TAGORE LIBRARY: A BRIEF PROFILE 

INTRODUCTION:
Tagore Library is the Central Research library of the University of Lucknow. It is here that the academic fraternity- both the preceptor and his pupils could find intellectual food. It is respected as one of the oldest, well organised and richest libraries of India. With the advent of Information Technology, this library is also changing its traditional format.

HISTORY:

The maintenance of a good library is a sin qua non for any progressive university, therefore, the then Canning College Library was converted into tile University Central Library and thus the Tagore Library, tile Central Library of the University of Lucknow, came into existence with the Ute establishment of the Lucknow University, late in the year 1920.

Initially Tagore Library was located in the old Bennet Hall and rooms between the verandah on the South-Western side of main Canning College building (now Faculty of Arts, main building). In 1924, the Library building was expanded with the inclusion of a separate Reading Room.

The plan of the new building for the library was prepared by one Mr. Griffin, a noted architect and was explained in detail to the members of the Library Committee on December 10, 1935. The model for the two storied building was placed in the old library for the students and staff to make any suggestions for improvement or Innovation In the plan. However, there was inordinate delay in approving the plan, which had sailed in rough weather for some time. The main architect Mr. Griffin died in the meantime.

Foundation stone of the new building (present building) waslaid by tl1e then Chancellor In March 1937, but the start of construction work took quite some time. After the death of main architect Mr.Griffin,  one Mr. Narwekar was assigned the responsibility for the architectural portion and supervision of the work on payment of a sum of Rs. 2000/-. A sum of Rs. 1,50,000/- had been set apart for its construction by the University. It took a couple of year in completion of the building.

The Chancellor - Governor Sir M. Hallet, opened the new library building (the present library building) on April 2nd, 1941. While inaugurating the new building Sir M. Hallet referred to the great Importance of a library in a modem University life as well as in national life.

Later on the present library building was extended and the extended portion was inaugurated during the Golden Jubilee Function of the University on 9^th March 1972, by the then President of India Sri V.V. Giri.

FORMER HONORARY LIBRARIANS: 

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LIBRARIAN 

The library is headed by Honorary Librarian. Presently Prof. Nirupama Agarwal is Honorary Librarian.

STAFF:

The details of staff are as under:

FUNDS:

(a) Recurring Grant - The Library receives Rs. 20 lakhs per annum from the State Government as non-plan Grant.

(b) Non.Recurring Grant –The Library receives plan Grant from the UGC under five year plan. 

COLLECTION Of THE LIBRARY:

The Tagore Library houses not only books, but also has a good  collection of rare manuscripts, paintings, art objects, ancient coins, theses and research journals.

                                                                            Approx 

1. Books                                                             5,50,000         

2. Periodicals                                                       60,000

3. Manuscripts                                                     2000

4. Thesis                                                            10,000

5. Electronic Journals                                            4000

WORKING HOURS:

The working hours of the library are from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Further it can be extended on the direction of the Vice Chancellor as per pressing demand of the students subject to availability of Staff.

HOLIDAYS:

The Library remains closed on Sundays, National Holidays, Gazetted Holidays and other holidays declared by the University.

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SECTION OF THE LIBRARY:

1. Acquisition Section

2. English & Modern European Language Processing Section

3. Hindi and Sanskrit Processing Section

4. Urdu and Oriental Processing Section

5. Circulation Section

6. Bonnerjee Library .

7. Periodical Section

8. Documentation Section

9. Reference Section

10. Reading Hall

11. Manuscripts Section

12. Art Gallery

13. Computer Center

14. Air Conditioning & Electrical Section

15. Bindery

16. Office 

Acquisition Section:

This Section Deals with the selection and purchase of new books. The Grant received from the UGC for purchase of books are allocated among different Faculties of the University as per following plan:-

a) Facully of Arts & Education... ... ... 40%

b) Faculty of Science ... ... ... 40%

c) Faculty of Law ... ... ... 10%

d) Faculty of Commerce ... ... ... 10%

Further, the grant allocated for one faculty is divided amongst its department according to a set ratio. . Books are selected for purchase on the suggestions and recommendations of the Head of the Department, demand of students as well as according to the need of the LibraryAfter the purchase and price verification, the Books are accessioned here and forwarded to respective Processing Section for classification, cataloguing etc.

