* Technical Section.
* Circulation Section (Books & periodicals)
* English Section.
* Malayalam Section.
* Tamil / Hindi/ Sanskrit Section.
* Reference Section.
* Children's Section.
* Binding Section.
* Reprographic Section.
* Closed Reference Section.
* Member’s Reading Room. ( For A & B Members only).
* General Reading Room. (For C & D members & Non members)
* Cash Section.
* Administrative Section.
* Internet Browsing Centre
* Kerala Gazette section
* Multimedia Section
* Digital Library

Digital Library

Library has a digital collection in searchable format of 709 books, in English and Malayalam, archived using Nitya digital library software.

Children's library

The New Heritage Model building within the campus is devoted for Children's library. A multimedia Section is also functioning in this building.

The library is also conducting a certificate course in Library and information science.

References

* [http://www.kerala.gov.in/public_library/index.htm Official Website of Kerala Government]

External links

* [http://www.statelibrary.kerala.gov.in/ Official website of State Central Library, Kerala]
* [http://www.kerala.gov.in/dept_highedu/index.htm Official webpage of Department of Higher Education, Kerala State]
* [http://www.kerala.gov.in/ Official website of Government of Kerala]