About The Library
The Central Library of Aligarh Muslim University popularly known as Maulana Azad Library is one of the largest university libraries of the world which possesses more than 14 lakhs volumes of documents.
The foundation of the library was laid in 1877 at the time of establishment of the Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College by Lord Lytton, the then Viceroy of India and it was named after him as Lytton Library. The present grand seven-storied building having the carpet area of about 10,000 sq. meter (total premises area is about 4.5 acres) was inaugurated by Late Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India in 1960 and library was renamed as Maulana Azad Library, after great scholar, educationist, statesman, freedom fighter and the first Education Minister of the independent India. The library consists of 06 reading halls/rooms with a seating capacity of 1800 (approx).
M.A. Library is the central library of the university with more than 117 sister libraries (college/departmental libraries). It is a world famous repository of rare manuscripts and books in Urdu, Persian and Arabic languages. One of the most priced part of the library is its Manuscript Division which possess about 16,117 rare and invaluable manuscripts on Islam, Hinduism etc.
M.A. Library has introduced state of the art information technology and it is fully automated with Koha, an open source software which connects almost all computers of the university as well as the AMU centres in distant states. The 3M security system and four dozen CCTV camaras ensure safety of the library material. Over 9000 students, teachers and other members visit the library almost every day.
Oriental Division
M.A. Library possess about 3.27 lakh books in Persian, Urdu, Arabic, Hindi and Sanskrit languages on almost all the subjects taught in the University. Research scholars of Persian, Arabic, Urdu, History, Islamic Studies, West Asian studies, Unani Medicine, Theology, Mass Communication are its regular users. This Division has a very large collection of rare books published during the 18th and 19th centuries. One of them is the Latin translation of the celebrated Arabic works on optics, OpticamPrafatis by Ibn-al-Haitham (965-1039 AD) which was published in 1572 & other on Avicenna's (Ibn-e-Sina's 980-1037 AD) Al-Qanun (1593 AD). Digitization of the rare printed books is in progress and almost half the collections of Manuscripts and more than 15,000 rare books have already been digitized.
Manuscript Division
It consists of many rare manuscripts. Among its rarities, the oldest manuscript a copy of Quran preserved in the Library is over 1400 years old. It is a fragment of Holy Quran transcribed by Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph of Islam which is written on parchment in Kufi script. Another rare manuscript is the Halnama of Bayazid Ansari and a copy of Nahjul Balagha of Hazrat Ali. There are several farmans (decrees) of the Mughal kings like Babur, Akbar, Shahjahan, Shah Alam, Aurangzeb etc. Another prized possession of the Library is a 'Shirt' (Kurta) which was worn by warriors of Mughal Emperors. Among the Mughal period paintings is a Red Tulip, a master piece of Mansoor Naqqash, the court artist of Emperor Jahangir. Valuable Sanskrit works on Hinduism translated in Persian are also available in the Library. One of them is a Persian translation of Bhagwat Geeta by Abul Faiz Faizi. Other possessions are the Telugu and Malyalam manuscripts written on palm leaves.
Conservation & Binding Section
The Library is very much concerned with the conservation and preservation of the World's documentary heritage. It maintains a Conservation Laboratory for manuscripts and Bindery for books, journals, newspapers etc. At the core of our work, is the care and understanding of the collections. The Library uses a combination of "preventive" and "interventive" activities. Reduction and wherever possible, elimination of the causes of deterioration is the most effective and least expensive strategy for collection.
Collection Development Division
This Division is responsible for selecting, ordering and acquiring books and other documents. In selecting books/e-books and reference sources, the needs of academic community, current fields of study and educational levels are taken into account. The gift & exchange is also one of the division's important activities, during which documents in many languages are received as gift especially in Urdu, Arabic and Persian. Individual authors also prefer to donate copies of their works. Private collections from eminent personalities are also received as gift from time to time. In addition to other miscellaneous work pertaining to the Collection Development Division, the replacement and cost of the lost books are also assessed in this division.
Circulation Division
The Circulation Division of the University Library provides open access for issuable books to its students, faculty and staff. Users can go to stacks directly for selection of the desired books and after selection can borrow them.
Periodicals Division
The Periodical Division plays a key role in promoting academic and research activities by acquiring and maintaining a wide range of resources, like scholarly journals (print and online) and online databases. Print and online resources help faculty members, research scholars and students in accessing reliable and current knowledge in different disciplines. These resources play a vital role by supporting academic developments such as teaching, learning and research. In addition, the division also subscribes to and manages general magazines and newspapers.
Computer Applications Division (CAD)
The Computer Applications Division plays a vital role in the automation, digitization, and technological advancement of the Library. The Library is an integral part of the University's fiber optic-based Campus Local Area Network (LAN), providing seamless connectivity and access to information resources for its users.
The Library is equipped with a total of 175 computer systems, of which 120 computers are exclusively dedicated to research scholars and faculty members. These systems facilitate access to electronic resources, online databases, digital repositories, internet services, and various academic and research applications.
The Computer Applications Division is responsible for the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of various utility software applications that support the efficient functioning of library operations and services. In addition to managing customized software solutions, the Division maintains and administers the Library Management System, Koha, ensuring uninterrupted access to cataloguing, circulation, acquisitions, serial control, and Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) services.
The Division actively supports the automation of library processes through database management, system administration, software customization, data backup, network management, and cybersecurity measures. It also undertakes digitization initiatives and provides technical support for the management of electronic resources and institutional repositories.
