The document provides a history and overview of activities at the State Central Library in Kerala, India. It discusses how the library was established in 1829 and became the State Central Library in 1958. It outlines milestones like new buildings being constructed and collections being added over time. The library now has over 4.6 lakh books, a collection of rare materials, and provides services to over 30,000 users daily. It highlights initiatives like digitizing historical government gazettes and developing an SMS notification system to promote inclusiveness.

1. State Central Library , Kerala : A brief
history and activities
By
Shobhana P K
State Librarian

2. State Central Library- History
• State Central Library
previously known as
Trivandrum Public Library is
established in 1829.
• The library is started by the
then British Resident Col.
Cadogan, who was the
grandson of Sir Hans Sloan,
the founder of the British
Library & Museum
• In 1900 new building of
Victorian Architecture is
done .

3. State Central Library : Milestones
• In 1958 Trivandrum Public
library give the status of
State Central Library .
• 1n 1988 , State Central
Library become a minor
department under Higher
Education .
• In 2004 , a new building for
children’s section is added.
• In 2010, the British library
collection added as a
separate section.

4. State Central Library : Milestones
• In 2018, third building in
the compound is
inaugurated in the same
Victorian style
• In this building the new
section for Visually
impaired , digital collection
, E resources and Fiction
will function

5. Collection and General Services
• A collection of 4.6 Lakhs of books
• Old news papers from 1975
• Government Gazettes from 1903
• Collection of CDs, Videos
• More than 1 Lakh members
• Around 30,000 potential users
• Per day 2000 book issue, etc

6. Rare and Valuable Unique Collection
• The oldest book in the
library is “Righte noble
and pleasant history of
the successors of
Alexander surnamed
the great”
published in 1569

7. Gazette Digitization
• Historically; socially
these documents are
very important old
collection of the library.
• Gazettes from Different
Times and
• Different Governments

8. Gazette Collection
• They are St. George Gazettes,
• Travancore Gazettes (1903),
• Travancore-Kochi Gazettes (1942) and
• Kerala Gazettes (1956)

9. Amount spend on Gazette Digitization
Year Gazette Pages Amount
(Rs in Lakhs )
2010- 11 1903-1935 2,33,968 40
2011-12 1935- 1954 2,33,968 40
2012- 13 1955- 1973 4,11,064 70
2013- 14 1973 - 1985 2,44,337 39.99
2014- 15 1985 – 2005 4,88,698 79.99
2015-16 2006-2014 299452 50
Total 3.2Crore

10. ONLINE PUBLIC ACCESS CATALOGUE

11. Koha

12. State Central Library SMS service

13. State Central Library SMS service
• The development of the
driver was made possible by
the funding support of the
State Librarian, State Central
Library with acting as the
facilitator.
• Any Koha library in the state
of Kerala who are eligible to
use the eSMS Kerala SMS
service (provided by KSITM)
can now freely implement
SMS support using this driver.

14. Public libraries Role in Social inclusion
• Public Libraries being the institutions where
people from all walks of life interact , Libraries
should play a catalytic role in facilitating the
full participation of people who are excluded
from the society .

15. Being Inclusive means …..
• It is a multi-dimensional process aimed at
creating conditions
• which enable full and active participation of
every member of the society in all aspects of
life,
• including civic, social, economic, and political
activities, as well as participation in decision-
making processes.

16. State Central Library
New Columns introduced
What is your Gender ?
 Male
 Female
What is your Gender ?
 Male
 Female
 Transgender
 Other Sex (Specify )

17. First Transgender Friendly library in
India : State Central Library, Kerala
Kerala Education Minister Prof. C Raveendranath presents first membership
card to transgender activist Sheetal Shyam in an event to be organised at
the library on November 14, 2016
Sheethal Shyam

18. On September 6,2018 , Supreme Court
issued historic ruling confirming the
right of the Country’s LGBT people to
express their sexuality without
discrimination

19. Book Reading community is the first
priority for State Central Library
• Queue in the Circulation
counter
• Old reading room

20. MALAYALAM LITERARY COMMUNITY

22. EXCLUSIVE
READING
CHALLENGE
PROGRAM FOR
FICTION
Book reviews
Quiz
Competitions ,
Elocutions

25. Each year Poetry Festival

26. Story workshops
• Wide publicity given
inviting stories from
budding writers and
exclusive story workshops
conducted

27. Summer School
From 1980s camp for Children conducted during
vocation time . From 2000 onwards it is became
official and now Govt. allots 3.5 Lakhs

28. Each summer School around 600
children participates

29. Children’s Park

30. Scrabble game for children

31. Saturdays Scrabble game

32. State Central Library and library community
• State Central Library is a public hub
• It locates in the heart of the city
• People found it as a gathering place
• Lots of students came for combined study
• Small business meetings

34. State Central Library and Flood
• Staff contributed and collected materials and send
to the affected areas

35. State Central Library is collecting books
from Public and libraries to rebuild flood
affected libraries

36. Challenges the library facing
are
Lack of space
Attitude of staff
Political interventions

37. Thanks