Utkal University

In India, the University Education Commission (1948-49) headed by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan describes, “The library is the heart of the University’s work; directly so as regards its research work and indirectly as regards its educational work, which derives its life from research work.”Libraries play an indispensable role in the dissemination of Information. Higher education is a process of learning and the students are to be provided with the necessary facilities for their self-learning process. The central library of Utkal University, named after its first Vice Chancellor, Professor Pranakrushna Parija, is one of the finest libraries in the state of Odisha. Set up in 1946 in Cuttack, it was shifted to the campus of Utkal University in Bhubaneswar in 1962. The building of the library, an impressive edifice, is spread over 28,000 square feet and comprises large reading rooms, periodicals, references, manuscripts, documentation and text-book, and administrative sections. The holdings of the library consist of more than two Lakhs of books and 5800 rare manuscripts. To serve the information needs of its large number of users in a globalized world the library, as part of INFLIBNET e-ShodhSindhu Consortium and OSHEC Consortium provides access to a wide variety of e-resources. The faculty, students, research scholars, and employees of the University find Parija Library a vibrant and welcoming learning space.

The Parija Library is fully automated using RFID technology with e-Granthalaya Library Management software. The Library provides Free WiFi service for all users.

All information of the Library is available in the Library webpage under the University Website. Links for Webopac and all e-Resources are accessible through the Library Website.

As the Parija Library moves towards its goal of achieving prominence as a leading university library of the country, ‘It is the vision of the Library to support the university and its stakeholder by providing seamless access to the widest possible spectrum of information resources such as digital, online databases, print and non-print materials relevant to the curricular, informational, and innovative research needs of the academic community, means to provide Right Information to the Right Users at the Right Time and in the Right Format.

The mission is to provide the students with the information they need to achieve their highest academic potential and help them acquire the research skills necessary for lifelong learning. To support teaching faculty & administrative staff and to participate in interactive information exchange within the wider library / educational community.

Library Committee: A library committee has been formed for the maintenance of the Parija Library in Utkal University. The committee frames the rules and regulations of the library after approval from University authorities.

Staff Strength: Parija Library has 46 sanctioned posts and Library Office has 19 sanctioned posts.

As an annex to the Parija Library an extensively rich and electronic resourceful e-library has been set up in the campus. It is well-designed and it has spacious and fully air-conditioned reading hall with smart class technology, Large Conference halls, Seminar rooms, DA room, Book Contribution Points, Special Reading room for Senior Citizen, Children and Visually Challenged Users, 76 seated Digital Library equipped with all modern amenities which provide the right ambiance for studies.