On-Line-Learning—ICT-initiatives-of-MHRD-and-UGC

Fr. Verstraeten Central Library of St. Xavier’s College plays a pivotal role in the teaching-learning process of the College. It is the fulcrum of all academic activities of all UG & PG coursesand research studies. The Library has a rich collection of around 69,000 books, old and rare books, valuable reference books, journals, educational CDs/DVDs and innumerable e-books, e-journals, and other resources for the use of its members.

Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore once mentioning the significance of libraries said,

If one could control the age long tumult of the ocean in such a way that it would remain quiet like a child asleep, then that silent, uproar could be compared to a library. Here language remains silent, the mighty waves still, the deathless lustre of the human soul is here enchanted in black print in the prison house of paper. If of a sudden they were to rise in rebellion, break upon the silence and make good their escape through the barrier of print! As many a flood lie congealed in the hard snow in the heights of the Himalayas, so the library encompasses within its narrow limits the mighty torrents of the human soul.

History of Central Library :

Until December 2008, St. Xavier’s College had various departmental lending libraries and reading rooms namely:

  1. Arts & science lending and reading sections
  2. B.Com lending and reading sections
  3. Economics, Political Science& Sociology lending sections
  4. Book Bank

All these departmental libraries and the book bank got merged into one integrated centralized library since January 16, 2009. This got christened as Fr. Verstraeten Central Library in July 2015.

With the introduction of centralised library, the readers are given access to library documents, books and periodicals irrespective of their departments. The new centralized system provides open-access, where the readers find out their required books from the library shelves.

Thanks to UGC funding in 2008, after it had declared St. Xavier’s as a Centre with Potential for Excellence (CPE) in May 2006 and the College became the first autonomous college in West Bengal in July 2006, the Central Library organized the retro-conversion of all the books and classified them under the scheme of Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), Sear’s list of Subject Headings and Anglo-American Cataloguing scheme.

The entire database of the library was initially kept in LIBSYS-4.0 which has now been converted to KOHA open source Integrated Library Software (ILS), with the latest version 16.05.

All the books in the library are now catalogued, bar-coded and RFID tagged for easy circulation and better security.

Libraries in Campuses :

  1. St. Xavier’s College Central Library
  2. Raghabpur Campus Library
  3. Department of Education Library
  4. The Goethals Indian Library and Research Society

Library Team :

Assistant Director: Rev. Joseph Kulandai, S.J. [Contact No. 22551106]

Professor in Charge: Dr. Amitava Roy

Librarian: Dr. Chinmay Mukhopadhyay [Contact No. 22551251]

Library Staff

  1. Mr. Sougata Chattopadhyay (SC)
    Library Assistant, Contact No. 22551-238
  2. Mr. Arup Sarkar (AS)
    Library Assistant, Contact No. 22551-253
  3. Mr. Pintu Bagh (PB)
    Library Assistant, Contact No. 22551-253
  4. Mrs. Jhunu Chatterjee (JC)
    Library Assistant, Contact No. 22551-238
  5. Mr. Jaideep Biswas (JB)
    Library Clerk, Contact No. 22551-255
  6. Mr. Kinkor Mandal (KM)
    Library Attendant, Contact No. 22551-253
  7. Mr. Prodip Mondal (PM)
    Library Attendant, Contact No. 22551-247
  8. Mrs. Teresa Champa Gomes (TCG)
    Library Attendant, Contact No. 22551-247
  9. Mr. Ashish Sardar (AS)
    Library Attendant, Contact No. 22551-241
  10. Mr. Kishan Mardi (KM)
    Library Attendant, Contact No. 22551-241
  11. Mr. Nasir Gaji (NG)
    Library Book Binder, Contact No. 22551-241
  12. Ms. Soma Das (SD)
    Library Attendant, Contact No. 22551-241
  13. Mrs. Krisna Sardar (KS)
    Library Cleaner , Contact No. 22551-241

Library Commitee

  1. Rev. Dr. Dominic Savio, SJ – Principal & Chairperson
  2. Prof. Bertram Da’Silva
  3. Rev. Dr. Peter Arockiam, SJ
  4. Dr. Swati Sarkar
  5. Dr. Ayan Chandra
  6. HODs & Professors-in-charge
  7. Dr. Mandira Mukherjee
  8. Mr. Saugata Chattopadhyay
  9. Dr. Chinmay Mukhopadhyay
  10. Dr. Amitava Roy
  11. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kulandai, SJ - Secretary

Library Purchase Commitee

  1. Rev. Dr. Dominic Savio, SJ – Principal & Chairperson
  2. Prof. Bertram Da’Silva
  3. Rev. Dr. Peter Arockiam, SJ
  4. Dr. Swati Sarkar
  5. Dr. Ayan Chandra
  6. Dr. Partha Pratim Ghosh
  7. Dr. Chinmay Mukhopadhyay
  8. Dr. Amitava Roy
  9. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kulandai, SJ - Asst. Director & Convener

