National Library of India

NATIONAL LIBRARY (Ministry of Culture Government of India Kolkata)

The origins of the National Library, Kolkata begins with the establishment of Calcutta Public Library on 21st March 1836. The Imperial Secretariat Library came into existence in 1981 by integrating all Secretariat Libraries. In the year 1902, the Calcutta Public Library and the Imperial Secretariat Library were amalgamated and gave way to establishment of The Imperial Library. After Independence of India, the National Library came into being in place of Imperial Library by the “Imperial Library (Change of Name) Act” in 1948. It was accorded a special status of an Institution of National Importance in the Article 62 in the 7th Schedule of the Constitution of India and was opened to Public on 1st February 1953.

The National Library serves as a permanent repository of all books, newspapers and periodicals published in India. The Library receives all publications published in the territory of India under the provisions of “the Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act, 1954”. The Act was amended in 1956 to include periodical publications, newspapers and maps within its purview

It provides all possible readers’ services for 362 days of the year. Besides reading, reference and bibliographic services, books are lent out against security deposit. It also provides microfilm/microfiche reading facilities. While inter library loan is extended, the Library acts as a Centre for International loan. Consultancy services are also provided to libraries and librarians. The Library offers internship programme to the Young Post Graduates from Library and Information Science every year. The library digitized around 80,00,000 pages (25,000 books) from old, rare, brittle and important documents of the Library, which are available to the readers through Indian Culture portal (https://indianculture.gov.in/) under Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

National Library of India: a Journey

Calcutta Public Library at house of F.B. Strong

The Calcutta Public Library began its journey on 21st March 1836. The Library was established for reference and lending, open to all, irrespective of class, colour& nationalities, on the self-financing principle.

Imperial Library at Metcalfe Hall

The Calcutta Public Library was subsequently merged with the Imperial Library and combining the collection of a number of secretariat libraries, the Imperial Library was opened to the public in January in 1903.

Belvedere Estate, now declared as Heritage Building

After Independence of India, the National Library came into being in place of Imperial Library by the “Imperial Library (Change of Name) Act” in 1948. It was accorded a special status of an institution of national importance in the Article 62 in the 7th Schedule of the Union list of the Constitution of India and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the then Union Minister of Education opened the Library to Public on 1st February 1953.

Major Functions

Acquisition and conservation of all significant printed materials produced in the country to the exclusion of ephemera;
Collection of printed materials concerning the country wherever published and also acquisition of photographic record of such materials that are not available within the country;
Acquisition and conservation of manuscripts having national importance;
Planned acquisition of foreign materials required by the country;
Rendering of bibliographical and documentation service of retrospective materials, both general and specialized;
Acting as referral centre purveying full and accurate knowledge of all sources of bibliographical activities;
Provision of photocopying and reprographic services; and
Acting as the centre for international book exchange and international loan.

The library acquire books and publications to serve the public by way of

(i) Legal Deposits

Under the enactment of the Delivery of Books and Newspapers (Public Library) Ac, 1954, the Government of India had facilitated the National Library to receive one copy each publication published in India

(ii) Purchase

Procure publications mostly in English and in foreign languages, books published outside the country on India by the Indians or the Foreigners in whatever languages, Indian publications that were brought out before 1954 and those not available in the Library’s stock, Noble Prize Winning books, biographies of eminent personalities of the world, standard books in the languages of India’s neighbouring countries and standard works in modern European languages. The procurement of the books will be done through empanelled book sellers

(iii)Gift and Exchange Programme

The National Library also receives personal collections after duplication check and physical condition of the library. The complete details are available in the Gift & Exchange Policy of the Library

(iv) Repository

The Library is the recipient of foreign official documents, which include U.S. & British Government, Commonwealth countries and United Nations and its agencies.

