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Library Guide Book

GENERAL INFORMATION

In the wake of rapid technological advancement, the role of library has to be redefined and remoulded. The library has to function in accordance with the changing needs. Today libraries are undergoing tremendous changes in their functioning by adopting latest technology so as to give the user population quick access to print and electronic information resources.

Kerala University Library is situated in the heart of the Thiruvananthapuram city very adjacent to University Buildings. It has a very rich collection of documents consisting of books, back volumes of periodicals, theses, CD-ROMs, Microfilms etc. The Collection of back volumes of social science periodicals is considered to be one of the best in South India.

Kerala University Library is today the major centre of study and research in the state. On an average 1000 to 1250 students, research scholars, teachers and others visit the library daily.

Retrospect

The University of Travancore was established on 1st November 1937 under the Travancore University Act I of 1113 ME (1937). Till the formation of a separate library for the University, the Trivandrum Public Library and the libraries of the Arts and Science colleges served the requirements of the academic community. The administration of the Trivandrum Public Library which had around 33,356 books and 93 periodicals was brought under the University in 1938. The Arts College was amalgamated with the Science College in 1942-43 and about 10,000 books from the Arts College Library was transferred to the University College. The remaining books numbering about 20,000, mostly of an advanced nature were kept in the Arts College.

This formed the nucleus of the University Library Collection. The personal libraries of Divan Bahadur Dr. S. Krishna Swami Aiyangar and Professor P.P. Sastri were purchased and added to the collection. The Library of the University of Travancore (later renamed as Kerala University Library) was started in 1942. By the end of 1942 the number of volumes in the library, housed in the Arts College building, was 29,780. Four years later the library was shifted to a new building on the eastern side of the University College.

After the formation of Kerala State in 1956, steps were taken to reconstitute the University of Travancore into a teaching and federal University for the state as a whole. With this in view the Kerala University Act was brought into force by the Kerala Government in 1957 with the preamble " .... conservation, promotion and development of Kerala Art and  Culture and the Malayalam language and the gradual change of the medium of instruction into Malayalam in all the educational institutions in the state as well as the provision of greater facilities for the post graduate study and original research in all branches of learning by establishing centres of post graduate study and original research in different parts of the state."

The present library building, a two storied structure with a total plinth area of 53,000 Sq.ft., started functioning on 8th September 1962. The post of a Professional Librarian to be in full administrative charge of the Library was created in 1959 and Prof. K. A. Isaac was appointed to the post in August 1959. He continued to be the University Librarian until 1980 and he was succeeded by Sri. K. C. John. read more...

 

 

Library Hours

8 AM to 8 PM on all working days.
2 PM to 8 PM on Sundays

Get in touch

Kerala University Library
Palayam, University Post,
Thiruvananthapuram-695034
Tel :   +91-471-2308844 (Library), 
           +91-471-2453791 (Librarian) 

Email  : universitylibrary@.vsnl.com