CHANDIGARH STATE LIBRARY

The Central State Library is a beehive of intellectual

activities. Since its very inception it has carved a niche for
itself in academic, literary and social circles of city beautiful.
The library has given a positive thrust to book-culture and related activities.
Central State Library caters to the demand of northern sectors and villages of
the Chandigarh with a network of two branches, a reading room and a mobile
van. .
The Chandigarh Public Library System was initiated in 1955 under
First Year Plan. This was covered under the scheme of Govt. of
India."Promotion of Art and Culture." After reorganization of the state of
Punjab it came under the control of Chandigarh Administration.

4.2.1 BUILDING
INFORMATION

Location – Sector- 17
near Bridge Market
Construction –
November1958
Architect – P. Jeanneret
Total Built Up Area-
30083 Sq.ft
Ground Coverage –
16 %
Total Site Area –50405.5104 Sq.ft
Parking – 30 to 35 two wheeler, car parking in sector parking
zone.
Ancillary Services
Provided – Multipurpose hall, Cafeteria.

LIBRARY INFORMATION

Visitors 5,18,000

5,60,000
Books Issued/Returned/Consulted

Total Books 2,11,641

 35
Newspaper received daily Magazines

110 35,502
received Total membership Total

Budget 91,20,200
 4.2.2 SITE AND SURROUNDINGS

1 1
9

13
7

11
2
3
6 7
5
12
8 10

1 1

1. High rise buildings

2. Central state library
3. Town hall
4. Post & telegraph building
5. Plaza
6. Over bridge
7. Cinema hall
8. Police station
9. Fire station
10. Parade ground
11. Football stadium
12. District courts
13. Bus terminus

4.2.3 VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS

ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING SECTION

 The main activities here are classification and cataloguing the
documents. Classification in simple terms means assigning a numerical
numbers as minute as possible according to the subject which it covers.
This helps in arranging all books of one subject in one place rather than
making it a storehouse of books jumbled in one place.

FREE INTERNET ACCESS

The library has five work stations in the Reference Section for the use of
internet. Members can use the internet for half an hour daily.

The American Corner at the T.S.Central State Library provides a window

on life and culture in the United States and is the first place to visit for accurate
and up-to-date information about political, economic, cultural, educational and
social trends in the United States.

The American Corner has books, Magazines, CD-ROMs with current full text
articles. videos, DVD's and internet access.

CIRCULATION SECTION

This section represents the hub of library activities where lending out of
books to readers is facilitated.
In the circulation Section various functions are undertaken viz. Registration
of new members, lending of books, reminders for overdue books,
reservation of books, renewal of membership cards, records and files,
statistics and inter library loans etc.
Three computers have been installed exclusively
for the members to search books by title author,
keywords and subject through OPAC (On-Line Public
Access Catalogue)
CHILDRENS SECTION
Children Section has been made more attractive to catch
the eyes of the children by adding educational &
recreation toys & games i.e.,soft toys,puzzles, blocks.

A seperate computer has been installed for children's exclusive use.

 About 40 CD's have been added. The titles
includes nursery rhymes,fairy
tales,fun with numbers,Oxford dictionary,
spoken english, learn and enjoy, pre
school favourites, etc.

PERIODICAL AND NEWSPAPER SECTION

More than 50 percent of the readers of this library visit only this section due to
the special facility provided to non members.
About 10 years back record of newspapers is available.

Current issue of the magazines are being displayed on the reading table to
make their maximum use by a large number of readers. About 200
periodicals and 18 newspapers are received in Hindi, English, Punjabi,
English and Urdu Languages.

ADMINISTRATION SECTION
It keeps and maintains the records pertaining to various budgetary
provisions of the library like salary, expenditure and other matters pertaining to
physical stock and infrastructure of the library.
BINDING SECTION
Binding is a very vital affair for the library. Books need to be repaired and
bound off and on.

REPOGRAPHIC SERVICE

Reprographic Service was introduced in the library in 1989 with the

purchase of Modi Xerox Machine, which was set up in the reference section.
The readers can get the material Photostat as and when they require on
nominal rates. It has minimized the mutilation and pilferage of books to a great
extent.
MOBILE LIBRARY
Due to expansion of the city and its development in
phases a Mobile van services were provided for the City
Beautiful to cater to the needs of the people living in the
following areas, and also for housewives, senior citizens
etc. The mobile van caters to areas and colonies like
Railways colony, Maloya etc

C.D LIBRARY

. It has acquired about 150 CD’s and two pentium based machine. The
library will have various access points to the World Wide Web.
 EDUCATION MEDIA CENTRE
An audio-video Aids Educational Media has been set up in the library for
which infrastructure like TV, VCR, VCP, audio cassettes, Double cassette,
Deck, speaker, Overhead Projector, Video Projector with accessories, smart
Video Projector with ceiling mount, Bracket torn 10ft. Diagonal with remote
control cable, Automatic slide projector and cassettes on various educational
subjects are played for the comprehension of the subject like science,
geography etc. for school students.
 4.2.4 STAFF AND SERVICE

The total Staff strength is 6 people. With this Staff

strength, this Library is providing service to the user
community through the following sections.
RECEPTION, MULTIPURPOSE HALL, CHILDRENS LIBRARY,
GROUND FLOOR AUDIO- VISUAL, COMPUTER ROOM, PERIODICAL SECTION,
BINDING SECTION.

PERIODICAL CHILDRENS SECTION ASSEMBLY HALL NEW ARRIVAL RECEPTION

FIRST FLOOR LENDING SECTION, STAFF, CHIEF LIBRARIAN OFFICE, PUNJAB

STATE LITERATURE .

