After presenting the ‘Future of a book’ at the library, we bring to you ‘The Present of a book’ at the P.K. Kelkar Library! We start with how a new book is greeted at the library and how it subsequently lives through the shelves of our library. Do watch out for some trivia and facts that could help you to use the library to your benefit. We also peek into how the library system works and hope to make you realize that it is as magnificent as our library itself.
New Books!
As every week starts off with a Monday morning, so does the presence of a book at the library. Every Monday, we have a batch of new arrivals at the library and with a notice at the library and an email to the campus community, the books begin their journey at IITK.
A set of new novels, academic publications and even some autobiographies, The smell of fresh new paper must be tempting to some us to binge onto reading a new story or have a glimpse of some research.
And if some title ever piques your interest, then here’s what the library has for you; you can put the book on hold for issuing.
And, as soon as the first week of displaying the new arrivals is over, Voila! You can have that title issued to you at the earliest.
Library Trivia: “Holding”
This feature of our library is unknown to many of the students and might as well be one of the least used features of the library system.
In case you ever want to get a book issued that has been elusive to get and you find that it is there with our library, you can place the book on hold! This means that you can get the book issued to yourself as soon as it is returned to the library.
This feature essentially reserves the book for you. This can be done easily via your Pingala IDs as well and one doesn’t even need to go to the library to use this feature. You get a priority list on that book and have an estimate as to when you can get the book issued. Having books issued is easier than usual and one can use this feature to their benefit.
Textbook section
This section is the one to which we might all have turned to at some point or the other.
A go-to place during the examination season, this section houses all the books that are recommended by instructors for various courses. With numerous copies of relevant textbooks, This section happens to be one of the most active places in our library.
However, the books of this section are intended only for in-library use and are issued for an initial period of 2 hours but can be re-issued subsequently.
Pro-Tip: On account of open-book tests or quizzes, books can be issued from this section! Hope this helps save some bit of photocopying 🙂
With frequent usage of the books, the wear and tear of these books are expected! After a textbook goes through certain tough years, it is sent to the binding section for a makeover!
Issue and Return section
The circulation of books is what essentially constitutes a library and ours is no different. The circulation section of the library has its backbone in the ‘Koha Software’ which takes care of all deadlines, dues and hold requests. The book to be issued is scanned and a mail is sent out to the user for the check-in/check-out details.
Books that are placed on hold are kept for a period of 2 days after their return for the concerned to get the book issued.
And that is how a book goes around through our library!
P.S. @ The Library
The library may have the impression of being the sanctum for studies and academics, It does indeed paint the picture of being the spot for reading and learning. But, Here is what the library also is ;
With the clocks striking half-past 11, and the library staff urging people to vacate the library, The place becomes a calm haven for people enjoying a silent and warm place in the campus!
The hustle in the library in the exam season, the arrangement for new chairs and more furniture to host students, with more and more people being involved in the library system, The library is one of the prime marvels of our campus.
The staff there who have been working for over three decades, with efforts to introduce more dynamic library systems for the ease of use for students and administration that has been continuously working for the betterment of the library, It surely is what makes our campus stand apart from others.
Throughout your stay at IITK, you may miss out on some features of our campus, but The P.K. Kelkar Library is something that everyone should visit. Our campus has evolved and developed through the years and with new infrastructure and more attractions on the campus, the library continues to give meaning to the phrase that “Old is Gold.”
With the smell of books surrounding you and furniture that has seen over legacies of students, Our P.K. Kelkar Library is something that is no less than a legend being passed over through batches. We hope that the library is a part of your memories at the campus and is something that always reminds you of IIT Kanpur :).
Written by: Sparsh Kaoshik, Aryan Pandeya
Edited by: Hemant Kejriwal
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