Floor Plan

Ground Floor

  1. Library Reception
  2. Library Office
  3. Asst. Director Office
  4. Library Lending Counter No.1
  5. Library Lending Counter No.2
  6. Library Lending Counter No.3
  7. E-Resource Access Centre for Advanced Studies and Research

1st Floor

  1. Reference Section
  2. Newspaper, Journal & Magazine Section
  3. E-Resource Access Centre
  4. Reprography Centre
  5. Cubical Facility For Faculty Members
  6. Rare Book Collection
  7. New Arrivals
  8. Dept. of Education Library & Reading Room

The Central Library: At a Glance

  • The Library provides services to the students, staffs, research scholars, faculty members and Fathers of the College through an automated mode by using open source library management software Koha (version 16.05).
  • The software has also been integrated with RFID technology.
  • There are three lending counters including a self-circulation kiosk.
  • Auto generated e-mail alert services for every library transaction.
  • The entire library is now integrated with the RFID enabled Gate Security System with the help of two-pedestal antenna.
  • A round-the-clock surveillance is made through the CCTVs.
  • Computerized attendance system at the entrance for the students.

  • Library members can know their reading and search history; they can re-issue their issued items with the help of Web-OPAC facility from My Library.
  • The cubicles are specially meant for students engaged in project works and teacher-student discussions beyond class-hour.
  • E-resource Access Section with Wi-Fi facility.
  • The library provides Book-Bank facility for financially challenged students from all disciplines.
  • The photocopy and printout facility.
  • Download Library Clearance Certificate
  • Download Books Requisition Form (For Teaching Staff only)
  • Download Book Bank Application Form
  • The library provides current-awareness service to the readers through new arrivals display, announcement posters, newsletters, etc.
  • A student can borrow at most four books at a time for fourteen days, which are further renewable for fourteen days.
  • Each shelf is accompanied with shelf guide, which indicates shelf number, class number and subjects concerned.
  • The library presently subscribes more than 140 periodicals, including both journals and magazines and 16 dailies.
  • The e-books and e-journals are also accessible through INFLIBNET-NLIST.
  • Oxford, Pearson and Gale Virtual Reference Library e-books, Online Sage journals are available from Central Library’s E-Resource Access Section.
  • The library has Institutional Membership with British Council Library and American Library.
  • Previous years semester question papers
  • Previous years semester question papers

Library Hours (7.00 am - 7.30 pm):

Sections Timings
Reference Section 7.00 am – 7.30 pm [Mon-Fri]
9.00 am – 6.00 pm [Sat]
Lending Section 9.00 am – 6.00 pm
Reprography 9.00 am – 4.00 pm [Mon-Fri]
E-Resource Access Centre 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
E-Book Library 9.00 am – 7.00 pm [Mon-Fri]
9.00 am – 6.00 pm [Sat]
Library Office 9.00 am – 6.00 pm [Mon-Fri]
9.00 am – 2.30 pm [Sat]

Membership:

The membership of the Library is open to Fathers, faculty members, research scholars, students and support staff of the College. The outside research scholars, eminent persons of the society, retired faculty members and staff members, and alumni/nae members of the College are also eligible for getting membership subject to the approval of the College authority.

Borrowing Privileges:

Sl.No. Patron Category No. of Items Loan Period
1. Fathers 10 Books 30 Days
2. Faculty Members 8 Books 30 Days
3. Students 4 Books 14 Days
4. Research Scholars 8 Books 30 Days
5. Support Staff 3 Books 30 Days

Reading Room:

The Central Library of the College has well-equipped and spacious reading room facility with seating capacity of 250 (two hundred and fifty) users. The reference books, periodicals and current awareness sections also function from reading room for reader’s convenience. Some rare collections of the College are displayed in the reading room.

Book Bank Facility:

The book bank facility is provided only to students belonging to economically challenged groups and communities. Besides regular library facilities, they can issue at most four books from book-bank for a full semester. The textbooks are mainly emphasized for this section, though very few common reference books may also be lent out.

Career Guidance Books:

Books and journals relating to different competitive examinations like IAS, Career / Service Oriented programs and other documents related to the subjects are available for consultation in the library.

UGC CSIR NET / SET Books:

Books and e-books relating to UGC CSIR NET / SET ( JRF & LS ) are available in the library.

General Reference Section:

he Ready-Reference Tools relating to general reference consultation are available in the Reading Room. The following categories of Ready Reference Tools are generally available:

  • Dictionary
  • Encyclopedia
  • Year book
  • Almanac
  • Handbook
  • Directory
  • Guide book etc

Reprography Services:

One internet-facilitated computer is directly connected with the photocopy machine for taking print out of any online and also offline materials.

