Allahabad Public Library

Allahabad Public Library, also known as Thornhill Mayne Memorial, is a public library situated at Chandrashekhar Azad Park in Prayagraj, India.[2]

Allahabad Public Library
25.4557596855282°N 81.84941995931914°E / 25.4557596855282; 81.84941995931914
LocationPrayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India
TypePublic library
Established1864[1]
Collection
Sizeapprox. 125,000 books, 40 magazines and 28 newspapers[1]
Access and use
Population served55,100 reader inclusive of 1,271 membership (2013-14)[1]
Other information
Websiteagplib.org

History

Established in 1864, it is the biggest library in the state of Uttar Pradesh.[1][3] The building was designed by Richard Roskell Bayne and is considered a remarkable example of Scottish Baronial Revival architecture.[4] The monument served as the house of legislative assembly in the British Raj when Allahabad was the capital of the United Provinces. In 1879, the Public library was shifted to the present premises at Chandrashekhar Azad Park.

Holdings

The library has an approximate collection of 125,000 books, 40 types of magazines, and 28 different newspapers in Hindi, English, Urdu and Bangla and it also contains 21 Arabic manuscripts.[1] It also has a collection of old government publications, parliamentary papers, and blue books of the 19th century, and old manuscripts and journals.[5]

Building

The building known as Thornhill Mayne Memorial is situated at Alfred Park[5] and was designed by Richard Roskell Bayne in Scottish Baronial architecture with sharp pillars and turrets of granite and sandstone. It represents structural polychromy with lofty towers and arcaded cloisters.[4][6][7] When completed in 1870, the building cost approximately INR 94,222.[8] It was funded by Commissioner of Allahabad, Mr. Mayne and was opened as a memorial to Cuthbert Bensley Thornhill.[9]

  • Allahabad Public Library, Prayagraj
    Allahabad Public Library, Prayagraj
  • Interior of Allahabad Public Library
    Interior of Allahabad Public Library

See also

References
  1. "Public library witnesses 37% increase in readers". The Times of India. Allahabad. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  2. Handbook of the Bengal Presidency: With an Account of Calcutta City. John Murray. 1882. p. 366. Thornhill Mayne Memorial.
  3. Kapila, Surbhi (11 April 2017). "A bibliophile's travel itinerary". Media India Group. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  4. Jonathan M. Bloom, Sheila Blai (2009). The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture, Volume 3. Oxford University Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-8125013839.
  5. Dixit, Kapil (12 June 2013). "Govt public library gets international recognition". The Times of India. Allahabad. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  6. Chandra, Ramesh (2004). Cities and towns of India. Commonwealth Publishers. p. 393. ISBN 9788171698080.
  7. Michell, George (1989). The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India: Islamic, Rajput, European. Penguin Books. p. 202. ISBN 9780140084252.
  8. Various Census of India. Oxford University. 1877. p. 117.
  9. Sharma, Om Prakash (1970). Forces Behind the Indian Public Library Movement, 1858-1892. University of Chicago Graduate Library School. p. 243.
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