Services provided by the National Library

The Library serves its readers 362 days of the year
Bibliographic Services
Centre for International Loan
Children Library for below 14 years of age
Consultancy & Training services to libraries and librarians
Document delivery service
Electronic catalogue service
Electronic document Delivery service.
Inter Library loan services
Internet services
Lending services
Library serves every citizen above 18 years of age irrespective of caste, creed or religion OPAC
Organizes various book exhibitions
Organizes various cultural activities
Photocopying Services
Reader’s cum Guest House Facilities
Readers’ Awareness Programme
Reference Services
Usage of e-resources awareness programme

Major projects

Museum of Word

The prestigious project Museum of Word has been undertaken by the National Library, a subordinate office under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The Library engaged a Consultancy Agency for preparation of Concept Note, Design, Detailed Project Report, etc. Basing on the same, tendering process for implementation of the said project is already taken up. Meanwhile, a Content Review Committee was constituted by the Ministry of Culture under the Chairmanship of the Director General, National Library as mentioned in the Ministry’s notification.

Museum of Word is a project of “exhibiting the multilingual oral and written diversity of Indian Languages”. The main objective of the museum is to collect, display and operate as an activity centre for all matters relating to language and the uses of language and to extend the functions of the National Library beyond its core task of aiding scholarly research for a space that is both a cultural museum and a living activity centre. The galleries look at the evolution of languages in the subcontinent along with the major linguistic trends. The museum is going to be the first of its kind in India displaying objects related to the cultural and social importance of languages going beyond just the written word and diving into a rich canon of oral traditions in the country.

The museum integrates artefacts and interactive to create dynamic activity centres. The galleries in the museum are designed to move from an exploration of known language norms through the exploration of mother tongues and focusing on the early sensory and experiential forms of learning. The narrative then moves into understanding the growth of different Indian Languages. This presents an exhaustive historical background for the growth of different languages in the country. The museum then opens into different activity zones based on oral and performative aspects of languages.

The galleries to be installed at the Museum of Word are as follows:

Sl. No.	Galleries
1.	Aadi Vak (First Word Gallery)	The gallery space looks at the visitors' experience with languages and presents them with creation myths around languages. Visitor’s experience with their mother tongue is understood through key moments of languge retention in early phases; learning in schools and home sensory experience
2.	Matrabhasha Aur Hum (Mother Tongue Gallery)	This space has been designed as an activity zone with multiple language games and interactives that will allow the visitor to understand their languages on a more personal basis. Interactive like Trace Your Mother Tongue allows the visitor to look at the spatial and temporal journey of any language of their choosing from a base of more than 200 languages.
3.	Navarasa	Understanding the theory of emotions from the Natyshastra and it's use in different Performative Cultures
4.	Bhasha ki Samayrekha (Civilizational Journey of Languages)	A comprehensive look at the growth of different languages, scripts, language families and linguistic traditions in the country. The gallery has been divided into different sections; Language Evolution and Lithic human, Word as Rock Art, Undeciphered Word, Classical roots, Centers of Learning, Inscribed Word, The Royal Court, Learning Indian Languages, Printed Word, Nationalist Writing, Independence and beyond, Endangered and Tribal Word. The gallery also houses an activity area looking at different implements of writing and learning centers in the country
5.	The Library Movement	Emphasis is placed on Public Libraries pointing to the importance of access of knowledge as a basic need for an informed democracy as also a right to make creative knowledge available for both academic and leisure purposes. It also helps contextualize the history of the Belvedere estate.
6.	Honouring the Legends	The space looks in detail at the contributions of some key figures in the linguistic history of the nation, looking at; astrologers, grammarians, authors, travellers. Through these key figures, we explore the growing convention of thoughts and changing forms of expression.
7.	Boli Aur Katha (The Spoken Word)	The gallery looks at the rich history of oral tradition in the country through AVs and interactive games that probe the visitor to question what they know about their traditional practices. The gallery divides oral traditions into: Creation Myths, historical Accounts, Indigenous Knowledge, Rituals and Lullabies and Jokes
8.	Nritya Aur Kala (The Performing Word) (AKAM), Division-ll	The gallery looks at the rich history of folk theatre and performing cultures in the country through AVs and a display of puppets, masks and paintings The gallery divides performing traditions into: theatre, music, cinema, ballads and traditional storytelling. The gallery also houses a recording station where visitors can records songs and speeches in their voice.
9.	Indian Word in Global Languages	Impact of Indian Literary Traditions and languages through trade, political groups, religious groups and travellers. The gallery houses an interactive model of a globe that tracks the impact of Indian languages across the map.
10.	Multilingualism in India	Spread of Multilingualism in India - An audio-visual space that shows a creating a central seating area which looks at the everyday interactions in India through video clippings Examples of code-switchingi.e. mixing two or more languages in a sentence, in daily life Physical interactives on How many Languages do you understand?
11.	Digital Legacy	Evolution of technology with respect to languages Changes in Language writing and vocabulary due to evolving methods of communication Look at the newer fervour of hybridizing language and globalizing themes of writing. The use of platforms like Instagram and Facebook and the growing trend of microblogging with Twitter.
12.	Language for All	Look at Indian Sign Language and variants Look at Bharti Braille and variants
13.	Life of Word	Looks at the changing meaning of words Focuses on the shift in use of words and how some fall out of use completely
14.	Children’s Gallery	The space will look at a play area for children to interact with the ideas presented in the museum, that can double as an outreach area. The space will be divided into distinct sub-galleries: Story Time Adventure Animal Fables Bards and Courts Voyages Mythology Language of Music

