Allahabad Public Library

Allahabad Public Library also known as Thornhill Mayne Memorial is a public library situated at Alfred Park in Prayagraj.[2] Established in 1864, it is the biggest library in the state of Uttar Pradesh.[1][3] The building was designed by Richard Roskell Bayne and is considered a remarkable example of Scottish Baronial Revival architecture.[4] The monument has served as the house of legislative assembly in British era when Allahabad was the capital of United Provinces. In 1879, the Public library was shifted to the present premises at Alfred Park.

Allahabad Public Library
CountryIndia
TypePublic library
Established1864[1]
LocationPrayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
Collection
Sizeapprox. 125,000 books, 40 magazines and 28 newspapers[1]
Access and use
Population served55,100 reader inclusive of 1,271 membership (2013-14)[1]
Websiteagplib.org

Holdings

The library has an approximate collection of 125,000 books, 40 types of magazines and 28 different newspapers in Hindi, English, Urdu and Bangla and contains 21 Arabic manuscripts.[1] It also has a collection of old government publications, parliamentary papers, and blue books of the 19th century, old manuscripts and journals.[5]

Building

The building known as Thornhill Mayne Memorial is situated at Alfred Park[5] and was designed by Richard Roskell Bayne in Scottish Baronial architecture with sharp pillars and turrets of granite and sandstone. It represents structural polychromy with lofty towers and arcaded cloisters.[4][6][7] When completed in 1870, the building cost approx. INR 94,222.[8] It was funded by Commissioner of Allahabad, Mr. Mayne and was opened as a memorial to Cuthbert Bensley Thornhill.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Public library witnesses 37% increase in readers". The Times of India. Allahabad. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  2. Handbook of the Bengal Presidency: With an Account of Calcutta City. John Murray. 1882. p. 366. Thornhill Mayne Memorial.
  3. Kapila, Surbhi (11 April 2017). "A bibliophile's travel itinerary". Media India Group. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  4. Jonathan M. Bloom, Sheila Blai (2009). The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture, Volume 3. Oxford University Press. p. 57. ISBN 8125013830.
  5. Dixit, Kapil (12 June 2013). "Govt public library gets international recognition". The Times of India. Allahabad. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  6. Chandra, Ramesh (2004). Cities and towns of India. Commonwealth Publishers. p. 393.
  7. Michell, George (1989). The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India: Islamic, Rajput, European. Penguin Books. p. 202.
  8. Various Census of India. Oxford University. 1877. p. 117.
  9. Sharma, Om Prakash (1970). Forces Behind the Indian Public Library Movement, 1858-1892. University of Chicago Graduate Library School. p. 243.

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