Library

Library History

The College Library was founded in 1863, just a year after Rev Dr Miller arrived. This facility was upgraded in 1869, and it contained dictionaries, atlases, commentaries, and books of reference in every branch of knowledge. This was open for the college students one hour before the commencement of classes and two hours after the classes ended. In 1870, about 200 students had free access to the General Library; over a thousand books were borrowed in a year. It was so efficiently managed that not a single volume was f̋ound missing. In 1871, Mrs Margaret Gunn of Latheron, Scotland, endowed the Library with a sum of £1000 in memory of her husband Donald Gunn, who died in 1869. The interest of this sum was made available for the maintenance of the Library. The Hunter Commission on Education in 1882 greatly commended the richness of the Library, along with that of the Presidency College.

The system of Class Libraries was introduced in 1886, pertaining to the Departments of Mathematics, Physical Science, Natural Science and Mental and Moral Science. There were more than 100 volumes in each of these class libraries. Rev Dr Miller had a fine library he donated to the college. With a gift of books from Messrs Blackie & Co., special class libraries were introduced, along with an exclusive one for PG students. Interestingly, Professors acted as Librarians in turn. Professor Laidlaw, as the Librarian in 1892, printed the catalogue; Professor Kellett, in the following year, procured several volumes as gifts from prestigious publishing houses and individuals, which included the Cambridge University Press, the Clarendon Press; Professor Max Muller donated a splendid new edition of his commentary of Rig Veda. 

 A reading room where more magazines and periodicals were placed was opened in 1896. For the first time, a full-time official—the Assistant Librarian—P.Rama Aiyar was appointed in 1904. The library for the institution’s school was bifurcated with 800 volumes in the year 1909, and until then, the library was also used by higher-class students. With the introduction of Honours courses in 1911, there were many significant changes, including opening the Library at night between 7 and 9 pm. The Library facilities gradually increased, and by 1920, more than 7200 volumes were stacked in the General Library.

The Library on Tambaram Campus

When the college was relocated to the Tambaram campus, the first building to be inaugurated by Governor Lord Erskine, on January 30, 1937, was the Miller Memorial Library. The fact that it was named after the illustrious Principal kindled a generous response in scores of alumni to contribute to the building fund. During the next 50 years, it was located in the present Examination Hall, with its first floor being used as a Reference section.

The Miller Memorial Library celebrated its Centenary in December 1963, with S.R. Ranganathan, an alumnus and the father of the Library movement in India, participating as chief guest. G.S. Theophilus served as the first Librarian in Tambaram (1937-55), followed by Mr Baktamitran, Mrs Kasthuri Guruswami, Mr V.C.S, Rajappa and Dr P.Yesudoss.

Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the new buildings

On the occasion of the 150-year celebrations of the College, the Miller Memorial Library was inaugurated on the present premises by the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, on  March 27, 1987. The Prime Minister held a discussion in the newly built Hall.

Working Hours

Working Hours

Monday to Saturday  – 08.30 a.m. To 8.30 p.m.

Non-Working Saturdays – 08.30 a.m. To 01.00 p.m.                             

Transaction Hours (Counter Timings)

Returning of Books – 09.00 a.m. To 07.00 p.m.

Issuing of Books – 09.30 a.m. To 07.00 p.m.

The Library will remain closed on Sundays and other notified holidays

 

Holding of the Library

 

Sl.No

Particulars

Total

1

 Total no. of  Books(Printed)

1,88,397

2

E-Books  

3226561

3

 Journals Subscribed for 

140

4

Online Journals

6,4515

5

International Volumes of Journals

1,00,672

6

Dailies (Newspapers)

16

 

Non-Book Materials

 

7

Video & Audio Cassettes

192

8

DVDs/CD-Roms

377

9

Maps

15

10

Special Collection

1500

a.      Text Books

 11

b.      Reference Books

2600

 12

c.      Competitive Examination

600

 13

d.      Book Bank

2000

 14

e.       Braille Collections

6000

 15

g.      Atlas

2

 

Library Infrastructure and Facilities

 

Sl.No.

