The Department of Education, University of Delhi, earlier known as the Central Institute of Education (CIE), was the first central institute of professional learning and research in Education established after independence. The first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and his Education Minister, Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, took considerable interest in establishing CIE in 1947 and its activities and progress in those early years. Maulana Azad visualized the function of CIE not merely to "turn out teachers who will be 'model teachers', but to evolve into "a research center for solving new educational problems of the country." Over these past decades, CIE has attempted to work towards this vision. Moreover, at this juncture, when the nation has introduced the Right to Education Act and a National Curricular Framework for Teacher Education but is grappling with how it will prepare a vast cadre of teachers who can ensure quality with equity, CIE will need to brace itself to address this challenge.
The Library, created alongside CIE, has since been a cornerstone of academic and research support, offering a vast collection of books, journals, and scholarly resources for teacher education and research. As part of the Delhi University Library System (DULS), the Library provides access to physical and digital collections and extensive information services. The library's diverse collection, specifically curated to advance the field of Education, supports students pursuing B.Ed, M.Ed, M.Phil, and Ph.D. programs, as well as faculty members of the Department of Education and affiliated colleges. Through these resources, the library fosters academic growth, teaching, and research excellence, empowering our users on their educational and professional journeys.