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State Central Library, Hyderabad

Coordinates: 17°22′27″N 78°28′42″E / 17.3742°N 78.4783°E / 17.3742; 78.4783
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State Central Library Hyderabad
Entrance to the State Central Library
Map
17°22′27″N 78°28′42″E / 17.3742°N 78.4783°E / 17.3742; 78.4783
LocationAfzal Gunj, Hyderabad, India
TypeState library
Established1891; 133 years ago (1891)
Architect(s)Vincent Esch Edit this on Wikidata
Collection
Items collectedbooks, journals, newspapers, magazines, and manuscripts
Size~ 5,00,000 books/magazines
~17,000 manuscripts
Legal depositYes
Access and use
Access requirementsOpen
Other information
Websitesclhyd.telangana.gov.in

The State Central Library Hyderabad, (Telugu: స్టేట్ సెంట్రల్ లైబ్రరీ) (Urdu: کتب خانہ آصفیہ) known as the State Central Library (SCL) earlier known as Kutub Khana Asafia,[1] is a public library in Hyderabad, Telangana. The library was first established in 1891 at a location in Abids where the General Post Office is today situated.[2] The library was shifted to its present location in 1936 and today is one of the most imposing structures in the city. The building housing the library was granted heritage status in 1998 by INTACH, Hyderabad.[3]

The library is located in the Afzal Gunj on the banks of the River Musi. Today the library occupies 72,247 square yards (60,408 m2) of space. The library houses half a million books and magazines including some rare Palm-leaf manuscripts. This library is the apex of the state's library system.[4]

History

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Reception at the library

The library was set up as personal library of a scholar Moulvi Syed Hussain Bilgrami in 1891. It was later renamed as Asafia State Library in the honour of Asaf Jah dynasty. The library was shifted to its current location in 1936. The foundation stone of the proposed building was laid in 1932 by Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan. Around Rs 5 lakh and about 2.97 acres (1.2 ha) of land at Afzalgunj was allotted for the construction of new building. The library was designed by British architect Vincent Jerome Esch. Construction of this building was part of a proposal by M. Visvesvaraya who was appointed by Nizam to redesign the Musi riverfront following the 1908 floods. It is reported that the construction of building was personally supervised by then State Architect and Designer Aziz Ali. After the completion of construction, the Asafia Library was shifted to the present building in 1936 to mark Nizam VII's Silver jubilee.[2] [5] [6]

In 1941, the Asafia State Library celebrated its Golden Jubilee. When the Hyderabad Public Libraries Act became law in 1955, Asafia State Library was declared as the State Central Library for the Hyderabad State.[5]

An annexe building was constructed in 1961 to augment accommodate the growing collections of the state library.[5]

Collection

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Book collection at the library

The Library has a collection of around five hundred thousand books published since the early 19th century, and Hyderabad Samachara, a monthly newspaper published by HEH Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII in 1941. The library had a collection of about 17,000 rare and valuable manuscripts dating back to 5th and 6th centuries which were transferred to the Andhra Pradesh Oriental Manuscripts Library. The library today is poorly maintained and the collection of books and manuscripts are not properly catalogued. The heritage building is poorly maintained without proper infrastructure and damaged furniture. [5]. [7]


Digitalisation

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The first phase of computerisation and networking in libraries through e-Grandhalaya software developed by National Informatics Centre has begun. The project will begin on an experimental basis in Warangal and Hyderabad. Over 40,000 books have already been digitised at SCL with the help of Carnegie Mellon University's Universal Online Library Projects. The digitised works include titles in Hindi, English, Telugu, Urdu and Persian languages. Carnegie Mellon University provides the funding for this project.

Restoration

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Renovation of the library in 2012

The library, which has been crying out for attention for many years, will finally be restored at an estimated cost of ₹7.35 crores. The restoration work is expected to be completed in 18 months,[8] will have digital portal where about 45,550 rare books, including Urdu, Persian, and Arabic as well as English.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bommakanti, Ujwal (12 December 2022). "Afzalgunj State Library to be given Rs 2 crore facelift in Hyderabad". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b Kaushik, Shrimansi (27 November 2014). "State Central Library grapples with infra issues". Deccan chronicle. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  3. ^ "State Central Library calls for uplift". The Hindu. 5 July 2009. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Public Library Services in India: Systems and Deficiencies" Archived 12 July 2012 at archive.today, R. Bhattacharjee, International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, 19 September 20o2.
  5. ^ a b c d {{cite news|url=https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/News-Analysis/2014-11-18/State-Central-Library-Hyderabad-An-Intellectual-Powerhouse/116973%7Cnewspaer=Hans India|title=State Central Library Hyderabad An Intellectual Powerhouse first=|last=|date=2021-11-18|access-date=2024-12-27
  6. ^ Akula, Yuvraj (31 July 2023). "Iconic State Central Library in Hyderabad set for facelift". Telangana Today. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Books struggle to survive on fragile shelves of Afzalgunj's State Library". Times of India. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  8. ^ Today, Telangana (14 September 2022). "Hyderabad: State Central Library in for massive revival". Telangana Today. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority to restore iconic State Central Library". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
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