Ernakulam Public Library is the OLDEST and one of the BIGGEST in the state of Kerala.Established way back in the year 1870, the library has been witness to the improvements that have occurred socially and culturally in this city over the past 3 centures On Friday ,October 8, 1869 a meeting was held at the school building in the premises now occupied by the Maharaja’s College, Ernakulum to consider
the question of establishing a Public Library and Reading Room at Ernakulum .’The meeting was well attended, the Dewan , the Judges and the principal officers of the Sarkar and a considerable number of the inhabitants being present’, says the first minutes prepared in the handwriting of Shri .A.F .Sealy, President of that meeting .The first resolution of that meeting proposed by Shri .A. Thus was born ,this institution celebrating one hundred and twenty five years of glorious existence. The minutes book from which the above quotations are taking one of the prized possession of the institution, and a close study of how carefully the details were planned and executed would be a very rewarding study for anyone interested in this library. Donations totalling Rs.1,272/-were collected from those present. The Sarkar made a contribution of Rs.1,267-The initial subscription collections come to Rs.280/-and the Sarkar contributed Rs.248/-and from out of this,Rs.2,277/- was spent for ordering books from M/s.H. Southern & Co., England, the initial purchase of books for this library .From this minutes, it can be seen that in 1065 M.E., that is 1890 A.D., the total numbers of book in the library was 1358.The book were in English, and as the number of persons conversant with English could not have been very large, this represented quite an adequate collection. From the inception, the Government of Cochin extended very generous patronage, contributing an amount equal to the amount raised as subscription and donation. The idea of a matching grant from the Government for which we have been clamoring for years, was really the practice in the early years. A Master Plan with all these aspects in view was prepared ,which when complete would have about 42,000 sq.ft. area, and could accommodate a library having over two lakhs of books, with enough space for other needed services like Reference Library, Members Room , General Reading Room ,Technical Services Selection etc.The foundation stone of the new building was laid by Sri.C.Achutha Menon, the then chief Minister of Kerala. The ground and first floors were completed on 28-2-1974, and the library was shifted to the first floor on 3-3-’74, the inauguration being again performed by shri. The second floor was completed on 19-1-77, and the members room and general reading room, the ladies and children’s room and managing committee room where shifted to that floor, the inauguration being performed by His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Parakkattil.The Third Floor of the building consisting of an auditorium was completed in June 1987 ,the total cost of construction being Rs. 7,61,000/- The auditorium can seat nearly 500 persons in comfort, and the stage is suitable not mearly for holding meetings but also for cultural show. The Membership was steadily increasing, and by 1980 we had 2 Institutional members ,45 Life Members, 328 First Class Members, 1959 Second Class Members and 813 Third Class Members. With a view to giving participation in the management to all users of the Library. Subscribers had by this time been made Third Class Members with voting rights. By 1990 the membership has grown to 3 Institutional Members, 104 Life Members, 669 First Class Members,1941 Second Class Members and 1849 Third Class Members . The total stock of books have also been increasing over the years, and at present we have 47248 English Books,30665 Malayalam Books, 4777 Hindi Books,2891 Tamil Books, 200 Sanskrit books And 127 French Books.
