History and Introduction
There are more than fifty six self-governing libraries in every teaching department and institute of University of the Punjab Lahore including a central library, which is known as Punjab University Library. It was established in 1873 as “Punjab University College Library”. The Punjab University College was raised to the status of a University in 1882 and it became the Punjab University Library from the same date.
The first source of the University library lay in the collection of Sir Donald MacLeod of nearly 2,000 volumes, which the University College bought from him for Rs. 2500/- in 1873. This was a good beginning, but nothing seems to have been done for a generation to enhance it.
In September, 1909, Rs. 36,000 had been spent upon the purchasing of books and fittings. A specially personalized building was clearly necessary, and in 1910 the Syndicate acquired a site in proximity to the Senate Hall and plans for its erection were prepared by Bhai Ram Singh, Principal of the Mayo School of Arts, who also designed the University Hall and Khalsa College, Amritsar, all handsome edifices in the traditional style of North-Western India. The foundation-stone was laid by the Chancellor, Sir Louis Dane, on 27th February, 1911; the building proceeded rapidly and the first portion was formally opened by the same Chancellor in April, 1912. The development of the Library was so rapid during the next three years that at the end of 1915 the building had to be extended to the dimensions considered in the original plan. The entire building was completed in February, 1917 with cost of Rs. 1,60,000. It is a two storied building of attractive design (at Allama Iqbal Campus).
A month after the laying of the foundation-stone the University Library received a valuable succession from an unexpected source. There are lots of famous educational personalities who contributed their precious collection to the library including Mr. H.M. Percival, M.A.I.E.S., Professor of English Literature, Presidency College Calcutta, Agha Mohammad Ibrahim presented the collection of his father, Shams-ul-Ulema Maulvi Mohammad Hussain Azad, Sir Edward Maclagan, K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E. The gradually increasing collection of books in the library was classified in 1916 by an American expert, Mr. A.D. Dickinson, who also initiated a class for the training of the librarians.
At the time of the emergence of Pakistan, there were 1,44,204 books in the Library and now its collection regarding books, journals, manuscripts and other reading material is 4,42,300 approximately including some very precious personal / special collections.
The Punjab University Library was shifted to the new building Quaid-i-Azam Campus in 1988 from the old building Allama Iqbal Campus. The present building was constructed with the special funds of federal government of Rs. 15 million and building was handed over to the chief librarian in September 1987, but shifting process was started in March 1988 and completed in June 1988. This is a beautiful two storied building and total area of the building is 1,02,000 sq. feet. There are big reading halls on the ground and first floor where students can read books peacefully and there is pin drop silence in these reading halls. The seating capacity of these halls is up to 250 readers.
These air-conditioned rooms provide atmosphere encouraging to serious studies and act as silence zones of the Library. The internet lab was started in January 2000 where students can use internet for research work according to modern techniques of 21st century.
The work of library computerization was started on October 2000. The processing of all the English material has been completed and now Urdu material is almost completed. Moreover library has started a database of its newspaper index a monthly publication of newspaper articles being published in various local and foreign newspapers. Formerly the index was only available in printed format. The database software used both for books and serials are WIN/ISIS. Software was searchable under a number of categories like author, title, subject, heading, publishers, classification etc.
From 2005 our WINISIS catalogue has been transferred to Multilingual Library and Information Management System (MLIMS). This has enabled us to enter data in the oriental languages including Urdu, Persian, Arabic and Punjabi etc. Readers are supposed to consult the computerized catalogue for up-to-date information instead of manual catalogue, where OPAC terminals have been provided at ground and 1st floor with multilingual searching capabilities. Network access is available on several terminals at the library.
There are collection in nine different languages and different types as print material, CDs, DVDs, Microfilms, Microfiches, Video and Audio Cassettes and Manuscripts in the Punjab University Library. The library also provide the audio visual facilities to readers like TV, VCR, CD/DVD drivers and writers, multimedia projectors and many more.
