By TwoCircles.net news desk,
New Delhi: The Vice-President of India Hamid Ansari inaugurated a new library building at Jamia Millia Islamia on 5th May. The newly-constructed Dr Zakir Husain Library, located behind the existing library, has been built at a cost of Rs 28 crore over a period of 18 months.
Constructed by the CPWD, the library has been designed by the noted architect A G K Krishna Menon. It has a built-up area of 9,930 sq metre (1,06,850 sq feet) with a provision for one future, two basements and four storeys. Reading Rooms and offices have AC.
It shall house the existing library collections from various archives of JMI such as the Qurratulain Hyder Archive, the Muhibbul Hasan Reference & Research Hall, the Munshi Premchand Archive & Literary Centre as well as several personal collections donated to the Jamia. The new Dr Zakir Husain Library has a storage capacity for 2.40 lakh books and 1.20 lakh books can be added in future. In addition, 1.00 lakh books can be stored in compactors in the basements. Thus, the building has the potential to store 4.60 lakh books which should cater to the needs of the next 50 years.
The University library has a unique collection of over 2000 ancient manuscripts on astronomy, astrology, music, Quranic studies, Sufism, logic, philosophy, Unani medicine, mathematics, oriental studies, etc. It subscribes to 440 print journals and provides access to 6000 e-journals. The building also houses a Digital Resource Centre, a Learning centre for the Differently Abled and an online catalogue among other facilities.