Hey, bibliophile, we haven’t seen you holding a book and sitting in your paradise! Don’t you miss the feeling of holding a book? Don’t say that you can’t find any good libraries in Delhi to visit. Yeah, we know that finding a good library in the city is getting harder with every passing day, but Delhi has got some great places for your reader soul.
Here are the 9 best libraries in Delhi that will solve all your doubts and help you discover your next favourite read:
1) Delhi Public Library
Now, when someone says that Delhi doesn’t have any good libraries, take them to any of the 6 branches in Delhi. It is known as one of the oldest and richest libraries in Delhi (in terms of books). From philosophy to social science, they have it all. You will need to carry your residency proof to show that you are a resident of Delhi to have access to the books in this library.
This library has a membership fee of INR 100 and is open every day of the week from 10 am to 7:45 pm, except on Sundays when it closes at 5 pm.
2) The Central Secretariat Library
Boasting a large collection of books and magazines, the Central Secretariat Library in Sastri Bhavan primarily serves government personnel. This library is open to the public on a membership basis and consists of a large collection of newspapers and periodicals that highlight all the historic events. It’s a great site to learn about politics. With a photocopying service on-site, this library makes it easy for a researcher to collect data from numerous sources under one roof.
Open on Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, the membership fee for this library is as follows: informal members (eminent scholars, researchers, and academicians) pay INR 100 per month; special members (eminent scholars, researchers, and academicians) pay INR 500 annually; and firms pay INR 1500 yearly for corporate membership.
3) Japan Foundation Library
Naruto fans, where are you at? The home of the entire Naruto Manga collection in English is the Japan Foundation Library in Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi. Being a country-specific library, it provides reference services for the collection, as well as research information about Japan and global cultural exchange. Aside from all this, they also offer some works by other great authors, and the fiction section features some Murakami too.
Open from Tuesdays to Saturdays in two batches: the morning (11 am to 2:30 pm) and the evening batch (3 pm to 6:30 pm), the membership of the library will cost you INR 300, provided you are a Delhi-NCR resident.
4) Parliamentary Library
Established in 1921, the Parliamentary Library is the second-largest library in the country and is accessible by completing the form on the website. This library is the biggest repository for all research purposes, and it primarily serves the needs of legislators and government officials. Also having an extensive digital collection with multiple international collaborations, this library is open on all working days from 10 am to 6 pm.
5) Dyal Singh Public Library
Relocated from Lahore to our very own city by the Dyal Singh Trust Society, this library is rich in books covering a wide range of subjects, including literature, social sciences, and the liberal arts. It’s the place where you can keep yourself updated with culture and current affairs by enrolling in their subscription that includes 100 different magazines and 32 different newspapers. Offering an online library, this place also has audio and video equipment for those who need them. This library is open Monday through Saturdays from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Its membership starts at INR 500 onwards.
6) Archaeological Survey Of India
The Archaeological Survey of India is one of the oldest libraries in Delhi. It’s a huge repository of books and journals covering a wide range of subjects including history, archaeology, architecture, art, geology, literature, etc., and can be found at the Rajpath Central Secretariat. This library occasionally hosts exhibitions of rare works for your viewing delight. This library is available to the public for reference purposes free of charge and is open from 9:30 am to 6 pm.
7) Sahitya Akademi Library
Open only to members, the Akademi Library is one of the most important and well-stocked libraries in the city. It offers books in Hindi, English, and 24 other languages that can be consulted by students, scholars, and almost anyone. Often focusing on cultural and historic texts about the country’s heritage and social past, this is a must-visit library in Delhi. You can visit the library between 9:30 am and 6 pm Monday through Saturday and get a membership for around INR 2000/year (approx.)
8) The American Library
If you are looking for a reader’s paradise in Delhi, your search may end at the American Library in Connaught Place. Don’t worry about being a member, this place is open to the public for free. Featuring an amazing book collection as well as free Wi-Fi for members, it not only satisfies the reader within you, but it also has a great collection of movie DVDs that you can use in the library or take home as a member.
Membership starts from INR 400 onwards and the library is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm.
9) The British Council Library
Located in Connaught Place, Delhi, the library hosts the best British content and is only accessible to members. It has an extensive collection of 85,000 books and 14,000 e-journals. The library is also home to many excellent movies, e-magazines, and other digital resources in addition to books, allowing for a fun and dynamic learning experience.
The membership starts at INR 2,200/year and to visit the library, you need to have a prior booking.
Now you know that Delhi is home to many amazing libraries and many are located near PGs run by reputed companies like Your-Space. The company’s PGs in Delhi, hostels in North Delhi, PGs in Kamla Nagar, and PGs in Bungalow Road are well-positioned, have good amenities, are safe, and are close to many colleges, universities, and libraries. So the next time you’re in Delhi, check out these amazing libraries and PGs.