Building: This library building was constructed on area of 72,247 Sq. Yards at a cost of Rs. 5.00 Lakhs under the supervision of the then State Architect and Designer Mr. Aziz Ali and the foundation stone of the building was laid in January, 1932 mainly at the instance of the then Prince Mir Osman Ali. The construction was completed and the Asafia Library was shifted to this building in 1936 to mark Silver Jubilee of Nizam the VIIth. The architecture of the building is reminiscent of good old kings palaces with huge halls and high ceilings. The library building has become old and the life span of the library building is also over and hence, deteriorating. To retain the heritage precinct Government of Andhra Pradesh has declared this library building as heritage building vide G.O.Ms.No.102, M.A., Municipal Administration & Urban Development (II) Department, dated: 23rd March, 1998.

The year 1941 was another landmark in the history of Asafia State Library, which marked it s Golden Jubilee celebrations. In 1955, after the enactment of Hyderabad Public Libraries Act, Asafia State Library was declared as the State Central Library for the Hyderabad State. After the linguistic reorganisation of States in 1956, it was declared as the State Central Library for the Andhra Pradesh and with a view to augment accommodation, an annexe building was constructed in 1961 at a cost of Rs. 9.00 Lakhs.

Library Collection: In year 1967, the Manuscripts collection consisting of about 17,000 rare and valuable manuscripts dating back to 5th and 6th Centuries were transferred to the Andhra Pradesh Oriental Manuscripts Library.

The State Central Library today has an excellent collection of 4,35,287 books published from the early 19th Century, which are of special significance to Research Scholars. Books in English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Sanskrit, Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages find a good place in the collection of this Library.

The Library has been receiving books in all languages from the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata and also from the Registrar of Publications.


General Profile of the District: Hyderabad
Hyderabad district in the State of Andhra Pradesh has emerged prominently as a “Hitech City”. It reserves its pride in Tourist spots of Falaknuma Palace, Chowmohalla Palace, in the vicinity of the existing State Central Library in Hyderabad.

The district of Hyderabad spreads over 217 Sq. KM. The adjoining district of Ranga Reddy has widened the vicinity of Hyderabad with its beautifully designed with historical places of educational interest like Golconda, Moula-Ali and Tirumalgiri.

Hyderabad very proudly stands fifth in the place as Metropolitan city.

The climatic conditions is much favourable so much so that the Britishers also at one time chose the Twin cities as resorts at all seasons.

It is not out of place to mention that though the Hyderabad is not a place of National Mineral resource, certain places like Kukatpally, Hyder Nagar, Bahadur Pally, Bollaram, Himayath Sagar yields natural resources like quart stone in abundance and the same is used in the glass factor so also Phelsars are found in ample and used in porcelain industry.

The State Central Library lies on the banks of Musi. This famous river starting from Ananthagiri Hill divides the District in to North and South regions flows to the district of Nalgonda with its subrivulets popularly knows as Manjeera, Sakalavani.

1. History: Though the world famous Charminar in Hyderabad has crossed over 400 years., The population within the vicinity of State Central Library dates back to 3000 years.

The recent developments in the field of Information Technology, Software Technology, Hard Ware Technology, Internet, Advanced Information Centres and the sharing of Modern scientific and Information Technology knowledge with the highly developing countries and the emergent of vision 2020 plans for development in all the fields of education and for providing employment opportunities for 20 years a head, is a highlight to the development schemes of the Government.

It is here that emphasis on the role of Libraries to play, comes into the picture. The Hitech City has placed the Hyderabad city on the world map of computers era.

The State Central Library is one of the popular public library rendering effective services to the elite of trine cities.

The library follows Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme for classification of books and American Library Association Code for cataloguing of books. The vast library reading room is encountered by the lending section, reference section with Card Index Cabinets for the use of readers.

The important aspect of the formation of this library lies in its rich and rare collection of Arabic and Persian literature which were at one time donated by the esteemed schalors. The Stack Room of this library holding the collections in all Eight languages which has exceeded five lakhs invites 1500 to 2000 readers per day. The State Central Library has well equipped sections affording modern and quick services like Repography and the competitive section and reference section all headed for computerization of library services in the near future.

This library besides running the home lending of books also renders service to the blind through the Braille Section. A Children Section forms of a important Section.

State Central Library carry to out more meaning extension activities on large scale.

2. Objectives:
1. The main objective of the State Central Library is to collect all the literature on Science & Technology and allied subjects.

2. State Central Library is expected to be the main source in the State for reference materials for Research workers and Scholars.

3. The main objective is to serve as focal point and an organizing agency for inter library loan of books.

4. The State Central Library in accordance with its objectives maintains a strong reference collection including State and Central Government Publications.

5. As a Public Library, State Central Library organizes Books Exhibitions and Professional Seminars and Conferences and Nation Wide Week Celebrations.

