Top 10 Libraries In Kolkata To Meet Your Reading Goals

The National Library is the largest library in India by volume, housing public records. But we’d go here just for the amazing green and open 30-acre space it is located in! Established in 1936, it boasts a collection of more than 21,00,000 books, including digitised books, maps, periodicals, manuscripts, etc. The best part is that membership here is free of cost. Some of their digitised resources are even accessible online. Their collection consists of 86,000 maps and 3,200 manuscripts, books, periodicals and titles in several Indian languages like Hindi, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Sindhi, Telugu and Urdu. The Special Collections section has at least fifteen languages including Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, and Tamil, with many rare works! You can take a stroll in the gardens and maybe take a peek into the Belvedere Hall. The building flaunts an impressive structure with tall pillars and arches, Roman beams, Corinthian pillars, and off-white ceilings. Inside you will find lots of vintage stuff – dining tables, fireplaces and a London-made grandfather clock used by the British viceroys. The place is also famous for being haunted after the Archaeological Survey of India discovered a hidden chamber, which is rumored to have served as a torture chamber during the British Raj.

Google Rating: 4.5/5

Timing: 8 AM - 8 PM

Contact: 03324792968

Website: www.nationallibrary.gov.in

LBB Tip: The reader’s passes are issued between 11 AM - 1 PM and between 3 PM - 4 PM from Monday to Friday, excluding national and state holidays. 

One of the best and most well-run libraries in Kolkata is the American Library. You will find everything Uncle Sam-related here, including American literature, economics, business, international relations, social sciences, and American history. The United States Information Services (USIS), sometimes known as the American Library, holds thousands of publications, magazines, and even reports from US government agencies and think tanks. They have eLibraryUSA as well. Gale, Encyclopaedia Britannica, eBrary, CQ, and other databases are digitally accessible through this virtual library. You can use the computer here to study as well. There is also high-speed WiFi available. In comparison to the outstanding services this library offers, the membership cost is fairly low. Both the ground floor and the upper floor have a small cafeteria. Strongly suggested for intellectuals, researchers, students, and book lovers.

Google Rating: 4.5/5

Timing: 10 AM - 5:30 PM. Closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Contact: 03339846300

Website: kolkataamlibrary@state.gov

Membership Fee: INR 400 annually and INR 700 for two years

The Asiatic Society in Park Street is a symbol of history, which has over two centuries of treasure stored inside. The initial days of this library go back 235 years to when poet, linguist and orientalist Sir William Jones established it in 1784. The library has a mind-boggling collection of 1,30,786 books, 1,09,438 journals and 48,355 microfiches. Are you a lover of languages? Then you will surely love this place, since it has books in French, German, Greek, Latin, Spanish, ancient languages such as Pali and Prakrit, Persian-Arabic, Urdu, Burmese, Mongolian, Japanese, Turkish and Hebrew, among others. Anthropology, archaeology, art, architecture, gender studies, history, science & technology, philosophy, literature--it's all there. The Asiatic Society is not open for membership, but this immense wealth of knowledge is accessible to all; so take a book and stroll through the pages in the reading room. Nothing else will give you more satisfaction than the smell of those old yellow pages.

Google Rating: 4.5/5

Timing: 10 AM - 6 PM. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Contact: 03322290779

Website: www.asiaticsocietykolkata.org

LBB Tip: Don’t forget to carry your college/school/university ID cards, otherwise you won’t be allowed to access the books and the reading room!