English Processing Section:

Classification, Cataloguing, labeling, pasting and numbering of books in English and other modem European Languages are done here. Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme is used for classification, amended ALA code is used for cataloguing, Sear's list of Subject Heading is used for assigning subject descriptors of the books. 

Hindi and Sanskrit Processing Section: 

Classification, Cataloguing, labeling, pasting and numbering of bools in Hindi, Sanskrit and other modem Indian Languages are done here. Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme is used for classification,amended ALA code is used for cataloguing, Sear's list of Subject heading is used for assigning subject descriptors of the books.

Urdu and Oriental languages Processing Section:

Classification, Cataloguing, labeling, pasting and numbering of  books in Urdu and other Oriental Languages are done here. Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme is used for classification, amended ALA code is used for cataloguing, Sear's list of Subject Heading is used for assigning subject descriptors of the books.

Circulation Section

The library follows close access system. All books received from Processing Sections are kept here. The stack room consists of three floors. Books are arranged in classified manner on the shelves, according to call number assigned during classification of books. The call number can be had from the top left corner of the Catalogue Cards, which are arranged in Wooden Catalogue Cabinets placed in the foyer of the library.

The users search required title in the Catalogue Cabinets and obtain the CALL Number of the book. Thus a book can be procured ", from the Circulation Section through CALL Number. The user can study such obtained book inside the library as well as can borrow for studies at home. Newark System of charging and discharging is followed during issue and return of books. Records of membership, Borrowers' Card, issue & return of books are maintained in this section. This section also realises Fees and late fine from the users as and when needed.

Bonerjee Library

In 1929 a special section named as Bonerjee Library was added inthe Library. It included the gift of books made by one civilian named Mr. D.N. Bonerjee. A special borrowers card is issued to such students who apply for membership of the Bonerjee Library on payment of Re. 1/- each year. Only two books are issued at a time for a period of 14 days only. Except P.G. and U.G. students no other type of user is allowed to become its member.

Periodical Section:

This is an important section of the Library. This section deals with acquisition of periodicals. Loose as well as bound periodicals are kept over here. As soon as a part of periodical is received, it is entered into the KARDEX, record of order and payment is also maintained on the KARDEX. Teachers, Research Scholars and visitors are allowed accessin this Section. A separate small reading room is also attached with this section.

Documentation Section;

This section mainly deals with reprographic activities. Some of its equipments, such as Microfilm Reader, Camera, Developing equipments have become very old. However, for the time being photo state services are being provided to the users. Now the library is planning to develop this section so that advanced documentation services can be provided to the users.

Reference Section:

1he Library has a very rich Reference Section. In this Encyclopaedias, Yearbooks, Directories, Dictionaries, Gazetteers etc. are available for consultation. Users come here and get access to these books in connection with their research work and day to day queries.

Reading hall:

This library possess the biggest Reading Hall in the northern India which is known as Bisheshwar Nath Reading Room. It has a capacity of about 400 students at a time. In this Hall Text-Books, Theses and Dictionaries are housed for reading purpose only. In the Hall, the books are issued to students against their I-Card, which they return after the study.

Manuscript Section

This is a heritage section, it consists of about 2000 rare and valuable manuscripts, which are on paper and palm leaves. These manuscripts are in Sanskrit, Pall, Arabic and Persian Languages. Gold coated illustrations can be seen in some manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts are 600 to 800 years old. 

Arts Gallery

It is a distinguished feature of this Library. This section has a rare collection of some excellent original paintings of eminent Indian Painters as Sri Nand Lal Bose, Sri Asit Kumar Haldar, Sri Abdur Rehman Chugtai, Sri L. M. Sen, Ms. Amrita Shergil etc. Antique Sculptures, statues, arts objects and Farmans (of Moughal Period) are also part of this Section. There is another rare collection of Ancient coins but these coins are kept in lock & key as the library lacks staff for deciphering these coins.

