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Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Prayagraj (Allahabad)

Vivekananda Library

The Centre provides library and reading room facilities with separate section for male and female students, as well as for the general public.

Library Working Hours

The library is open on all days except Sundays and declared holidays.
Working hours: 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Location

Vivekananda Library cum Reading Room is located downstairs of the Vijnanananda Auditorium (Lecture Hall). It has three sections: the General Section, Text Section and the Children’s Section.
General Section
The General Section has a wide collection of spiritual, educational, general knowledge books, including all of different languages and discourses. Digital resources in the form of CDs are also available.

Apart from general books, the Library has an extensive collection of publications on the following.
  • Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, the Bhagavata Gita, Bhagavatams, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Tantras, Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Literature, life & work of great saints, literature on Buddhism, Islam, Christianity —  mystics & saints,
  • Eastern and Western philosophies,
  • Social sciences, psychology & mental science,
  • Literature —  English , Hindi, Bengali, Sanskrit, among others,
  • Ayurveda & other alternative medicine,
  • World history & Indian history,
  • Biography of saints, sages, freedom fighters,
  • Great scientists and personalities of the world.
Text Section
This section is for those who are preparing for competitive exams. Publicationson current affairs, general knowledge, and competitive magazines are kept for easy reference.

Books that benefit school and college students in particular, are available in this section of the Library.
Free Reading Room
Reading room facility is available for Librarymembers. The Reading Room has 52 journals and periodicals. Many students and devotees make good use of the resources.
General Information
Separate section for male and female students and the general public are available in the Library and Reading Room.

Among the resources, 34,304 books, 12 daily newspapers and 53 periodicals are available for the general public.

Per our estimates, nearly 12,000 students use the facility every year.

Points to Remember

  • Admission to the Library: Before entering the Library, the Entrance Register is to be signed by everyone. Private book and personal belongings should be put inside the shelf at the entrance at one’s own risk. Mobile should be switched to silent or off mode.

  • Cards and tickets are not transferable: The membership card and the Borrowers ticket are not transferable as they are tokens of privilege which only the member is entitled to. Sub-lending of books is a misuse of this privilege and is not permitted.

  • Loss or misuse of Cards and tickets: Special care should be taken that the Membership Card and the Borrower’s Ticket are not misplaced or lost. All losses are to be reported immediately to the Library. Duplicate Membership Card or Borrower’s ticket will be issued on payment of ₹10/- in each case.

  • Compensations for loss or damage: Compensations for book/s or audio Cassettes loss or damaged Compensations for book/s or audio Cassettes loss or damaged must be paid by the member concerned according to the current cost of the book/s or audio Cassettes according to the librarian’s estimate.

  • Refund of Deposit: On submission of the Membership Card and the Borrower’s Ticket, the deposit amount will be refunded. No such refund is admissible, however, within the first six months of membership.

  • Shelf Arrangement of books: The Library follows Dewey Decimal Classification with necessary modifications to cover subjects of Indian interest. It is important that this classified arrangement of books is maintained on the shelves for the convenience of the Libraryusers. On no account should books be re-shelved by the member because of the possibility of misplacement.

  • Care of books: Library books are for the benefit of not only the present, but also the future users of the Library. They should, therefore be handled with every care and consideration. Marking of books is prohibited. Borrowers and all other users of the books are responsible for any such or similar damage to or loss of books caused by them.

  • Atmosphere of study: Members and all other reader are requested to maintain an atmosphere of quiet and dignity conductive to study and thought inside the Library.

  • Reference service: For better use of the Library, Members are requested to take the help of the staff.

  • Change of address: Members should be keep the Library informed of any change of address.

  • Members co-operation: The Library seeks the sympathy, help, and co-operation of all members in its effort to serve the people efficiently.