You'll find Mr Darcy, Jane Eyre, and Harry Potter right in the heart of the British Council Library bookshelves. The romance of reading a tangible book like that is hard to pass. At the same time, it's no ordinary resource bank of books and journals we are talking about. Films, music, podcasts, magazines — there's an endless world waiting to open up. Finding all of these resources together in any place is nearly impossible, but the British Council library is armed with all of these. Students, scholars, bookworms, avid readers, film buffs, and others are all drawn here. Love graphic novels and comics? They have a separate page just given to this, and you can easily borrow any of the Sandman or Green Lantern volumes! The newspapers and magazines section is the one that completely bowled us over. The library will not only give you access to some of the most popular newspapers and magazines across the world, but you can also read several of their back issues from the library archives. Even better, they have a bank of magazines in different languages. We love the annual sale they hold where they clear out stocks —you’ll find books for as low as INR 50 and DVDs for INR 20.

Google Rating: 4.3/5

Timing: 9 AM - 7 PM

Contact: 01169032222

Website: www.britishcouncil.in/library/about/kolkata

Membership Fee: INR 3,000 for annual membership

LBB Tip: They also have a digital library app which you can download both on Android and iOS to read the books or access the films or music. 

This is the place to come to if you wish to access an extensive database of lectures and music recitals recorded and archived through the years. This library has three wings, the General Library, Children’s Library and Junior Library; all with different membership rules, fees and privileges. This centre also teaches a variety of courses. Books and other Mission-related items, as well as souvenirs, are available for purchase. In addition to two reading rooms, the General Library features a Cyber Zone where patrons can use the internet. There's also the Children’s Library and Junior Library, all with different membership rules, fees, and privileges. A vast collection of more than 1,88,148 books and 424 Indian and international journals is available. They also have an art gallery and a museum. The gallery is designed to provide international academics a taste of Indian art in all its forms. The gallery is separated into four sections: paintings in one, sculptures in the second, folk arts in the third, and manuscripts in the fourth.

Google Rating: 4.6/5

Timing: 10 AM - 8 PM. Closed on Sundays.

Contact:  03324652531

Website: rmiclib.net

Membership Fee: INR 240 for annual membership and INR 3,000 for lifetime membership

LBB Tip: Over 8,000 students study several foreign languages in the Institute's School of Languages, located in another section. Bengali, Sanskrit, Arabic, Chinese, German, French, Hindi, Japanese, Latin, Russian, Persian, Spanish, Spoken English, and Urdu are among the fourteen languages taught.

It has a lot of spiritual and cultural worth because it is where Sri Aurobindo was born. The library has an extensive collection of literature on yoga, spirituality and Sri Aurobindo's teachings. The ashram ambiance is serene and quiet, making it a wonderful spot to escape the rush and hustle of daily life. It is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about the spiritual and cultural legacy, and it is situated right in the centre of Kolkata. The library has two sections--general and children's. The children's library has over 35,000 books in English, Bengali, and Hindi in addition to a current children's reference service, whereas the general library has over 40,000 books and roughly 100 periodicals. In front of the library is a children's park with a multimedia area. there’s another book shop which has stacks of books in Bengali, English and Hindi, all either written by Aurobindo himself or by renowned writers like Amalesh Bhattacharya, Mrinalini Debi and others.

Google Rating: 4.6/5

Timing: 6 AM - 8 PM

Contact: 03322823057

Website: library.sriaurobindoashram.org

Membership Fee: On request

LBB Tip: Sri Aurobindo Bhavan has two stores where they sell all kinds of products, some brought all the way from Pondicherry. Range of organic honey, jams (orange marmalade, apple and more), ghee, various flavours of the Bengal bori, varieties of rice, dal, spices, papads, pickles and Bengal’s signature mustard--the kasundi is available. The products start from INR 20. They have a huge variety of incense you’ll not find in the markets and handmade soaps, potpourri, scented candles, and perfumed sachets too.

