DR. MAHMUD HUSAIN LIBRARY

Introduction:
The central library of the University of Karachi “Dr. Mahmud Hussain Library” is an imposing five story and basement structure firmly placed in the centre of campus activities. There are 53 Departments and over 18 research institutes / centers and six Master degree programs, which are imparting education to more than 20,000 students.

Dr. Mahmud Husain library has a collection of about 3,37,444 Books, 40,000 Journals, 6,150 Microfilms, 5,000 Research Reports, 20,000 documents and reports and 31,000 books of 45 special collections for researchers as well as for use by students of advance studies and faculty members.

Brief History:
The central library was established in the year 1952, when the University of Karachi itself came into being, with an initial government grant of Pak. Rs. 75,000/=. The first Assistant Librarian was Dr. Abdul Moid with two other members of the library staff on August 13, 1952. It moved later to the present building, a modern and imposing structure in the midst of a large campus. The present central library “Dr. Mahmud Husain Library” was constructed in 1964.

Prof. Dr. Mahmud Husain allotted 50 percent of the development grant of 1974 for augmenting the library’s resources, this was the first largest allocated to the library in the history of University of Karachi. First time a separated grant of Pakistani Rs. 5,00,000/= was allocated for the central library in the year 1975 by the efforts of “Prof. Dr. Mahmud Husain Qureshi” (Vice-Chancellor). It was recognition of his devoted services that the Karachi University Library was renamed as “Dr. Mahmud Husain Library” by unanimous resolution of Karachi University Syndicate on 12th April, 1976, on the first anniversary of his death.

Reading Rooms & Section Floor Wise:

FIRST FLOOR:
The library is on the upper end of the academic spectrum in Pakistan. This floor consist of:
I. Two Technical Sections: One for Oriental languages and other for English / European languages, are situated.
II. A separate Binding Section.
III. Acquisition Section: Acquisition Section is responsible for purchases the books for library ands seminar libraries of the University of Karachi, by the advices of the head of the Department and allocates the budget for all departments for purchasing the books.
IV. Rare Book Collection Section: Consist of 856 English books, 1,174 Urdu, 1,583 Arabic and 981 Persian books. There are 104 Qalmi Nuskhas (manuscripts) also available.
V. Muslim League Record Section: A large number of Muslim leagues pre-partition records, including different type of material are also present at this floor.
VI. Quaid-e-Azam Section: Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan personal collection section is a creditable part of the Dr. Mahmud Husain Library, which is donated to the library by the family members of the Quaid. Its collection consists of about 1,130 books, photographs and bookshelves etc.
VII. Special Collections Section: It contain many personal collection donated by the prominent personalities of the city and abroad, such as Dr. Mahmud Husain, Dr. Hamza, Dr. Basharat, Deputy Nazir’s collection, Sir Ras Masood, Dr. M. Uzair, Prof. Dr. Jamil Akhter etc.
VIII. Internet Lab: This section was founded in collaboration of UKAA and is consist of fifty personal computers. It is linked by Fiber Optic since 2003. Present personal computers are linked with the University Server.

SECOND FLOOR:
The second floor of Dr. Mahmud Husain Library consist of:
I. Reference Reading Room Section: It contain of Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Directories, Annual Books & other references books are about 7,000. All Masters level thesis are being kept here.
II. Science Reading Room Section: Approximately 10,000 books of different subjects of Science are housed here.
III. Social Science Reading Room Section: Approximately 10,000 books about Social Sciences subject are present here.
IV. Teachers and Research Scholars Reading Room Section: This reading room is only for faculty members and research scholars.

THIRD FLOOR:
It has two parts. One for current periodicals; which consists of 20 local and 95 foreign periodical and abstracts and other part contain of Pakistan Section, Fine Arts and Bibliography sections.

Photocopying Machine: This floor also facilitates photocopying for students.

FOURTH FLOOR:
I. Old Periodical Section: It contains old and rare periodicals.

FIFTH FLOOR:
I. United Nations Document Section: It contains documents related to United Nations.

GROUND FLOOR:
This floor has various sections:
I. Oriental Reading Room: This section belongs to oriental languages and some other subjects.
II. Microfilm Section: This section provides the facilities of recording in various functions, workshops, seminars, symposium etc. and make microfilms of Newspapers and rare collection of the library.
III. Circulation Counter: This counter provides the facilities to lending books for ten days.
IV. Book Bank Section: This book bank provides the facilities to lending books for one educational year.
V. Library Book Shop:
VI. Library Stack: Books of different subjects are housed here for the lending purpose.

Library Staff
There are 15 professional and 97 non-professional staff members in Dr. Mahmud Husain Library.

Services Timings For Students
Usual Dr. Mahmud Husain library timings are 8:30A.M to 3:30P.M. (PST). But some sections like Circulation Counter, Science Reading Room, Social Science Reading Room, Oriental Reading Room, Periodicals Reading Room and Reference Reading Room provide the reading facilities for students of evening program from 3:30P.M to 8:30P.M. (PST), while Internet services are restricted for 5:30P.M. (PST) only.

Procedure For The Lending Of Books:
For the purpose of lending of a book for 10 days, a student needs to give the name of book(s), author’s name(s) and book call number on a slip of paper to the staff of circulation counter. Students may have a book from Reading Rooms on overnight bases, on Saturday evening.

Present Librarian
Mrs. Syeda Arjumand Bano is the present librarian of Dr. Mahmud Husain Library, University of Karachi

Contact
Tel: +92-21-9261352
Fax: +92- 21- 9261353
E-mail: kulibrarian@yahoo.com