6. One of the main objective of the State Central Library is to create awareness and to inculcate reading habit in the minds of the students. This is emphasized and highlighted during the National Library Week Celebrations.

7. The State Central Library provides literature for neo-literate research scholars and children of different age groups, students and readers of all standards including blind readers.

3. Constitution:
The State Library Development Committee shall consist of the following members:

1. Secretary to Government School Education Department….. Chairman
2. Chairman, A.P. Grandhalaya Parishad………………. Members
3. Librarians of all Government Libraries (7) …………. Members
4. One representative from each Local Library Development
Committee of Government Library………………….. Members
5. Director of Public Libraries, A.P., Hyderabad………. Member-Convenor
The State Library Development Committee will meet atleast once in three months and review the financial position of the Libraries and explore various sources of resource mobilization, approach various sources, collect donations, create corpus fund in the name of State Library Development Fund, decide norms for allocations of funds from out of the interest accrued on the investments and monitor utilization of funds for ensuring their proper utilization and review the accounts and audit of State Library Development Fund.

4. Functions: The State Central Library has a Public Library place on a important role in supporting the formal education. This libraries role in imparting in formal education contributes to the social and economic development in making or marking the life of individual and community as a whole, so much so that the people and the Government or recognizing the emergent need to plan the development of libraries and to define the services of this library more so as an information centre.

This library functions within the state as a State Library system by collecting printed and audio visual library equipment needed to serve the public readers. As a public library within a open access system now makes accessible all its resources to be convenient and easy for use for the public.

The main functions lies in interpreting and guidance to the use of library reading materials in the set pattern of collection, organization and distribution each of these element are being very important the aim of these public libraries to serve all the people keeping in view the fact that every person has a equal right to knowledge.

This encircles individuals and groups of all age, education, philosophy, occupation and other conditions. There by the services of library reaches the individuals regards less what he is and where he is. Though the budget is limited this library has the responsibility to provide access to full library service through a suitable and effective structure. This can be best achieved by means of interlibrary loan which is a part and parcel of library networking system.

In addition to the above the library system provides cooperation in technical aspects such a preparation of bibliography and catalogue to achieve the standards beyond the reach of a single library. As such from the library records this State Central Library served the readers only in a closed access system. The considerable increase in the reading public have contributed to the inception of this open access system in 1960’s.

This library functions through an exclusive reference section, general reading section, a separate childrens section and text books section exclusively for students. As a public library in its true sense renders service by means of a home lending system to registered members of this library. Simultaneously the Braille Section also functions with equal importance. This library functions more satisfactorily them what is excepted by the supporting staff and its administration. This public library functions from 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. and the competitive section 8:00 A.M. to 12:00 Mid Night. The State Central Library has no linkages with any other libraries in the State.

The Lending Section and Reading Section dominates the library service.

State Central Library is an Apex Public Library acts on a central organisation of a State Library service. It is an institution in its own rich, performing functions away from its special position and character.

This library extends its services through Social Education Wing activities, by organizing Seminars / Symposia, Books Exhibition, Conference, National Library Week Celebrations.

5. Members: The aim of this public library is to give service to all the people to have equal right of knowledge this encompasses individuals and groups of every age education, philosophy, occupation, economic level, ethnic origin and human condition. Even though the budget is limited, this library owns the responsibility for providing access to fulfil the library to suitable and effective structure. It is here that the question of the streamling the procedure arises.

In accordance with the provisions contained Under Section 7(a) of the Andhra Pradesh Public Libraries, Act of 1960 the Government Constituted a Common Book Selection and Purchase Committee with the following members to this library on a permanent basis.

a. BOOK SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

1. Joint Collector of the Revenue District, Hyderabad….. Chairman.
2. District Educational Officer of the Revenue District. Member.
3. The Deputy Director of Adult Education Department
of the District, Hyderabad………. Member.
4. Joint Collector has approved the nomination of
1. Sri. Kabir Ahmed, Station Director,
All India Radio, Hyderabad. (for all books in
Urdu).
2. Sri. A. Kasipathy, Prof. Osmania Medical College,
Hyderabad ( for all subjects in English & Telugu).
3. Dr. Shoba Deshmukh, Reader in Marathi,
Osmania University, Hyderabad ( for all subjects
Marathi & Hindi).
5. Gazetted Librarian in case of Regional Libraries /
Chief Librarian in case of State Central Library,
Hyderabad…………………….. Member

b. COMMITTEE FOR WEEDING OUT OF LIBRARY BOOKS:
Government vide G.O.Rt.No.238, Education (Libraries) Department dated:22-02-1999 constituted committee for weeding out of mutilated / damaged and obsolete volumes of books with the following members.

1. Librarian Concerned, S.C.L., Hyderabad Member Convenor.
2. One Senior Lecturer of a Local Govt.
Junior College / Degree College/
University or a suitable academician as
nominated by the Joint Collector of the
District concerned.…… Member.
3. Secretary, Zilla Grandhalaya Samstha Concerned Member.