Details

Measurement

(Sq.Ft)

 

Ground Floor

 

1

The Librarian’s Office

300

2

Technical Section

150

3

Digital Library Section

800

4

Staff Internet Browsing Section

800

5

Project / Thesis Section

600

6

Reference Section

3,500

7

Circulation Section

640

8

Reading Hall I

1,479

9

Xerox Room

100

10

Wash Room

272

11

Property Counter

144

12

Group Study Discussion Room

160

13

Question Paper Section

270

 

I FLOOR

 

14

Stack Area

1,800

15

Video Section

980

16

Journal Back Volume Section

1,560

17

Reading Hall II

399

18

Reading Hall III

399

19

Reading Hall IV

399

20

Reading Hall V

780

21

Reading Hall VI

780

 

Seating Capacity : 600

Book Bank

The College runs a Book Bank for the benefit of poor students. Standard textbooks and other reference books which the poor students cannot afford to buy for themselves is made available to them in the Book Bank. Poor students are invited to make good use of them. Books lent under this scheme must be returned not later than fifteen days before the commencement of the End of Semester Examinations for the class concerned. Those who lose the books lent or return them damaged have to pay the cost of the books. The lending of books is subject to the availability of copies and no student can borrow more than two books at a time. The prescribed application form must be filled in and submitted with the recommendation of the Head of the Department before the books are issued. A nominal deposit of Rs.20/- has to be paid to the Bursar’s Office and the receipt attached to the application form. This deposit is refunded to the student after he/she has returned all the books taken by him/her.

Access to the Library Collections:

S.No

Library Access Through

Tools

1

Access to the library collection

OPAC

2

E resources

EBSCO Database

 

 

Questia Databse

 

 

INFLIBNET (Consortia )

3

Federated Searching Tools

         Yes

4

Library website

www.mcc.edu.in

5

In –House /Remote access to e-publications

         Yes

 

ICT Facilities in the Library

The College Library is partial automated. PALPAP software has been installed with the following five main modules of the library in-house operations.

  • Acquisition System
  • Cataloguing System
  • Circulation System
  • Serials Control System
  • OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue)
  • Gate Entry Monitoring System

For the purpose of Library Automation, Fifteen computers have been brought under LAN (Local Area Network) with the Linux Server Operating System.

S.No

ICT Facilities in the Library:

Tools

1

Library Automation

PALPAP Software

2

Total numbers of Computers for Public access

 25 no’s

3

Total numbers of Printers  for Public access

 2  no’s

4

Internet band width speed

100 mbps- Sharing

5.

Institutional Repository

2.Question Bank

3.Staff Publications

6

Content Management System for e- learning

1.Staff .Video Lectures

7

Participation in Resource sharing networks

INFLIBNET

 

Rules and Regulations

  1. Perfect silence should be maintained in the library.
  2. Students of  U.G. Programmes will be given 2 library tickets and those of P.G. Programmes 3 tickets each.  U.G. students are issued 2 books each and P.G. students 3 books each at a time. 3 tickets are issued to M.Phil/Ph.D scholars.
  3. Students can keep the books for two weeks at a time.
  4. Books should be returned on or before the due date, which is marked on the first page of the books issued.
  5. A fine of Rs. 1.00 will be imposed per day for late returning of books.
  6. Books will be issued only against the production of library tickets.
  7. The loss of Library Tickets should be brought to the notice of the Librarian in writing immediately. A fine of Rs.100/- will be charged per card lost.
  8. The Library will be closed on Sundays and on Government holidays.
  9. Students should make good any loss of or damage of the library books, magazines or library property.
  10. Reference books, magazines, journals and dailies cannot be taken out of the library.
  11.  The library remains open from 8.30 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.
  12. No one is allowed to pass on the library books to anyone in or outside the college. He/She will do so under pain of fine or of suspension of membership from the Library.
  13. Students or staff who leave the college for any reason in the middle of the term should return the books before they leave the college or no dues certificate will not be issued. 
  14. Writing or underlining in a book or tampering with a book in any manner is strictly prohibited.
  15. Research scholars are invited to make use of the research cubicle available in the library.

Specialized Service provided by the library

  1. Reference Service
  2. OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue)
  3. NPTEL Services
  4. Audio-Visual facility
  5. Photocopying
  6. Open Access System
  7. Model Question Papers for Reference
  8. Air-conditioned Browsing Section
  9. Digital Library Unit
  10. Internet and Wi-Fi Facilities
  11. Group Study & Discussion Room
  12. Television Channels (News & Knowledge)
  13. Braille Collections
  14. Research Carrels
  15. Download and Printout
  16. Display New arrivals /Bibliography Compilation
  17. User Orientation
  18. Assistance in searching Databases
  19. Documentary show
  20. INFLIBNET Service.

P. Yesudoss
Librarian
librarian@mcc.edu.in
yesudoss@mcc.edu.in