A significant function of the Division is capacity building and user support. Regular training programs, workshops, and hands-on sessions are organized for library users, research scholars, faculty members, and library staff to enhance their skills in information retrieval, online searching, database usage, digital literacy, and data entry operations. The Division also offers continuous technical assistance and troubleshooting services to ensure effective utilization of information and communication technologies within the Library.
Through its technological expertise and user-centric services, the Computer Applications Division contributes significantly to the modernization of the Library and supports the academic, research, and information needs of the University community.
Digital Resources Centre (DRC)
The Library provides campus wide access to online resources through a well-equipped Computer Lab having 96 nodes. This Centre provides access to the subscribed as well as open access resources available to the University.
This section also provides Census Data for researcher through Census Data Research workstation, which was established on December 8, 2023. This Census Data Research Workstation is a cutting-edge facility designed to facilitate comprehensive research utilizing census data. Aimed at providing educators, researchers and data users with advanced tools and resources, it is related to multi-purpose developmental initiatives, their monitoring and evaluation.
Equipped with state-of-the-art-technology and advanced infrastructure, the workstation enables scholars and students to delay into demographic patterns, socio-economic trends and other vital data points crucial for academic and policy research.
Research Division
The reference tools available in print form in this Section are mainly the dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, directories, indices, geographical sources, subject dictionaries, statistical sources, calendars, yearbooks, biographies, gazetteers, census reports statistical information sources, factual information sources etc. The staff working in the section guide students and other searchers in locating and providing the required material out of the reference sources.
Sir Syed Section
The Library has a separate room in which books written by Sir Syed as well as on Sir Syed are kept. The Aligarh Institute Gazette started by Sir Syed in 1866, Tahzeeb-ul-Akhlaq started in 1870 and Aasar-us-Sanadeed (about monuments of Delhi) are also available in Sir Syed Section which is consulted widely by scholars from India and abroad.
Braille Section
One of the special features of Maulana Azad Library is its service to the visually impaired students through Braille Section. Apart from the books in Braille script, a large number of documents in electronic format and devices are also available in this section which is provided to the students. Angel Pro, a mobile like apparatus for recording the classroom lectures and listening to the already recorded books are issued to all the students for the entire duration of the course.
Reading Halls
There are six large size reading halls apart from eight small reading rooms with a seating capacity of about 2000 students at a time.
Newspapers Reading Area
Almost all current newspapers and magazines of English, Urdu and Hindi are available in the Library. Back files of some reputed newspapers are also being preserved and maintained.
Institutional Repositories
- River Ganga Repository:- The purpose of the repository is to collect, organize and make accessible to the world, the literature and other information pertaining to the river Ganga which may be utilized in cleaning and rejuvenating the river Ganga. AMU has already gathered a number of books, reports, dissertations and theses which are now part of the repository.
- AMU Gazette Digital Archive:- Aligarh Muslim University Gazette originated as "The Aligarh Institute Gazette" Launched by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan in 1866, it projected a vision much ahead of its times. Sir Syed is known for his devotion to cause of education, support for intellectual pursuits and commitment to public welfare.Currently Aligarh Muslim University Gazette is a monthly journal brought out by the Urdu Academy, A.M.U. in cooperation with other university divisions. The Gazette promotes values and achievements that foster a sense of pride in belonging to the University. The goal is to encourage positive exchange of ideas and information.
- Rare Books Digital Collection:- Maulana Azad Library's digital repository of rare books is a dedicated space for preserving and safeguarding invaluable literary, historical, and cultural works. These collections typically include first editions and rare volumes that are of significant academic, historical or artistic value. Each item is carefully cataloged and stored under controlled conditions to prevent damage and ensure long-term preservation. The documents within this repository are essential for research and scholarship, offering a tangible link to the past. By maintaining a repository of rare books, libraries ensure that these precious works remain accessible for future generations of scholars, researchers, and history enthusiasts.
- Knowledge Repository:- Knowledge repository is the official repository of Aligarh Muslim University for electronics theses and dissertations submitted to Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.
AMULIBNET
M.A. Library started AMULIBNET in 2012 to facilitate the departmental libraries to upload the bibliographic information of their collection to the centrally located server to become visible on OPAC.
Library Collections
The Library collection comprises of about 14,00,000+ documents including books, periodicals, newspapers, theses, dissertations, reports, pamphlets, manuscripts, paintings, photographs, CDs, microfilms, databases, e-books, talking books etc. About 15,489 theses & dissertations and 16117 manuscripts are available in the library. In fact, the Library also performs the functions of a reference library as far as the books and manuscripts in oriental languages are concerned.
Library Services
The Library provides a wide range of services to its users including retrieval of information, orientation, assistance in locating/searching of documents, advisory services, current awareness service (CAS), bibliographic service, bibliographic instructions, inter library loan, organization of exhibitions, press clipping, reprographic service, print facility etc.
Photocopy Facility
Photocopy facility, for limited number of pages, is available inside the library on commercial basis with the prior permission from the University Librarian as per the copyright law.
Library Membership
Besides students, teachers and other staff of the University, all members of the AMU Court, the Executive Council and Finance Committee are eligible for membership. The University Librarian is authorized for providing membership to any other person as well.
Library Hours
The Library remains open for 18 hours a day for its users on all days except a few national & religious holidays. During the examination period, the opening hours are further extended. (Note:- Library offices functions 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily except holidays; and on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.).