Other Cultural Activities

Events organised on the occasion of 75th Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav

Duration	Event	Theme of Exhibition
12.10.2021 to 15.11.2021	Book Exhibition	Freedom Struggle: Unsung Hero’s of South India
08.11.2021 to 07.02.2022	Book Exhibition	International Rare Lithographic Art Exhibition (1830 - 1860 CE)
14.11.2021 to 15.12.2021	Book Exhibition	Shri Aurobindo and his continued relevance even after 150 years
15.12.2021 to 15.06.2022	Book Exhibition	India in South East Asia through the agencies
01.02.2022	Lecture	“We the People of States of Bharat”
15.02.2022	District Youth Convention 2021-22	Celebrations of 125 Birth Anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra
19.07.2022 to 12.08.2022	Partition of Bengal (Banga Bhanga) 1905	Partition of Bengal (Banga Bhanga) 1905
13.08.2022 to 15.08.2022	Har Ghar Thiranga Compaign (AKAM), Division-ll	Cultural Events organized
14.08.2022 to 13.09.2022	Exhibition on “Vibhajan Vibhishika”	Exhibition on “Vibhajan Vibhishika”
27.09.2022 to 26.10.2022	Book Exhibition	Shaheed Bhagat Singh. The exhibition focuses on the life and sacrifice of Bhagat Singh for the independence.
15.11.2022 to 30.11.2022	Book Exhibition	Glorious History of Indian Tribes. The exhibition focuses on the Life and Couture of Indian Tribes.
21.11.2022	Lecture	Glorious History of Indian Tribes
12.01.2023 to 11.02.2023	Book Exhibition	The exhibition focuses on the Swami Vivekananda and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose birthday and the life history
23.01.2023	Lecture	Special Lecture on “Swami Vivekananda: Journey from Narendranath to Swami Vivekananda”
20.03.2023 to 13.04.2023	Women freedom fighter of India	The exhibition focuses on the women freedom fightory history Total no of books : 99 Number of newspaper clipping poster:14 from Times of India, New York times, New York Herald Tribune, Manchester Guardian
14.04.2023 to 06.05.2023	Social Reformer “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar”	The exhibition focuses on the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar history Total no of books : 109 Number of newspaper clipping poster:12 from Times of India, No. of Photo with frame : 6
09-05-2023 to 08-06-2023	Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore	The exhibition focuses on the Rabindranath Tagore history Total no of books : 128 Number of newspaper clipping poster:12 from Times of India, No. of Photo with frame : 8
06-07-2023 to 05-08-2023	Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee” (1901-1953)	The exhibition focuses on the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee history Total no of books : 74 Number of newspaper clipping poster:12 from Times of India, No. of Photo with frame : 8