According to the Director of State Department of Public Libraries, Malleshappa, SCL has a copy of every book published in the State after 1970. SCL also has a children's library named after Indira Gandhi, (Indira Priyadarshini Children's Library) which was opened in the 1990s (previously it was Mayura Hotel of Karnataka Tourism Department). The library has a massive collection of books on various subjects like literature, science and social sciences. A few racks also contain books in other languages like Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam. At the entrance of SCL, one can find readers standing hooked to the newspaper, even though there is a reading room inside where they can sit comfortably and read. Apart from the Kannada and English dailies, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Malayalam and Hindi newspapers are also available for reference. There is a separate periodical section where readers can go through innumerable magazines.

A brief history of SCL

This building was built in memory of Diwan Sir Seshadri Iyer, Diwan of Mysore. The British Resident of Mysore State, Donald Robertson laid the foundation stone for the building on October 1, 1903. A statue of Seshadri Iyer was unveiled in front of the building by Viceroy Lord Hardings of Penshurst on November 20, 1913. Seshadri Iyer's most remarkable achievement was the Shivanasamudra Hydro-Electric Station. A memorial committee consisting of prominent citizens decided that the memorial should be a public hall and a library. In 1914, Diwan Sir M Visveswaraiah donated the building to State Public Library and accordingly on May 1st, 1915 the public library was opened. It is said that the library building was built with public subscriptions of over a lakh rupees. Initially membership was on payment, then it was converted into an aided library in 1920. It had 4,750 volumes and 215 members to start with. By 1943, it started receiving grants from the government, municipality and civil and military station municipalities.

The Public Library was managed and maintained by a managing committee, which was registered under Mysore Registration Act. The first president of the committee was Krishna Rao who was the Inspector General of Education. In November 1966, the library was taken over by Government of Karnataka as the SCL under the provisions of the Karnataka Public Library Act. On April 1st 1986, the library was changed into a reference library. However, now the reference library attracts more than 1,500 visitors everyday. Average number of books referred to per day here is 2,000. Average number of children using the library per day is 50.

Sections of SCL

1. State Bureau of Copyright Collection
2. State Library for the Blind
3. State Library for Technical Service
4. State Library for Bibliographical Bureau
5. State Library for Career Information
6. State Library for Inter Library Loan
7. State Library for Periodical Publications
8. State Library for Reference and Information
9. State Library for Children (Indira Priyadarshini Children's Library)
10. Computer Services.

As per the available statistics, the library had received a grant of Rs 51 lakhs from the state to buy books in the year 1998-99. For children's library and programmes it had received Rs 60,000 in the same year. The Children's Library has 6,804 books and 127 charts and maps. The library has 212 playing equipments as well. The SCL subscribes a total of 227 periodicals including dailies in English, Hindi, Urdu and other South Indian languages. 28 staff members are working in SCL, headed by a Chief Librarian. Computerisation of all the books in the library is in progress. The library building accommodates 250 seats in its total area of 300 sq. meters.

Address:
Sir Seshadri Iyer Memorial Library, (State Central Library)
Cubbon Park,
Bangalore-560 001.
Phone: 2221 2128
E-mail: bngscl@kar.nic.in

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