RECEPTION OPEN STACKS RAMP STAFF ROOM READING AREA

SECOND FLOOR AMERICAN CENTER, READING HALL.

AMERICAN CENTER CIRCULATION AREA OPEN STACKS READING

THIRD FLOOR AQUIZATION SECTION, CAFETERIA, OPEN TERRACE.

4.2. 5 LE CORBUSIERS DESIGEN

By virtue of its location which was predetermined by Le

Corbusier in his overall plan of the City Centre, Jeanneret
followed the strict volumetric and façade controls laid out
for the sector.

The circular concrete columns, beams, parapets, deep verandas and

undulatory glazing which are the typical architectural features of the City
Centre dominate the exterior of the building.
However, when a visitor enters the building he appreciates the architect
whose skill and talent combined with an intuitive understanding of the
aesthetic and functional aspects of a library bestow on this piece of
architecture grace and serenity.
 RAMP DETAIL, SLOPE 1:7
G.L

SECTION THROUGH STACKING AREA

BASEMENT VENTILATION DETAIL

bands and small window openings in the

recessed brick wall.

SECTION THROUGH RAMP

On the rear side, the

changed stack- levels are
truthfully expressed on the
façade. These are treated with
horizontal

The staircases, the ramp, the

counters, the reading halls, and
above all, the color scheme
complement each other and
create an ambience suited for
relaxed reading and learning.
4.2.6 GROUND FLOOR
The building has two entrances at different levels.
From the south-west, there is a passage to the basement
which presently houses the National Gallery of Portraits.
The main entrance to the library is from the north-east
which is at ground level.
The inviting entrance hail has a built-in reception counter
and from here one can take a ramp or staircase to go to the
upper floors.
.
The ground floor house a Multi- purpose hall with a sitting capacity of 150
people, a children's section with a sitting capacity of 35 children's at a
time with total 25000 books . The stack provided are 3’ in width and 1’-6”
deep . One stack contains 125 books. approximately.

NORTH - EAST

N
The dimensions of the bookshelves, the reading tables and chairs are kept
to suit the children. The children's section is crowded in the months of June –
July .
FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR
The first floor accommodates the book-lending section
and various administration offices.
The second floor is allotted to the reference and
magazine sections.
The third floor houses rare books which the scholar and the
layman can consult. A cafeteria with an open terrace provides
light refreshments.

THIRD FLOOR

The floor area of the third floor is 5129 Sq.ft. the last floor
consist of the cafeteria and Acquisition section. The
reading area in the second floor is an open terrace on the
last floor . For connecting the last stack area stairs are
provided from the terrace.

SECOND FLOOR THIRD FLOOR

4.2.7 AREA STATEMENT

Grid : 17’-3” by 17’-3”

Column size : 17”Dia Circular Column

1. Entrance Foyer – 1204 sq.ft

2. Reception – 108 sq.ft
3. Toilets – 235 sq.ft
4. Stairs – 144 sq.ft
5. Ramp – 453 sq.ft
6. Assembly Hall – 1411 sq.ft
7. Children's Section – 1908 sq.ft
8. News Paper Section – 630 sq.ft
9. BindingSection – 309 sq.ft
10.Audio Visual Room – 560 sq.ft
11.Computer – 256 sq.ft
12.Staff – 625 sq.ft (6 person)
13.Chief Librarian – 415 sq.ft
Closed stacking area on each floor : 1110 sq.ft
(15 Rows)
Each Row : 10’-0” wide and 1’-6” Deep (3 stacks
per row)
Each Stack : 3’-3” Wide and 1’-6” Deep (Ht: 6’-6”)
Individual Stack Area :13’-6”sq.ft
Stack Gap : 3’-0”

Open stacking area on each floor : 2788 sq.ft (6 Rows & 3 Columns)
Each Row : 15’-0” wide and 1’-6” Deep (5 stacks per row)
Each Stack : 3’-0” Wide and 1’-6” Deep (Ht: 6’-0”)
Individual Stack Area :13’-6”sq.ft
Stack Gap : 3’-0”
Aisle : 4’-6” Wide

FLOOR AREA ANALYSIS

TOTAL BUILT UP
TOTAL BUIL UP AREA: 30083 QS.FT
GROUND FLOOR : 8273 SQ.FT
FIRST&SEOND: 8273 SQ.FT
THIRD: 5264 SQ.FT
4.2.8 INFERENCES

MERITS :

Located in Sector -17 that is the heart of the city so can be easily
located.
Easily assessable by public convince.
Parking space provided in the sectoral parking zone at the back side
of the building.
Only two wheeler parking provided in the front of the library.
Spatial organization as per the library standards requirement.
Vertical transportation easily assessable in the entrance foyer.
Security check and baggage deposit counter at the entrance.
Stacks are arranged with proper spacing with the offset of 4 ft fro m the
window for proper lighting.
Separate section provided for children's and Braille library .
Separate service lift and staircase provided at the stacking area .

DEMERITS :

canteen area provided but not in working condition at present.

Natural light is insufficient.
Noise pollution due the surrounding site activities.
Fire fighting measures not installed as per the standards.
No proper temperature and humidity control maintained in the stack
and reading areas.
Only few sections has been renovated with these facilities. Of the library.
Insufficient stacking space as per the increasing demand of the
books.
No separate cyber café provided for
the users. Parking provided only for
limited two wheeler in front No
appealing façade treatment.
Over all the general requirement has been fulfilled but the latest modern
technologies , proper mechanical services , aura of a particular section , inviting
interior and self accessible library features are missing which will be available
in the new library in kotturpuram.