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Library
DR. PAULOS MAR GREGORIOS MEMORIAL 'SMRITI' LIBRARY
(ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, KOTTAYAM) | 
This library is the oldest of this kind in Kerala, since it is attached to the Old Seminary, founded in 1815. 'English Education' was started here for the first time in Kerala. Other languages like Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Syriac etc were also taught here, along with the theological education. Though we are unable to trace out the details of the library holdings we can assume that there were some good collections of English, Malayalam and Syriac books. It is quite evident that most of those books were shifted to the CMS College library, when the missionaries separated from the Syriac Church in 1817. The library in this Seminary was then located in a small room at the first floor of the old quadrangle.
At the time of the 150th Jubilee, the Seminary was affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College in 1965. Since then, the library collection began to grow considerably. We received financial support from our people as well as from foreign sources such as the "Theological Education Fund" of the World Council of Churches. H. G. Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilose, one of the former Principals of the Seminary, had played a very important role to improve the academic standard of the Seminary. The library was shifted to the first floor of the new south wing building in 1967. Then, the library had only about 5000 Volumes, and 70 seats kept in 2000 sq. ft. area.
The next phase of development of the Seminary Library started in 1967, when Rev. Fr. Paul Varghese (Later Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Metropolitan) became the Principal of the Seminary. It was in 1975 that a fulltime qualified librarian. (Fr. C.C.Cherian) was appointed in the library. Proper classification and cataloguing etc were started. Different sections like, Journals, Reference books, Reserved books, Syriac books etc were organized. A small Archives was organized in 1984 in the name of Malankara Metropolitan Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius.
A "Micro film Library" in the name of Malankara Metropolitan Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysius was inaugurated in 1990, at the 175th Jubilee.
The new phase of the library starts by the year 2000 as a part of "Heritage 2000 Project". The Seminary faculty, headed by the present Principal
Rev. Fr. Dr. K. M. George succeeded in realizing the inauguration of the present "SMRITI" building in November 2002. The first and second floor of the SMRITI main building are set apart for the present library with an area of 16, 000 sq. ft. This library is dedicated to the former Principal and hence the name: "Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios Memorial Library". Now, the library has sufficient space and facilities to meet the needs of about 200 resident students at B.D, M.Th and D.Th levels. The library has a total of 50,000 volumes including the books from Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios library and Devalokam Aramana library.
The computerization, with internet access is a recent development in the library by the initiative of Rev. Fr. Mathews John, who joined the library in 2002. The Archives is being properly classified and organized. We have some special collections such as Syriac books in "Moran Mar Baselius Augen Memorial Syriac library". We are now looking forward to develop Digital Library standards to serve as a "Central Theological Library" for Kerala Churches. | |
We invited generous support and earnest prayers for the development of this library to a Digital world class level. Donations towards purchase of good books, subscription of journals are earnestly solicited.
Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios Memorial (Smriti) Library
Library Facilities,The Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam
1. Number of Books
(a) Stack Room - 35500
(b) Reference - 2300
(c) Reserve Books - 900
(d) Mar Gregorio's Collection - 3500
(e) Devalokam - 2000 | |
2. Number of Journals :-
(a) Foreign - 40
(b) Indian - 250
Total Current Journals - 290
(c) Bound Volumes of 300 Journals - 1500 Volume
3. Reading room Facilities :-
(a) Main Reading Seats - 90
(b) Journals Section Seats - 38
(c) Reference Section Seats - 32
(d) Cubicles / Stack room Seats - 14
Total - 164
4. Library System
(a) Classification Scheme - Deway Decimal Classification
(b) Cataloguing (AACR) - Author, Title & Subject entry cards, Dictionary form catalogue
(c) Computerization - Fully Computerized with one server and nine computers.
(d) Internet Access - Tata Indicom.
5. Micro from Library
(a) Micro Films - 250 rolls of 6000 pages each (rare materials, MSS, Journals, etc)
(b) Micro fisch (Journals) - 10
(c) Audio-Cassettes - 94
(d) Video-Cassettes - 27
(e) Slides - 360
(f) Compact Disc (CD) - 460 | |
6. Library Equipments
(a) Computers - 10
(b) Printer - 1
(c) Scanner - 1
(d) Barcoding Machine with Scanner - 1
(e) Microfilm Reader (old) - 1
(f) Microfish Reader (old) - 1
(g) Computer Printer for labeling - 1
(h) Photocopying machine (Office) - 1
(i) Slide Projector - 1
(j) Movie Projector - 1
(k) Type Writer - 1
(l) Room Heater - 1
(m) Vaccum Cleaner - 1
(n) Television (Home Theater) - 1
(o) V.C.D. Player - 1
(p) VCR - 1
(q) Air-Conditioners - 3
(r) L.C.D. Projector - 1
7. The Archives (Air-Conditioned)
(a) Rare Books :
(1) English : 185
(2) Malayalam : 260 (Printed & MSS)
(3) Syriac : 312 (Printed & MSS)
(b) Rare Writings Materials :
(1) Palm leaves : in hundreds
(2) Papyrus document : 2 (Samples)
(3) Vellum (calf leather book) : Prayer book
(4) Brich Bark : Samples
(c) Manuscripts:
Prayers, Bible portions, Liturgical texts, Malayalam
(d) Old Journals since 1892
(e) Souvenirs from Parishes
(f) Seminary files
(g) Student's records
(h) Church records
(i) Letters, petitions etc. from parishes since 1892
(j) Manuscripts of books, other documents etc.
(k) Photographs/ icons many old photographs of historical importance
(l) Church Circulars from the Bishops
(m) Old Coins Collection
(n) Stamp Collection
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8. Library Staff
Two Professionally Qualified Librarians
(1) Fr. C.C. Cherian (since 1975) with B.Sc, B.D, B.Lib Sc & M.Th. Degrees
(2) Fr. Mathews John (since 2002) With MA, B.D, M.L.I. Sc Degrees
(Both are trained in Archival Management)
Three Library Assistants:
(1) With Computer Knowledge
(2) With Longtime experience in Library
(3) One Attender
9. Working Hours:
(a) Reading Room & Reference Section:
: 7.30 am to 10.30 pm on all working days.
: 7.30 am to 12.30 pm on Saturdays.
(b) Stack Room and Loan Counter:
: 9.30 am to 5.00 pm on all working days
: 9.00am to 12.30 pm on Saturdays
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© 2007 Orthodox Theological Seminary, All Rights Reserved. |
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