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Library
When the present University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka was established in 1974 as the Jaffna Campus of the then University of Sri Lanka, the Ramanathan Library of the Parameswara College and the Library of the undergraduate section of the Jaffna College were brought together to form the nucleus of the University Library. The Ramanathan Library consisted mainly of materials collected by Sir.Pon.Ramanathan during his long, varied and eventful career. There were books on Law, Hindu Philosophy and Religion, Christian Theology, Economics, Law, English History and Literature, Politics and Government. The Library of the undegraduate section of the Jaffna College was essentially a working collection for undergraduate study. In addition there were a fair amount of materials of scholarly and bibliographical interest in the Jaffna College Library. They have now been returned to the owners on their request.
From these beginnings the library has grown steadily, helped mainly by annual government allocations, donations from well-wishers, national and international agencies and foreign governments.
Resources and Materials
The Library holds adequate collections on all subjects taught and researched in the University. Books of general interest are not however unrepresented. The collection on South Asian studies is being maintained separately. Collections on Tamil Literature, Tamil Language and Hinduism, especially Saivism and Saiva Siddhanta philosophy are of notable interest. Besides the books the Library has also in its possession Ola manuscripts and Micro films of files of regional newspapers. The library subscribes to 495 titles of periodicals covering a wide range of disciplines.
Trial E- Journals:
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Organization and Services
The Vidyananthan library is the main library of the University and is housed in a spacious building at a central spot in the Thirunelvely Campus. There are branch libraries in the Faculty of Medicine, the Department of Siddha Medicine at Kaithady, the Faculty of Agriculture, and the Ramanathan Academy of Fine Arts at Chunnakam. Besides these a small library is also maintained at the General Hospital for the benefit of clinical students and staff.
Library Use
Permission to use the library is granted on condition that the rules and regulations of the library will be strictly observed. Users are assumed to know them.
Scheme Of Classification
The scheme adopted is a modified version of the Dewey Decimal Classification (16th and 18th editions), modified to suit the special needs of the University.
The Main Classes are:-
000 - Generalia
100 - Philosophy
200 - Religion
300 - Social Sciences
400 - Language / Linguistics
500 - Pure Sciences
600 - Applied Sciences
700 - Fine Arts
800 - Literature
900 - Geography & History
A chart of the scheme giving the more important sub-divisions is exhibited at the entrance to the stack area. The readers are advised to make themselves familiar with it.
The catalogue
The catalogue is a classified one with an author / title index. A separate index for Tamil authors / titles is also provided. Tamil headings are transliterated and entries are arranged according to the English alphabet. A subject index to the classified catalogue is also available .
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Location of Materials
stack Area
The main lending collection is in this area. Books on subjects in the areas of Arts, Humanities and Science and also books of general interest are shelved here. All books in this area may be borrowed by registered readers who are entitled to borrow.
Reading Area
Text-books and books recommended for reading by undergraduates are available here for reading. General reference books such as encyclopaedias, dictionaries, biographies, hand books and directories are also shelved here.
Graduate research Area, Archives and Govt. Documents Section
These are mainly used by the academic staff and post-graduate students involved in research though not exclusively so.
Graduate Research area
This section is being maintained to serve the special interest of those pursuing research in South Asian studies. Books relevant to this area of study and research are stocked here and may be borrowed by members of the academic staff for a period not longer than a week.
Archives
Rare books, books of archival, bibliographical and local interest and the more valuable books on Indian art, Epigraphy and Archaeology are a few categories of books are kept here.
Government Documents Section
Government publications, mainly Sri Lankan government publications are kept in this section.
There is also an area of limited access where bound volumes of periodicals, unbound periodicals and newspaper files are kept.
Materials in the Archives and the Government Documents Section are kept in closed book cases and are available on request for use in the library. They may not be borrowed.
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Opening Hours
Weekdays 8.30 am to 8.00 pm
Saturdays 8.30 am to 2.30 pm
The library is closed on Sundays and on all public holidays.
Eligibility for use, Registration
The academic staff, graduate and undergraduate students, members of the Council, the administrative staff, technical officers and clerical staff of the University are eligible to use the Library and borrow books.
Graduates of recognized Universities may become registered readers by paying an annual fee of Rs 500.
The Librarian at his/her discretion may give permission to read in the library to bona fide scholars for short periods.
No person may make regular use of the Library unless he/she has registered himself/herself as a user.
Students, on their admission to the university should produce their record books or such other documents as may be necessary to register themselves with the Library.
Members of the academic staff and other employees eligible to use the Library should produce their letters of appointment or letters confirming appointment from a recognized authority of the University for registration.
On registration students and employees of the University other than academic and administrative staff will be issued Library tickets equal to the number of books they are entitled to borrow at a time. The academic staff, members of the Council and the administrative staff may borrow books on the staff issue cards available at the counter.
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Number of Books Allowed to be on Loan at any Time
Undergraduates
1st Year - 2 books
2nd Year - 3 Books
3rd & 4th Year - 4 books
Postgraduate Students
Postgraduate students attending lectures - 4 books.
Other Postgraduate students - 2 books (Rs 500/= deposit)
Academic and Administrative staff - 8 books
Assistant lecturers (on contract), Demonstrators & Instructors - 4 books
Visiting Lecturers - 2 books
University employees in the Clerical and Technical grades - 2 books
Period of loan for various categories of readers.
Students 2 weeks
Academic & Administrative Staff, Member of the Council 10 weeks
University employees in the clerical & technical grade 2 weeks
Temporary Lecturers, Visiting Lecturers, Demonstrators & Instructors 4 weeks
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Library tickets issued to undergraduate students are non-transferable. Loss of tickets should be reported to the Library promptly. Duplicate tickets may be obtained on payment of Rs 10.00
It is presumed that a book is in good condition when it is given on loan. It is the duty of the borrower to verify it. The borrower of book will be held responsible for its return undamaged to the Library. Books borrowed should be returned on or before the last date indicated on the date label.
A fine of five rupees for each working day will be levied on overdue books.
Reference books may be borrowed for overnight use. Books so borrowed should be returned before 9.00 am the next working day. A fine of five rupees per hour will be levied on late overnight returns.
Members of the Academic staff may however borrow reference books for a period of not more than a week.
The Librarian may at his/her discretion or by necessity recall books. Books so recalled should be returned by the stipulated date. Failure to do so will make the borrower liable to a fine and or suspension of library facilities.
A reader who persistently borrows books in excess of the number allowed may be debarred from borrowing until he/she has returned all books over and above the number he/she is entitled to borrow.
Any reader who persistently fails to return a book or renew a book, or borrow more books than he/she is entitled to, may at the discretion of the Librarian be suspended from borrowing. The borrowers who fail to return books will be asked to pay the replacement cost.
General Rules
Any reader stealing, damaging or knowingly removing library materials without authorization will be liable to a suspension from membership. He/She may in addition be liable to be reported to the Vice-Chancellor for disciplinary action.
No reader shall misuse, damage or remove without permission any equipment or furniture belonging to the library.
Silence must be observed in all sections of the library.
Smoking and consumption of food is not permitted inside the library.
Bottles of ink may not be brought inside the library.
Bags, brief cases, umbrellas, files, cameras and hand phones may not be brought into the library.
The staff at the control point may inspect books, containers or files taken in or out of the library.
A reader may introduce one or two visitors to see the library.
Parties of visitors can be admitted only by arrangement with the Librarian.
The library will not accept telephone calls on behalf of readers.
Readers may not use library telephones.
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