Working Hours
Main Library
- Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 8:30 PM
- Week-ends and Vacation: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Library Annexe (Reading Hall)
- Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 AM (next day)
- Week-ends and Vacation: 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM
The Library Annexe 24×7 Reading Hall is open every day except on national holidays for registered library users.
Note: Hours may vary during examinations and holidays.
Collection
The University Library collection is hybrid with its traditional information resources being gradually supplemented by the electronic resources. The Total Library Collection is 5,27,218 of which 2,55,565 is Print and 2,71,653 is Electronic. Details of Print Books (Print) – 2,32,918, Theses – 779, Dissertations – 4,962, Journal archives – 14,048, UN Documents – 2,958. Details of E-resources E-Journals – 13,000+, E-Databases – 10, E-Theses – 2760 and E-Books – 2,55,883. Exclusive Collection for Competitive Examinations is popularly sought after.
Services
Parallel to traditional library services, the automated Library now offers a range of value-added services such as research assistance, Library Liaison Officers, referral services, citation analysis of research output, an institutional repository, orientation programmes, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, information product presentations, free trials, newsfeeds, e-alerts, and access to open sources.
The Library portal provides access to a comprehensive digital library comprising e-reference works, e-books, e-databases, e-journals, e-theses, online tutorials, and the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue). A remote login facility enables 24×7 access to all e-resources from anywhere in the world.
The Library also ensures inclusive access—its services for the visually challenged contributed to the University receiving a national award in 2011. The state-of-the-art Louis Braille Centre empowers differently-abled users to access content through modern assistive technologies.
The 24×7 Reading Hall at the Library Annexe is also open at all times, providing students with a dedicated space for uninterrupted study.
One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Pondicherry University Library is a member of the One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS) initiative by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Through this, the Library provides access to over 13,000+ e-journals from leading global publishers, covering disciplines such as science, technology, medicine, social sciences, and humanities.
These peer-reviewed resources are IP-authenticated and accessible across the University’s campus network, with off-campus access enabled through remote login, ensuring seamless availability for students, research scholar and faculty members. This initiative significantly enhances the University’s research and learning environment, aligning with the Library’s mission to support academic excellence.
U.N. Depository
The Dag Hammarskjold Library of the U.N. Secretariat in New York has arranged for the distribution of U.N. Documents and publications to users and Research Scholars around the world through its depository libraries since 1946. There are about 405 Depository Libraries in 145 countries and 16 of them are in 13 cities of India. Pondicherry University Library has the honour of being one of the 16 U.N. Depository libraries in India.
Infrastructure
Pondicherry University Library is housed in an independent building set amidst a serene, green campus, providing an inspiring and conducive environment for academic pursuits. The Library is continually evolving with the integration of advanced technologies. Its interiors have been modernized with modular furniture and equipped with a large number of computers to facilitate seamless access to e-resources over a high-speed bandwidth network—comparable to global library standards.
An additional facility, the Library Annexe, spans 50,000 sq. ft. and offers a range of specialized spaces and services. These include a 24×7 Reading Hall, Scholars Hub, Postgraduate Reading Hall, UN Depository Section, a dedicated Louis Braille Centre for the visually challenged, a Multimedia Lecture Hall, Auditorium, and Cafeteria, among others.
To meet the diverse academic needs across disciplines, five School Reference Libraries were established in 2011, each staffed by qualified library professionals to serve the respective academic departments. Additionally, exclusive Campus Libraries are operational at Karaikal and Port Blair.
Pondicherry University Library was among the first three universities in India to implement a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) based surveillance system in 2012, ensuring enhanced security and efficiency in library operations.
