The Institute library has the distinction of being one of the oldest and the largest resourceful technical library in the south-east Asia. The total area of the library is around 3,000 square meters and it is open from 9.00 A.M. to 12.00 A.M. The library not only caters to the basic information needs of faculty members, research scholars and students of this Institute but also provides information services to research workers of neighbouring universities and research institutes.

The mission of the Central Library is to facilitate creation of new knowledge through acquisition, organization and dissemination of knowledge resources and providing for value added services.

History

The history of the Bengal Engineering College Library is intricately interweaved to the history and rich legacy of its parent institution.  The Civil Engineering College started functioning on 24th November 1856 at Writers' Building in Calcutta.  Sanction to the opening of a Library for the College at a capital expenditure of ₹ 5,000/-was received sometime during April 1857. Later, ₹ 200/- per month was sanctioned for its maintenance for one year from 1st May 1857.  By July 1858, the College Library consisted of 1,259 works (titles) in 1,621 volumes.

The College under the name of Government Engineering College, Howrah started at the Bishops College campus, Shibpur, on 5th April 1880.  In 1893, the College Library started functioning in its new building –the old Library of Bishops College, used for many years as Library of the College.  In 1905-06 the Government raised the annual library grant to ₹ 2,000/-.  During 1906-07, the library shifted to the commodious old Engineering Department Drawing Hall.  In the same year, an additional grant of ₹ 500/- for Journals was received.  In the span of 1912-19, the library adopted a new system of book classification – the Dewey Decimal Classification system.

A new chapter opened with additional staff and funds under the plans for the post-war development of the College.  The library shifted to the third floor of the main building in September 1951.  The progress of the library since then has been remarkably rapid.  In 1955-56, the library spent ₹ 39,253/-, had a total collection of 24,761 volumes, added 1,580 books and subscribed 250 journals, attended to 120 requests for books per day and lent 16,115 volumes. After conversion to a full-fledged university in 2004, to solve the acute space problem of the library, construction of a new building for the library was started in 2007. The library was finally shifted to its present building in August 2010.

With tremendous developments in information and communication technologies (ICTs), the need of the users has been changing rapidly, and the library is trying its best to adapt with the latest technological advancement to serve them better. The library started its journey in this direction since 1998 and initiated the process of converting its card-based catalogue into a computerized database.  To cope up with the latest development and future needs, the library has already started an e-Reading Room Service, located at the Ground Floor of the Library building– a unique facility with 48 computer systems facilitating access to a large number of e-resources with arrangements of organizing short courses.  The library has also implemented an Integrated Library Management System with RFID based inventory control, Biometry Enabled Attendance and Access Control System, and Remote Access Services.

Scenario

The Library scenario is fast changing due to technological advances of the last two decades. With the application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) there has been radical change in the dimension of library and information services. For effective utilization of resources and resource sharing, libraries are now computerized and integrated into local, regional, national and international networks. Libraries, particularly scientific and technological libraries are now moving towards more and more web based digital resource services.

Computerization

The library has already computerized its housekeeping operations. It has procured integrated library management software LIBSYS-7 including WebOPAC and necessary state of the art hardwares. The preparation of database related to retrospective conversion of books and other documents has already been completed and charging and discharging of books are done using this software. Besides web based services, the library is providing online search facilities (OPAC) through in-house eight desk top computers dedicated for the users.