Library

The Vivekananda library has two sections: the General section and the Children’s section.

General section

The General section has about 18,000 titles and a good collection of spiritual discourses on CDs. Apart from general books, the library has an exhaustive collection on Hinduism (Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Bhagavata Gita, Bhagavatam, Ramayanas, Mahabharatas, Tantras) Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Literature, Life & Work of Great Saints, Literature on Buddhism, Islam, Christianity (Mystics & Saints), Philosophy (Eastern & Western), Social Sciences, Psychology & Mental Science, Literature (English ,Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Bengali, Sanskrit etc.), Ayurveda & other Alternative Medicine, World History & Indian History, Biographies of Saints, Sages, Freedom fighters, and Great Scientists and Great Personalities of the world.

Audio lectures of Swamis Ranganathanandaji and Dayananda Saraswati etc. are also available on cassettes and CDs.

Children’s Section

A special feature of the library is the Children’s section for children above five years of age. This section has about 5,000 titles on Science, Adventure, Fun, Mythology, Science fiction, Classical stories, Animal stories and brief biographies of great scientists, national leaders, sages and saints. A variety of books on Indian Culture, history and spiritual heritage will give a good exposure to the children about the glorious past of their motherland. The literature will also instill in them a sense of pride and confidence for being the citizens of India.

Free Reading Room

Membership is not required to reading books in the reading room. Everyone is welcome. The reading room has about 112 journals and periodicals etc and many students and devotees make good use of this facility.

How to become a member of the library?

It is very easy to become a member of the library. Only members can borrow books. All that one needs to do is pay Rs. 100/- as deposit which is refundable. The member can borrow book or cassette or CD of his choice. Books can be borrowed for fourteen days and the member can get the due date extended for another 14 days either by coming in person or by writing a postcard. Cassettes and CDs are loaned for one week only. The library is open to public between 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on all days, except on and listed (check the festival calendar) holidays.

The library is open to all adults and children above five years of age, for reading and reference purposes throughout the year, except listed holidays and on special occasions(check the festival calendar).

Membership procedure and rules regarding borrowing of books

1. Anyone desiring to enroll for the privilege of borrowing book/s or audio cassette*(replaced by CD’s) is required to apply for membership in the prescribed form. This form is available at the counter as also the information for Readers folder, at a cost of Rs. 1/ each. An admission fee Rs.7/- and a refundable deposit of Rs. 100/- towards security will have to be paid.

2. Every person at the time of enrolment for the privilege of membership will be given one Membership Card and one Borrowers Ticket.

3. An additional borrowers ticket for borrowing one extra book or audio cassette may be issued to a member at the discretion of the librarian on payment of a ticket charge of Re.5/- and an additional refundable deposit of Rs. 100/- per borrower ticket.

4. Normally one book at a time will be loaned for 14 days on each borrower’s ticket. The book can be renewed for another 14 days either in person or by post or by written request sent through a duly authorized person, and giving full particulars of the book/s such as : Title of book/s. Accession number, Due date etc., if the book/s has not been reserved by another member. A late fee of Rs. 5/- per week or part thereof is payable on an overdue book. Audio cassette will be loaned for 7 days only and not to be renewed. A late fee Re 1/- per day will be payable for the over-due cassette.

5. Costly/rare books may be borrowed by the members by depositing a refundable caution deposit of Rs.1000/- which will be refunded at the close of membership period.

6. Books or audio cassette tapes on loan can be recalled by the Library at any time.

7. In case member does not return the book/s or audio cassette, within two months the Librarian reserves the right to take such steps as deemed necessary in order to recover the books/s or audio cassette tape/s or to cancel the membership and appropriate the deposit amount towards the cost of the book/s or audio cassette tape/s.

8. Persons whose membership has been cancelled by the Librarian will not be enrolled again except at the discretion of the Librarian.

9. Amendments to the above rules may be made without any notice to the members but a copy of the amended rule/s will be displayed on the Notice Board.

10. Note: Reference and rare costly books and periodicals are not issued out to members on loan. For the use of these books the readers may be kindly see the Librarian.

Points To Remember

1. Admission to the Library: Before entering the library the Entrance Register is to be signed by everyone. Private book and personal belongings should be put inside the shelf at the entrance at one’s own risk. Mobile should be switched to silent or off mode.

2. Cards and tickets are not transferable: The membership card and the Borrowers ticket are not transferable as they are tokens of privilege which only the member is entitled to. Sub-lending of books is a misuse of this privilege and is not permitted.

3. Loss or misuse of Cards and tickets: Special care should be taken that the Membership Card and the Borrower’s Ticket are not misplaced or lost. All losses are to be reported immediately to the library. Duplicate Membership Card or Borrower’s ticket will be issued on payment of Rs. 5/- in each case.

4. Compensations for loss or damage: Compensations for book/s or audio Cassettes loss or damaged Compensations for book/s or audio Cassettes loss or damaged must be paid by the member concerned according to the current cost of the book/s or audio Cassettes according to the librarian’s estimate.

5. Refund of Deposit: On submission of the Membership Card and the Borrower’s Ticket, the deposit amount will be refunded. No such refund is admissible, however, within the first six months of membership.

6. Shelf Arrangement of books: The Library follows Dewey Decimal Classification with necessary modifications to cover subjects of Indian interest. It is important that this classified arrangement of books is maintained on the shelves for the convenience of the library users. On no account should books be re-shelved by the member because of the possibility of misplacement.

7. Care of books: Library books are for the benefit of not only the present, but also the future users of the Library. They should, therefore be handled with every care and consideration. Marking of books is prohibited. Borrowers and all other users of the books are responsible for any such or similar damage to or loss of books caused by them.

8. Atmosphere of study: Members and all other reader are requested to maintain an atmosphere of quiet and dignity conductive to study and thought inside the library.

9. Reference service: For better use of the Library, Members are requested to take the help of the staff.

10. Change of address: Members should keep the Library informed of any change of address.

11. Members co-operation: The Library seeks the sympathy, help, and co-operation of all members in its effort to serve the people efficiently.