Library

Nehru Centre, Mumbai, is a unique organization established to promote the great ideals of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.  Its main objectives include inculcation and promotion of science, new social values, national integration, self-reliance and rational outlook on life.  Its diverse activities span a wide spectrum and in their totality seek to ‘Discover India’ in her developments in science, technology, art, society and culture.

To achieve these objectives, Nehru Centre has established a network of creative units within its complex wherein both the expert and the youthful novice have ample opportunity to develop their skills and enrich their knowledge.  One such unit is Nehru Centre Library.  It is housed in the basement of Nehru Planetarium and has achieved immense popularity as a reference library.  It is now open to academicians, students and the general public for reference purpose.

The library has about 25,000 books on various disciplines like religion, philosophy, social sciences, astronomy and allied sciences, arts and architecture, literature, history, geography and biographies.  Besides these, there is a good collection of books on and by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi.  There is a good collection of encyclopedias, both general and special.

The library has set up an expansive documentation centre by indexing articles from newspapers, journals and other sources. There are about 150 subjects that include environment, sociology, economics, education, astronomy, science and technology, media etc. This section is updated on a daily basis.

Besides this, the library subscribes to about 25 foreign and 50 Indian periodicals.  The foreign periodicals subscribed to are mostly on astronomy and allied scientific subjects.  Most popular newsmagazines are available for readers. English, Marathi and Hindi newspapers are also available in the library.

Nehru Centre has understood the changing profile of libraries.  Thus a Cybercentre and Audiovisual services have been introduced as a part of the library services.  Here, users can browse the Internet or view multimedia CD-ROMs on the six computers installed.  There are also audiovisual facilities wherein users can view video cassettes and video CDs. The library’s activities include organizing workshops for students, teachers and parents. 

The library is open from 10.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., Monday to Friday and also on every 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month.  Persons desirous of availing of this excellent facility may contact Mrs. Arati Desai, Librarian-cum-Documentation Officer.  (Phone: 2498 3921).