Library Timings
All week days (except Fridays)…………………….8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday Timings
(morning)…………………….8:00 a.m. to 1:00 noon
(evening)…………………….3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Ramadan Timings
All week days (except Fridays)…………………….8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday…………………….8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Library Setup
The Punjab University Library (commonly known as the Main or Central Library) is a separate administrative unit of the University of the Punjab. Its Head is designated as Chief Librarian. The Service Unit In-charges are designated as Deputy Chief Librarians who serve with the collaboration of the Senior Librarians, Librarians and other non-professional staff. All the professional and non-professional staff work under the guidance and supervision of the Chief Librarian. The present strength of the professional /non-professional staff is as under:
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
Chief Librarian 01
Deputy Chief Librarians 11
Senior Librarians 08
Librarians 08
Network Administrator 01
Total Professionals 29
NON-PROFESSIONALS 100
DAILY WAGES 04
GRAND TOTAL 133
CHIEF LIBRARIAN Ch. Muhammad Hanif M.A. Library & Information Science (Distinction)
Library Rules
Photocopy /printing and CD writing rules for Manuscripts and Rare Books
- Photocopy/printing and CD rates for Pakistanis
- Paper copy Rs.10 for PU faculty & Scholars
- Paper copy non members Rs.50/ page (Pakistanis only)
- CD rates= five times of photocopy/print rate
- Photocopy/printing and CD rates for foreigners
- Paper copy $ 1/ page
- CD $ 5/ page (postal charges excluded )
Library Membership and Borrowing rules
- The following classes of persons shall on application (on prescribed form) be permitted to draw books from the library for use at home :-
(The application form contains a declaration of intention to obey the rules of the Library and to pay fines or charges which may be incurred through their infringement)
(a) Faculty members of the University, Teaching staff of the affiliated colleges, University Research Fellows, Research Scholars and Research Assistants.
(b) Ph.D, M.Phil and Post Graduate students of the Punjab University and Post-graduate students of the affiliated colleges, students of the various Honors Schools 2nd and 3rd year students taking up Honors in a subject from the various honors schools. Provided that students of the University Post-Graduate Certificate and Diploma classes shall deposit a security of Rs. 30/- which will be refunded on return of books and settlement of dues, if any.
(c) B.A./B.Sc. and B.Com. students on the rolls of the University Colleges and teaching departments, B.Sc. students taking Astronomy and Geology, students of the University Oriental College Hons. Classes in languages.
(d) ‘A’ Class Officers of the University and permanent University Employees preparing for post-graduate examinations.
(e) Trained Librarians, working in the Library of an affiliated college or a University Department and Librarians working in the Punjab University Library.
(f) Approved candidate for a Doctorate Degree and such other casual borrowers as require to use the Library for special reasons. A member belonging to either of these classes shall have to deposit a security of Rs. 500/- or the value of books (if it exceeds Rs. 500/-) refundable on return of books and settlement of dues, if any. Persons working in the Government Research Departments, semi-government Research Institutes, and Heads of recognized Private research Institutes (to be approved in each case by the Library Committee), when they are pursuing any special subjects, may be exempted from depositing the security provided the Heads of the Departments and the Institutes accept financial responsibility for losses, if any.
(g) Such other applicants who are permitted for special reasons to be recorded by the Library Committee without having to made a deposit. - A card known as the Borrower’s Card will be issued to each of the persons permitted to draw books from the Library under regulation 1. Such cards shall be strictly non-transferable and shall have to be presented at the counter at the time of drawing and returning books, etc. A borrower, who loses his card, should at once inform the Chief Librarian in writing. A duplicate card will be issued to him on payment of a fee of Rs. 10/- provided that no book will be issued to a student member unless he presents his Borrower’s card in person along with his identity card or applies by post sending his card with the application.
Library cards of all borrowers other than those of confirmed University employees shall be renewed every year. - Under-graduates on the rolls of the affiliated colleges, and such other casual visitors as may obtain the special written permission of the Chief Librarian, will be permitted to use the Library for the purpose of reading and reference during good behaviour, but must be prepared to furnish the Chief Librarian with evidence of their identity.
