Genesis/History
The Banaras Hindu University Library system, the largest
University Library System in the country, germinated from a small
but precious collection donated by Prof. P.K. Telang in the memory
of his father Justice K.T. Telang in 1917 and housed in the Telang
Hall of the Central Hindu College, Kamachha. It was nurtured in
its infancy by the renowned historian Sir Jadunath Sarkar. With
the University taking shape at its present premises, the library
was also shifted in 1921 to the Central Hall of the Arts College(now
Faculty of Arts) and then in 1941 to its present majestic building
built with the munificent donation from Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad
of Baroda, on the pattern of the great library British Museum in
London on the suggestion of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder
of university, after his return from the Round Table Conference, London in 1931. Its majestic circular Central Hall has been furnished
with elegant furniture's made of famous and rare variety of Burma
Teak woods.
Beginning with a small but precious donated collection,
its grew by leaps and bounds with magnificent donations of personal
and family collections from many eminent personalities and families
like Lala Sri Ram of Delhi, Jamnalal Bajaj of Wardha, Roormal Goenka,
Batuk Nath Sharma, Tagore Family collection, Nehru Family collection,
etc. amongst a score of others and purchase of books and journals
out of the regular fund with the result that it has a collection
of around 60,000 volumes in 1931 itself. The trend of donation of
personal and family collection to the library continued as late
as forties with the result that it has unique pieces of rarities
of books and journals dating back to 18th century.
With this sound footings and background, the library
took long strides during sixties and seventies in its development
and metamorphosed in a system of libraries with the establishment
of institute, faculty and departmental libraries during the period.
Presently the Banaras Hindu University Library System consists of
Central Library at apex and 3 Institute Libraries, 8 Faculty Libraries,
25 Departmental Libraries, with a total collection of over 13 lakh
volumes to serve the students, faculty members, researchers, technical
staff of fourteen faculties consisting of 126 subject departments
of the university.
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