De Paul College Library is a Resource Centre for Teaching, Learning, and Research. Being the heart of the College, it is home to all the information services. It plays a proactive role in enabling access to information resources of all kinds and providing innovative, responsive, and effective services to meet the changing needs of the students and faculty. The main objective of the library is to provide maximum knowledge and information both in quantity and quality to the right users at the right time.The library is equipped with a vast collection of books, journals, and digital resources, carefully curated to support the academic and research pursuits of our students and faculty. Our skilled librarians and support staff are always ready to assist users in navigating the wealth of information, providing guidance on research strategies, and recommending resources to support their academic endeavors. We strive to create a conducive learning environment that fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.The library also provides access to various digital platforms, online databases, and e-resources, ensuring that our users stay updated with the latest developments in their fields of study. We regularly organize workshops, training sessions, and awareness programs to promote information literacy and support the academic community in making effective use of library resources. Our ultimate goal is to empower our users with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in their academic and professional pursuits.

KNOW YOUR LIBRARY

General Information

Working Hours

The library is open on all working days, except holidays:

• Monday to Friday: 08:45 AM – 04:00 PM (08.45 to 16.00 hrs)

Library Collections

Access and Organization

The library offers partial open access to its collection to all members, a facility designed to encourage strong reading habits and maximize the use of our resources.

• Total Collection: 4,752 titles and 10,152 volumes.
• Organization: Books, including both reference and textbooks, are arranged on open-access shelves for easy search and retrieval.

Specialized Collections

• Reference Collection: While most books can be issued, a select number of books are kept exclusively for reference within the library. Photocopying is available for these materials.
• Textbooks Collection: Undergraduate textbooks are arranged in a separate, dedicated area. Due to the limited number of copies available for each title, students are encouraged to purchase their own textbooks.
• Light Reading Collection: To improve reading habits, especially among students, the library offers an impressive number of light reading materials, including:
  • Literature
  • Self-development books
  • Competitive Examination study materials
• Newspaper Collection: The library subscribes to newspapers in multiple languages for our students’ comfort:
  • English
  • Tamil
  • Telugu
• Periodicals: We subscribe to a strong collection of 60 periodicals to satisfy the academic and reference needs of both students and faculty.

Library Services

Reprographic (Photocopy) Services

• Photocopy services are provided to all students and faculty for library books and journal articles.
• Cost: 1/- per copy.

Digital Library & Online Resources

• Online Retrieval: Faculty and students can retrieve online information relating to all academic activities from dedicated terminals in the library under our digital library program.
• Online Database: Accessible through the Local Area Network (LAN) for both students and faculty.
• Network Resource Sharing: Facilities are provided through DELNET and inter-library loan services from the libraries of neighboring institutes.

Loan Services (Borrowing Books)

Borrowing Limits and Lending Hours

• Library documents can be borrowed for home use normally during the specified lending hours (set by the Librarian).
• Number of Books: Students may borrow up to three (3) books.
• Overnight Issue: Library will issue books for a whole day one hour before closing time. These books must be returned within the first hour of opening on the next library working day.

Loan Periods

The loaning period for library documents varies by user category:

Documents that May NOT be issued for Home Reading

These materials can only be consulted within the library:

• Theses and dissertations
• Books of plates
• Rare books
• Books out of print
• Reference books of a general nature (e.g., encyclopaedias, directories, handbooks, pamphlets)

Loan Conditions and Policies

All loans are subject to the following strict conditions:

1. Condition Check: The borrower must satisfy themselves that the document is in sound condition (no missing or torn pages) before
   • If a damaged document is found and has not been reported to the Library Attendant, the borrower shall be held responsible and required to replace it or pay its value (determined by the Librarian).
2. No Marking: Library documents must not be spoiled by underlining or writing with pen, pencil, ink, or by any other means.
3. Renewals: Documents loaned for the normal period may be renewed for one additional loan period upon production of the item, provided they have not already been claimed by another reader.
4. Non-Transferable: Library documents are non-transferable. Students/faculty cannot borrow documents using another member’s account.
5. Condition Restriction: Documents that the Librarian deems to be in poor condition will not be issued for home reading.
6. Check Point: Documents must be presented at the check point to be officially taken on loan.

Fines and Penalties

The following charges will be recovered from the borrower for each library document returned after the due date:

Overdue Charges

• Text Books: 1/- per day overdue.
• Documents issued for Overnight: 1/- per day overdue.

Lost Books

• The member must immediately report the loss of any borrowed library document(s) to the Librarian.
• The following charges will be recovered for the loss:
  • General book: Replacement or payment of the current price.
  • Textbook and reference book: Replacement or payment of the current price.

Misdemeanor

• Unauthorized Removal: Removing library documents without getting them properly issued is a serious misdemeanour.