EditorsRoom.net - The State Central Library of KERALA

History
The State Central Library is one of the oldest Libraries in India. It 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, the then British Resident who was the grand son of Sir Hans Sloan, the founder of the British Museum. He was the first president of the Trivandrum Public Library committee. The successors of His Highness Sree Swathi Thirunal and the British Resident Col. Cadogan took active interest in the advancement and progress 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”.In the year 1898 AD the assets of Trivandrum People’s Library were transferred to the administrative control of Government on condition that “a suitable building should be erected for housing the Library for the benefit of the Public and that Government should undertake its maintenance in a suitable manner under such regulations as the Government may deem fit from time to time”. In 1898 this institution was opened to the public. His Highness Sree Moolam Thirunal took a special interest in the development of this library. He ordered the construction of a beautiful building for housing the library in 1900. AD the present building of architectural beauty in the Gothic style was put up in Trivandrum City in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. In the year 1938 A.D the administration of the Trivandrum Public Library was handed over to University of Travancore. In 1948 by a resolution of the State Legislature, the State Government was directed to take over the administration of the Library from the University.

In the year 1958, the Trivandrum Public Library was declared as ‘State Central Library’. Subsequently in the year 1988 the library was given the status of a minor department under the administrative control of Higher Education Department with the State Librarian as Head of the Department. In the year 1992 Government declared Malayalam as the official language of this department.

The administration of the State Central Library is vested with the State Librarian, who is the Head of the Department. There is an Advisory Committee with the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department as Chairman and State Librarian as Convenor with official and non official member's duly constituted by the Government from time to time. Two Deputy State Librarians assist the State Librarian in Library, academic and the Administrative Assistant to the State Librarian assist the State Librarian in the Administrative, Accounts and Audit matters.

The library offers individual membership, which is open to all permanent resident of Kerala State. There are four categories of membership - 'A' Class, 'B' Class, 'C' Class & 'D' Class. A refundable deposit is collected at the time of admission in cash. No monthly or annual subscription is levied. The application for membership is provided free of cost.

2) Proof for residential address - Electoral Identity Card / Driving Licence / Passport.

3) Admission for children above 14 years of age will be allowed on production of the Electoral Identity card of their parents.

The library has a total collection of 327177 documents in different languages such as English, Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, Sanskrit in various disciplines.

Library is holding special collection donated by Sri. V.K. Krishna Menon, Prof. Nandan Menon, Prof. N.Gopalapillai & Sri.Sreerangam Vikramon Nair and K.R.Elankath Trust.

Member's can reserve any book in the holdings of the Library except Reference Books Borrowed books can be renewed once over telephone, through post or in person, unless there is no reservation for the book requested on or before the due date stamped Subsequent renewal can be done only on production of the borrowed book. There is no reservation and renewal for journals or periodicals.

Up to 2005 - September an amount of 25ps per day was charged for each item (both Books & Journals) as overdue charge for belated return. After September 2005 the overdue charge was enhanced to 50ps per day for the first 5 days and Rs.1/- per day there after. Renewal of books is allowed once only.

The loss may be reported to the State Librarian in writing. The member may either replace the same copy of the book or remit the cost as decided by the State Librarian from time to time along with the overdue charges if any.

Regarding loose issues of journals the lost item should be replaced either by submitting it's current issue along with overdue charges if any or by remitting the cost as decided by State Librarian from time to time along with over due charges if any

Any amount due to the State Central Library from member's on account of loss or damage to books or any other library materials and any other dues declared by the State Librarian shall be recovered as per the Revenue Recovery Act if such dues are not cleared otherwise.

Books except reference books and journals are loaned to member's for Home reading.

Reference Service

A well furnished A/C Reference & Information Centre is functioning in the first floor. The rich reference sources are open to the member's from 8.30 am to 7 pm on all working days and on Sundays from 8 am to 2 pm. Reprographic facility is also provided. Admission is restricted for member's only in the reference section

Xerox copy of relevant pages of Books & Periodicals available in the library will be issued subject to the provisions of Copyright Act. This service is chargeable.

Certified & Non Certified extracts of Kerala Government Gazette will be issued on written request. This chargeable service is made available on all working days except on Sundays during library office hours (10 am to 5 pm).

Date Conversion certificate from Malayalam Era to Christian Era & vice versa is issued on written request. This service is chargeable @ Rs.25/- per certificate. This service is available on all working days from 10.15 am to 4.30 pm except Sundays.

The internet browsing center in the State Central Library was inaugurated on 15/03/2004. The working hours of Internet browsing center will be 10 am to 5 pm on all working days except Sunday.

1.      Scanning per page - Rs.10/- including printing or copying in Floppy (Fresh Floppy to be produced by the user)
2.      C.D Writing - Rs.30/- per CD (Fresh CD to be produced by the user)
3.      Laser printing - A4 size: Rs.5/-
4.      Inkjet colour A4 Text & Graphics - Rs.20/-

1) All services provided at the Internet Browsing Centre of the State Central Library will be available against payments on a first come first serve basis.

2) The service shall be made available at the seat allotted by the Centre to individuals.

3) Each User in the Centre is liable to follow the rules and regulations and terms and conditions issued by the Government from time to time.

4) File, Printing and storage service shall be subject to copy right rules and shall therefore be scrutinised by theCentre. The services shall be extented at the discretion of the Centre only to those software or documents that have been retrieved from the Internet or generated by the User and are not obscene, defamatory of inflammatory in nature. The services shall not be available for Software or documents brought in file storage media like tapes, Floppy disks, CD-Roms or USB memory etc by the User.

Rare and precious old books, back volumes of Journals and Dailies are kept here for reference. Admission is given to users on written request. Xerox copies of the relevant information will be issued subject to the provisions of copyright act.

Kerala gazette section working hours - Monday through Saturday 8.30 am to 7.00 pm.
Sunday - 8 am to 2 pm.

Library has a digital collection in searchable format of 709 books, including English & Malayalam books. Users can acces the same through intranet in the reference section from 8.30 am to 6.45 pm on all working days except sundays.

(Books & Journals) Monday thro Saturday 8.30 am - 11.30 am & 4 pm -7 pm
Sundays: 8 am - 2 pm

Member's Reading Room & General Reading room will be kept opened from 8 am to 8 pm on all working days and on Sundays from 8 am to 2 pm.

Multimedia Section is functioning in the 2^nd floor of the New Heritage Model building where the childrens' wring of the State Central Library is accommodated. No additional charge is being levied from children. A maximum of half an hour time is allowed for each child.

An Auditorium is available in the State Central Library Thiruvananthapuram which is being rented out as per the rates prescribed by the Government for various functions except those organised by political parties and individuals.

This library is conducting a certificate course in Library and information Science. The duration of the course is 6 months. There are 40 seats for this course. The Government's scheme of Earn While You Learn has been successfully implemented during the year 2005.