- A borrower of classes (a) and (g) will be entitled to have in his possession at a time not more than six books. Each book shall be returned within a period of one month from the date of its issue.
Provided that a whole time University Professor or Associate Professor may have in his possession a maximum number of ten books at a time and may return these within a period of three months from the date of their issue. - Borrowers of class (b) expecting students of the University Post-graduate Certificate and Diploma Class may have in their possession not more than 4 books at a time.
Borrowers of class (c), (d), (e) and (f), and students of the University Post-Graduate Certificate and Diploma classes will draw three books.
Books drawn by borrowers under this rule shall be returned not later than two weeks from the date of issue. Borrowers belonging to out stations may, however, retain the books for a maximum period of one month.
Provided that the student borrowers deposit a security of Rs. 20/- (refundable on return of all books and settlement of dues, if any) for drawing books during the summer vacation. - Any borrower sub-lending books drawn from the Library on his card to any other person shall do so on his own responsibility.
- Books not in great demand may be renewed on request at the discretion of the Chief Librarian.
- Books shall be divided into three classes: A, B and C. Class A will include all specially valuable works, and all works permanently or temporarily reserved for reference use. Books in Class A shall not be removed from the Library except by special permission of the Chief Librarian. Class B will include all current numbers of periodicals. These may be borrowed but must be returned within three days. Class C will consist of all other books which may be borrowed and retained according to the provision of Regulations 4 and 5.
- Books prescribed by the Punjab University for various examinations will not be issued without the special permission of the Chief Librarian. These when borrowed must be returned within three days.
- Books for the summer vacation will be issued by special permission, and these must be returned as soon as the vacation is over. Books having their due date in holiday or some vacation shall be returned right after the end of the holiday or vacation if not possible before the holiday/vacation otherwise fine will be charged.
- A fine of Re.1/- per volume per day will be charged for an ordinary book, in case books are retained longer than the period prescribed for each category of borrowers. The fine will in all cases be calculated from the date on which the books should have been returned. Provided that in the case of text-books, current periodicals and books issued with the special permission of the Chief Librarian, the fine shall be Rs.2/- per volume per day. Provided further that a borrower’s right to draw books from the Library may be suspended during the period he does not return overdue books or pay the amount due from him. Provided also that the roll numbers of such student borrowers as fail to return the University Library books or pay their dues shall not be sent to their colleges until they have returned the books or paid the dues and have produced a certificate from the Librarian to that effect.
- Books not returned on due date laid down under the regulations and reported to have been lost, shall be paid for immediately on the expiry of the prescribed limit of time, and this amount shall in no case be refundable. The amount payable to the Library shall be determined by the Chief Librarian.
- Borrowers whom wish to have books sent out of Lahore must deposit the present postal charges of registered post.
- A security deposited under any of the foregoing Regulations shall lapse to the University if it remains unclaimed for a period of three years from the date on which a borrower ceases to be a member of the Library.
- Readers and members shall not damage, mark or write upon any book, periodical, map or manuscript, nor shall they trace or perform mechanical reproduction of any material belonging to the Library without written permission of the Chief Librarian. Readers and members who violate this Regulation shall be required to pay the fine imposed by the Chief Librarian or to replace the damaged material, or to pay its price as determined by the Chief Librarian. If one volume of a set is injured, and it is not available separately, the whole set shall have to be replaced or paid for. A damaged book or set, which has been replaced or paid for by a borrower, shall become his property.
Borrowers and readers are advised to inspect books at the time of issue and to call the attention of the Chief Librarian to any defects, etc. - The Chief Librarian may, at his discretion, reduce or remit the delay fine incurred by a borrower.
- Such borrowers as abuse their privilege will be reported to the Library Committee for appropriate action.
- The Library will be closed for two months during summer vacation for stock-taking and on Sundays, and on certain holidays by special notice.