Off-line Database Search:

CD-ROM databases, CDs/ DVDs for both borrowing and reading room reference.

New Arrivals Display:

The newly added resources to library (books, journals, CDs etc.) are displayed for 7 days in the Reading Room.

Book Requisition:

Students and faculty members can place requisition for a book that is not available in the library. The requisition should be given in the Demand Book Register available from the concerned library staff and through the Web OPAC facility. Book Download Book Requisition Form.

Rare Documents:

Thanks to generous donations of books by the Provincial Governments and European missionaries during the last two centuries, the Central Library holds a golden treasury of very old and rare documents. Since these documentary heritage is continuously decaying with time the college initiated a project for preservation and conservation of these rare documents with the full financial support from UNESCO, New Delhi in 2006. Under the collaborative project, selected rare documents from the College library have been recovered, preserved and digitized. The oldest collection dates back to AD 1632. As part of the project, a set of 4 DVDs containing some of the digitized documents and rare paintings was published. All these documents are preserved with much care in Goethals Library.

Other Important Services:

  • Institutional membership at British Council Library, Kolkata
  • Institutional membership at American Library, Kolkata.
  • Inter-library-loan facility.

Library Rules and Regulations

  • Central Library is NO-MOBILE ZONE.
  • Students must wear ID card at all times.
  • Scan your ID card in the computerized Attendance System at the Gate at the time of entry and exit.
  • Maintain strict silence in the Reading Room and other areas.
  • DO NOT enter the reading or lending section with your baggage. Keep them in the wooden shelves at the Gate Counter.
  • DO NOT crowd around any counter, but stand in queue and wait for your turn.
  • Scan the library notice boards regularly (Both inside and outside the library premise).
  • ID card is NON-TRANSFERRABLE. Using someone else’s ID is a punishable offence.
  • Kindly cooperate and interact gently with library staff.
  • In case of any difficulty library users can approach the Assistant Director or the Librarian.
  • Only present students and staff of the College can use the Library. No ex-student or outsiders are allowed to use the Library.
  • Any indiscipline in the Library will lead to cancellation of membership and/or serious disciplinary actions.
  • Students should clear all library dues in time to obtain Hall Ticket/Admit Card before Semester Exam.
  • Students and Staff members must settle all library dues to obtain Clearance Certificate from the Library Office on completion of studies or duty.
  • Sleeping, eating and having refreshments inside the Library are strictly prohibited.
  • Do take care of library books and journals.

Guidelines for Self-circulation Kiosk:

  • Use only your own valid ID card. Using someone else’s ID card to issue/reissue books is a punishable offence.
  • Use the Kiosk only to issue/reissue books, not to return.
  • Four books can be borrowed at a time against your ID; books should not be identical.
  • Don’t forget to log out after the transactions and collect the GATE PASS and submit it at the gate counter.
  • Get the due date stamped on the date slip inside the book from the Gate Counter.

Guidelines for Lending Section::

  • A student can borrow utmost four books at a time for fourteen days, which are further renewable for fourteen days (except in special cases). Books borrowed should not be identical.
  • Be present in person with your own ID card while borrowing/returning the library books.
  • After issuing/renewing a book from Lending Counter, one PRINTED GATE-PASS will be given to you. DO NOT FORGET to submit the same at the Gate Counter.
  • Borrowed books should be returned on or before the stipulated date mentioned on date-slip inside the book.
  • For delay in returning a book students have to pay a fine of Rs. 3 (Rupees three only) per day per book.
  • Any late return of books accumulates a fine of Rs. 3 per day. When the late fines crosses rupees fifty, one has to collect the fine slip from the Library office and deposit the amount at the SYNDICATE BANK COUNTER ONLY. After paying the fine submit your student copy of the fine slip to the Library Office for updating fine status.
  • Check the condition of the book at the time of borrowing. If any mutilation found, report instantly to the concerned library staff. Otherwise the borrower will be responsible for the damage.
  • Open Access is for your convenience. DO NOT misplace the books while selecting from the shelves. After consulting books DO NOT shuffle them but place them in PROPER PLACE.
  • Remember book hiding and misplacing are punishable offence.
  • Return the borrowed books first at the Lending Counter. Don’t go inside the Lending/Reading Section with borrowed books.
  • If books are lost or damaged (including marking on the pages), borrower must replace the book of same edition or latest edition.

Guidelines for Reprography Section:

  • The photocopy section is for LIBRARY BOOKS, JOURNALS AND QUESTION PAPERS ONLY. The class notes, outside papers and books are strictly NOT TO BE PHOTOCOPIED HERE.
  • Place your requisition for photocopy at the Reading Counter.
  • Maximum twenty pages can be photocopied at a time; Cost per page is Rupee ONE only.
  • Print-outs can also be taken, per page. Cost is Rupees TWO only.
  • Articles in the newspapers can also be photocopied. Cost per sheet is Rupees THREE only.

