ABOUT US

History of Arts Library

Introduction

The Arts Library was established under the authority of the Executive Council Resolution No. 613 in February 1982, marking a significant milestone in the decentralization of the Delhi University Library System. It officially became a separate entity on January 1, 1985, when the administrative responsibilities transitioned from the University Librarian to the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. This shift not only recognized the library’s unique role but also underscored its commitment to serving the specific needs of the arts and social sciences disciplines within the university.

Organizational Setup

As one of the major divisional libraries within the Delhi University Library System, the Arts Library plays a crucial role in supporting the research, academic, and teaching programs across a diverse range of disciplines. It provides an extensive collection of books, journals, and other reading materials, specifically tailored to the following 16 departments within the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Social Sciences:

S. No.	Department	Faculty	Courses
1	Department of African Studies	Faculty of Social Sciences	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
2	Department of Arabic	Faculty of Arts	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
3	Department of Buddhist Studies	Faculty of Arts	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
4	Department of English	Faculty of Arts	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
5	Department of Hindi	Faculty of Arts	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
6	Department of History	Faculty of Social Sciences	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
7	Department of Library & Information Science	Faculty of Arts	B.Lib.Sc, M.L.I.Sc, M.Phil, & Ph.D.
8	Department of Linguistics	Faculty of Arts	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
9	Department of Modern Indian Language	Faculty of Arts	M.A. in Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Sindhi, Gujarati, Assamese; M.Phil in Comparative Indian Literature
10	Department of Punjabi	Faculty of Arts	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
11	Department of Persian	Faculty of Arts	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
12	Department of Philosophy	Faculty of Arts	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
13	Department of Political Science	Faculty of Social Science	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
14	Department of Psychology	Faculty of Arts	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
15	Department of Sanskrit	Faculty of Arts	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.
16	Department of Urdu	Faculty of Arts	M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.

The Arts Library’s extensive resources are designed to cater to the academic pursuits of Postgraduate, M.Phil., and Ph.D. students, as well as faculty members across these departments. By fostering a rich environment for research and learning, the library serves as an indispensable asset to the scholarly community at Delhi University, promoting academic excellence and lifelong learning.

Physical Infrastructure

Total Area of the Libraries : 186773 sq.ft.
Total Reading Room Area : 50,000 sq.ft.
Carpet Area of the Stack Rooms : 10,00,00 sq.ft.
Number of Reading Seats : 2000
Arts Library: In the Central Library complex with 150 seats:
Building of the Central Library built in 1957 is:
300 ft. long and 200 ft. deep;
The ground floor has east to west hall;
Has impressive main hall 300’ x 35’;
Two halls each 145’ x 35’;
It has two stacks halls 60’ away from the Main Hall;
A fabulous centre hall of 95’ x 30’ connects the stack halls with main hall;
Two courts on which the flower beds are planned;
Height of the building is 38’ without the parapet walls

Composition of Arts Library

The Arts Library, strategically located within the Central Library Complex, plays a vital role in supporting the academic pursuits of a diverse community at University of Delhi. It serves a total of 16 departments across the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Social Sciences, catering to the needs of students, faculty members, staff, and non-teaching personnel alike. With a commitment to fostering an enriching educational environment, the Arts Library offers an extensive collection of resources, including books, journals, and electronic materials tailored to the specific requirements of each department. This comprehensive selection ensures that users have access to the latest research, scholarly articles, and essential texts necessary for their academic success. The library’s facilities are designed to promote learning and collaboration, featuring comfortable study spaces, computer terminals, and areas for group discussions. Regular workshops and training sessions are conducted to help users effectively navigate the library’s resources, ensuring that everyone, from undergraduates to seasoned faculty, can make the most of the available materials.

In addition to its core functions, the Arts Library is dedicated to inclusivity, offering specialized services for students with disabilities and providing assistance tailored to individual needs. By actively engaging with its community, the library not only supports academic excellence but also nurtures a culture of lifelong learning. Ultimately, the Arts Library stands as a cornerstone of knowledge and a hub for intellectual growth, enhancing the educational experience for all its users.

Challenge

The Arts Library is envisioned as a Hybrid Library System, seamlessly integrating physical and virtual collections along with associated information services. This approach retains and strengthens traditional library holdings while aligning with the university's overarching focus and mandate. Simultaneously, it embraces ICT-based services to enhance user engagement and resource accessibility.

By bridging the gap between conventional library resources and modern technological advancements, the Arts Library will serve as a dynamic hub for research and learning. This transformation is designed to meet the diverse needs of students, faculty, and researchers, fostering an environment that encourages academic excellence and lifelong learning in the arts and social sciences. The commitment to creating an inclusive and resource-rich library experience positions the Arts Library as a vital component of the university's mission to support knowledge creation and dissemination in the digital age.

The Mission

To deliver quality, user-oriented services responsive to the information needs of our diverse community;
To enrich the university’s teaching, learning and research activities through the strategic management of scholarly information;
To promote university education as preparedness for lifelong learning by developing in students independent learning and information literacy skills;
To provide the staff with the infrastructure & training that will support them in their work and foster pride in their achievements as members of a successful innovation team.