State Central Library, Kerala

State Central Library of Kerala is also known as Trivandrum Public Library. It is in the center of Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital of Kerala.

State Central Library, Kerala
LocationPalayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Coordinates8.506392°N 76.952244°E / 8.506392; 76.952244
Websitewww.statelibrary.kerala.gov.in
Map

History

The Library was established in 1829 during the reign of King Swathi Thirunal 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.
  • 2007- Online reservation and RF ID facility is introduced

Sections
  1. Technical Section
  2. Circulation Section (Books & Periodicals)
  3. English Section
  4. Malayalam Section
  5. Hindi / Sanskrit Section
  6. Reference Section
  7. Children's Section
  8. Binding Section
  9. Reprographic Section
  10. Closed Reference Section
  11. Member's Reading Room (For A & B Member's only)
  12. General Reading Room (For C & D Member's & Non Member's)
  13. Cash Section
  14. Administrative Office
  15. Internet Browsing Centre
  16. Kerala Gazette Section
  17. Multimedia Section
  18. Digital Library
  19. British Library Collection
  20. A Library science certification course in place.

Digital library

Library has a digital collection in searchable format of 709 books, in English and Malayalam.

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
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