State Central Library of Kerala is also known as Trivandrum Public Library.It is situated at the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital of Kerala. It is the first public library in India.
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The Library was established in the year 1829 A. D. during the reign of His Highness Sree Swathi Thirunal Maharaja of Travancore. The work of starting and organising the Library was entrusted to Col. Edward Cadogan, then the British Resident who was the grand son of Sir Hans Sloane, the founder of the British Museum. Col. Cadogan was the first president of the Trivandrum Public Library committee, which managed the affairs of the Library. At that time, only a privileged class who were called to attend the Durbar of His Highness the Maharaja was allowed admission to the Library. The Library was then known as “Trivandrum People’s Library”.
Other landmarks in the history of library are:
1. Technical Section
2. Circulation Section (Books & Periodicals)
3. English Section
4. Malayalam Section
5. Tamil / Hindi / Sanskrit / Section
6. Reference Section
7. Childrens' Section
8. Binding Section
9. Reprographic Section
10. Closed Reference Section
11. Member's Reading Room (For A & B Member's only)
12. General Reading Room (For C & D Member's & Non Member's)
13. Cash Section
14. Administrative Office
15. Internet Browsing Centre
16. Kerala Gazette Section
17. Multimedia Section
18. Digital Library
19. British Library Collection
Library has a digital collection in searchable format of 709 books, in English and Malayalam, archived using Nitya digital library software.
The New Heritage Model building within the campus is devoted for Children's library. A multimedia Section is also functioning in this building.
The library is also conducting a certificate course in Library and information science.