With a modest collection of 5,000 books and membership categories including donors, patrons, honorary, and institutional, this library was founded in 1925. In addition, they publish books, the English and Bengali monthly journal Granthagar. A Certificate Course in Library Science (since 1937), a Special Course on Computer Application in Library Services, and a refresher course for working librarians are among the courses offered by the association. It was founded under the presidency of poet Rabindranath Tagore and was formerly known as the All Bengal Library Association. The Association currently occupies its four-story building. The Bengal Library Association published 'Bengal Library Association Bulletin – Bangiya Granthagar Parishad Patrika,' the first publication on library science in Bengal, in 1937. Along with this, the Association frequently releases Bengali and English-language books on library services and library and information science. Research Methodology, Book Classification, Phanibhusan Roy Commemorative Volume, Library Movement in India, and other topics are covered in the English collection.

Google Rating: 4.1/5

Timing: 1 PM - 8 PM

Contact: 03365332102

Website: www.blacal.org/default.html

Membership Fee: INR 2,000 for lifetime membership; INR 150 for ordinary membership annually; INR 5,000 as a one-time fee for donor membership and INR 300 as a one-time fee for Institutional fee

LBB Tip: Anyone interested in library services is welcome to attend the Bengal Library Conference, which is a platform for library employees and patrons.

In the neighbourhood of Jadavpur, this is the sole town library. There are more than 14,000 books in Bengali and English, including children's and adult adventure books, stories, and novels. At the home of Sharat Chandra Banerjee, a group of young independence warriors and social activists established the Basanta Memorial Library in 1919 as a tribute to their late comrade, Basanta Mitra. The Library was moved permanently to its present site in 1941. In 1961, it was renamed Basanta Smriti Pathagar to mark the centenary of Rabindranath's birth. Additionally, since 1982, the municipal library has been supported by the government. Vivekananda Pathagar serves as an activity club in addition to a library, providing a place for leisure activities. including football and cricket.

Google Rating: 5/5

Timing: 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM

Membership Fee: Open to all

Also known as the Kolkata Metropolitan Library, hiding behind the ancient Hare School in College Square, this public library is frequently referred to as one of the city's hidden treasures. The Kolkata Metropolitan Library was constructed in 1980 as part of the city's cultural infrastructure plan by the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA). The building itself is blatantly utilitarian and evokes the boxy, practical, and purpose-driven architectural style of government buildings from the 1970s and 1980s. Green-shaded lighting, long wooden reading desks, high ceilings, and racks filled with various types of books. There are general reference books, periodicals, journals, newspapers, Indian and Bengali literature, textbooks, and materials for competitive exams. Students, scholars, UPSC/PSC candidates, and local bookworms who are interested in reading in a more communal setting are all served by it. For 15 days, each registered member is allowed to check out two books.

Google Rating: 4.5/5

Timing: 12 PM - 7 PM

Contact: +913322872004

Membership Fee: INR 500

It's an online rental library that stocks books by age, category and popular Indian and international authors for kids from toddlers to 13 years. Fiction, non-fiction, mythology, humour, short stories, nursery rhymes, this library has it all. They also stock books on puzzles and activities, picture books, books on life skills, fantasy and adventure. Neha, the owner, highly recommends the Gajapati Kulapati series of books by Ashook Rajagopalan for kids up to five years old. Books by authors like Julia Donaldson, Eric Carle, Aaron Blabey, Rod Campbell, Bhakti Mathur, Meenakshi Bharadwaj, Vineeta, Dr Seuss, Devdutt Patnail, Giles Andreae, Sonia Mehta, Sudha Murty, and, of course, Ruskin Bond and Roald Dahl among others. They have also got a huge collection of Om Books as well as the 'Little People, Big Dreams' and 'Ordinary People Who Changed The World' series of books that talk about the life and journey of people who made a difference. You can sign up for a basic, medium, or high plan. There's a one-time registration fee and a security deposit of the same amount that's refundable. They also charge a membership fee depending on the plan you opt for. Books will be delivered to and collected from your doorstep.

Instagram: @book_my_read

Website: bookmyread.com

Membership Fee: INR 500 + security deposit

LBB Tip: Neha will guide you on what books your child may like if you're confused. You can pay by UPI or COD. The pick-up and delivery are free of cost. 

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