Allahabad Public Library Explained

Library Name:Allahabad Public Library
Library Logo:Thornhill Mayne Memorial, Alfred Park, Allahabad.jpg
Country:India
Type:Public library
Location:Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
Coordinates:25.4558°N 81.8494°W
Established:1864
Collection Size:approx. 125,000 books, 40 magazines and 28 newspapers
Pop Served:55,100 reader inclusive of 1,271 membership (2013-14)

Allahabad Public Library, also known as Thornhill Mayne Memorial, is a public library situated at Chandrashekhar Azad Park in Prayagraj, India.[1]

History

Established in 1864, it is the biggest library in the state of Uttar Pradesh.[2] The building was designed by Richard Roskell Bayne and is considered a remarkable example of Scottish Baronial Revival architecture.[3] 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.[4] 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.[3] [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]

See also

Notes and References

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