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Computer Centre:

For the purpose of automation of the library and for extending the state-of-art facilities of Information Technology to the Users, initially a PC AT 486 was purchased way back in 1993 in the library. The library became User Node of SERNET network of the INSDOC New Delhi and facility of free E-mail was introduced in November 1993, which was at that time, was the first of its kind In the city of Lucknow. Later on with the help of one time grant from the U.G.C. for updating Library Facilities, two Servers Prosignla 300, One Multimedia Presario and 25 Deskpro Pentium PCs were purchased in the year 1997 and a LOCAL AREA NETWORK has been setup in the library. Thus the Computer Centre of the library consists of mainly three parts, one, the Computer Administration & Server Room, second, the Nodes or User Room and thirdly, the computers available in different Sections of thelibrary. Data base of Books, Journals and Theses were prepared in CDS/ISIS . and Dbase softwares and data entry was started but since no specialised library Management Software was available the work of Library Automation could not be completed. However, the Computer Centre of the library extended INTERNET browsing, on-line Searching, E-mail facilities, free of cost from its Nodes or User Room to the Faculty Members, Research Scholars and Guests etc. On the spot help in searching has also been provided to users.

Air-Conditioning & Electrical Section:

A Central A.C. Plant made by TRANE Company of USA, Model 1958with the 30 Ton Capacity was procured and installed in 1965 in the Library with the financial help of University Grants Commission, for maintaining a constant temperature for the maintenance of Books and other reading material. However, it is capable to provide desired result only on the Ground Floor of the Stack Room of the library. No further grant was received either from the UGC or from the. State Government. It successfully remained operational till 1978 but thereafter it turned out of order. Later on, from t1le financial assistance again received from UGC this A.C. Plant was got repaired and again commissioned in the year 1996-97 and since then is still working. For Alternate power supply for certain points of the library, two Generators of 10 KV A each are also installed in the library. The Air-Conditioning & Electrical Section deals with the operation and maintenance of the present AC Plant, DG Sets and other electrical appliances and equipments of the library.

Bindery

This Library has its own Bindery for the binding of books and journals.. Since the ]ournals (Periodicals) purchased by the Library are very costly, tile need for binding Inside the library Was felt and thus the library's Bindery was established in the year 1967 during the VI plan period. There is permanent staff as well as all the necessary equipments required by the Bindery. The quality of the binding done in the Library's Bindery is undoubtedly, the best in library binding. Thousands of Journals, Books, Theses and rare Manuscripts were bound by tile Bindery and they don't need further binding after decades.

Office

This section deals with General Administration of the library, establishment of staff of the library as well as responsible for all maintenance of accounts and financial management and plans.

MEMBERSHIP:

All bonafide students, research scholars, faculty members, non-teaching staff, retired teachers and registered graduates of theLucknow University can use the library. However, for the purposes ofborrowing books and other reading material the membership is restricted to them, as per following rules :-

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FINE:

(A) After the expiry of due date the students are liable to pay late fine @ 10 paisa per day per book for first three months.

(B) After the expiry of three months the students are liable to pay @ 25 paisa per day per book.

(C) For Under-lining and overwriting in a book a fine of Rs. 3/- may be charged.

(D) For damaging the binding and cover of book a fine upto Rs. 5/- can be charged.

(E) Disfiguring or Mutilation of book Rs. 50/- may be charged.

(F) For Indiscipline in library the student is liable to pay Rs. 25/-.

(G) Bringing personal book inside the library Rs. 1/- per book may

be charged.

(H) Loss of Books:

(i) In case the book is available, the. current price of the book plus replacement charges of Re.1/- per book.

(ii) Where the book is not available, a charge upto three times of the price of the book to be made at the discretion of the Honorary librarian.

(I) Loss of Borrowers Card: If a borrowers card is lost, the new card can be had by depositing Rs. 2/-.

SERVICES OFFERED:

a) Book Borrowing facility. -. -

b) Reading facility.

c) Reference Service. :'

d) Documentation: Searching Services.

e) Research Facility.

f) Bonerjee Library Facility.

g) INTERNET BROWSING and e-mail facility.

h) Photostat facility: 75 paisa per copy.

FUTURE PLAN:

a) Complete Automation of the Library.

b) On-line Public Access Catalogue.

c) On-line Data Base Searching.

d) Development of Website of the library.

e) Complete Computerized Documentation Service.

f) To connect tile Local, National as well as International Networks

of the Library. 

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