Central Library Issue, Re-Issue, Return Statistics July'18 - June'19

E-Resource Centre for Advanced Studies and Research:

Fr. Verstraeten Central Library E-Resource Centre for Advanced Studies and Research is a newly developed state-of-the-art E-Resource Library. The fifty-seater facility includes St. Xavier�s Central Library E-Book System for accessing e-resources via college intranet with the help of tabs, smart phones, and other devices. This is available for the researchers and advanced learners of Academic fraternity of St. Xavier�s College.

IT Facilities:

The Library provides IT facilities to enable readers to consult our electronic resources, catalogues, and image collections, to make use of word-processing and spreadsheet software, and for general internet and e-mail access.

  1. Reading Room no 02 (01 workstation)
  2. e-resources access room (06 workstations)
  3. Cubicle for Faculty (04 workstations)
  4. Lending Counter no 01 (03 workstations)
  5. Library Office (01 workstation)

RFID enabled self circulation KIOSK is available for library users .

Reading Services:

The Verstraeten Central Library of the college has a well-equipped and spacious reading room with seating capacity of 180 people. The catalogue system of the library is housed in the reading room (OPAC-Online Public Access Catalogue). The reference, periodical and current awareness sections also function from reading room for reader’s convenience. Some rare collections of the college are displayed in the reading room.

Guidelines for Reading Section:

  • The books marked as “FOR READING ROOM ONLY” and periodicals (both journals and magazines) are meant only for reading consultation inside READING ROOM ONLY, cannot be taken out.
  • You will be allowed to take maximum THREE BOOKS at a time for study in the Reading Room.
  • After taking a book from Reading Room shelf, make an entry at the Reading Room Counter by depositing the ID card.
  • Do not scatter the pages of newspaper when reading.
  • DO NOT misplace books while selecting from the shelves. After consulting books return them at the counter.
  • The Laptops and Palmtops are allowed in the library, but CHARGING may be allowed by the Library Staff on discretion after at least 2 hours of usage of the same. Bring your devices in fully charged mode.
  • Books newly acquired are displayed in the New Arrival Section.

Lending Services:

The book borrowing facility is available only for the Fathers, faculty members, current students and staff members of the college. Student can borrow at most four books and faculty members can borrow at most eight books depending on the availability of the same in the library, at a time fourteen days for student and thirty days for Faculty members, which are further renewable at most once in fourteen days slot for students and thirty days slot for faculty members. A delay in return is charged by Rs.3/- (Rupees three only) per day per book.

Self Circulation Services:

Fr. Verstraeten Central Library implement Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) enable KIOSK, this latest technology used to automate book handling process including check-out, inventory maintenance. The technology would allow the readers to utilise the service of self ‘issue’ and ‘reissue’ books without standing in queue.

When books were borrowed, an acknowledgement slip would be generated, giving details of the book issued and the ‘date of return’ of the books. Using the kiosk one could also check their account status -books in their accounts and pending overdue charges.

Selective Dissemination of Information Services:

Fr. Verstraeten Central Library provides last year semester question papers to the students.

Book Bank Services:

The book bank facility is available for the students belonging to non-creamy layer of the society. Besides regular library facilities, they can issue at most three books from book-bank at most for a full semester. The text books are mainly emphasized for this section, though very few common reference books may also be lent out.

Reprography Services:

The reprographic facilities are available in Central Library for the students and faculty members, at a very nominal rate of Rs.1/- per A4 size impression (for photocopy) and Rs.2/- only per A4 size page (for print out). One internet-facilitated computer is directly connected with the photocopy machine for taking print out of any online and also offline material as well. This section remains open from 9.00 AM to 4.00 PM on Monday to Friday, and 9.00AM to 12.30PM on Saturday. The photocopy section is for library books only. The class notes, outside papers and outside books are strictly not to be photocopied here.

Information Desk:

The Information Desk is one of the many specialized services offered by the St. Xavier’s college Fr. Verstraeten Central Library Reception. It is located on the Ground floor near the entrance of the Library. It serves as a central information point in the Library.

Download form Facilities:

Library users can download forms like Library clearance form, Book requisition from (for faculty members only), Book Bank form etc, from the Library website.


Demonstration of Anti Plagiarism Software iThenticate (Turnitin)

Contact Numbers

Librarian: 033-22551-251

Library Office: 033-22551-238

Library Entrance: 033-22551-241

Library Lending: 033-22551-247 / 253

Library Reading: 033-22551252 / 255

Contact E-Mail: librarian@sxccal.edu

Address: 30, Park St, Mullick Bazar, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700016

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