The Library of the Delhi School of Economics (DSE), better known as the Ratan Tata Library (RTL) was established in 1949. It is today a premier library in the country for Social Sciences.

In its formative years, the Delhi School of Economics Society received a benefaction of Rs. One Lakh from the Ratan Tata Trust for its Library. That is how the name Ratan Tata Library of Delhi School of Economics came to stay. Subsequently in 1980, the Ratan Tata Trust gave a grant of Rs. 2 Lakhs to meet partly the cost of adding an annexe to the Library building which was completed in 1986 at a cost of Rs. 6 Lakhs. The addition of the new block enabled the library to consolidate the holdings of periodicals.