Nirmala College Central
Library: Services, Archives, and Special Collections
Nirmala
College Central Library functions as a comprehensive knowledge and information
centre by providing traditional library services, digital access facilities,
research support, archival preservation, and specialized collections. Through
its extensive print and electronic resources, the library effectively supports
the academic, research, and lifelong learning needs of its students, faculty
members, and researchers.
1. Library Services
1.1 Book Loan Services
The
Central Library provides comprehensive book lending services through the
Circulation Desk located on the first floor. Registered library members can
borrow books for home reading for a specified loan period. The service
includes:
- Issue of books
- Return of borrowed books
- Renewal of loaned materials
- Reservation of books
currently on loan
These
services ensure convenient and efficient access to the library's collection for
students, faculty, and researchers.
1.2 Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC)
The
library offers an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) that enables users to
search its collection of over 70,000 books and other information resources. The
library uses the Libsoft Integrated Library Management System for cataloguing
and retrieval.
Through
OPAC, users can:
- Search books by title,
author, subject, or keyword
- Check availability status
- Locate library materials
efficiently
Web OPAC:
https://nirmalacollegelibrary.libsoft.org/index2.html
1.3 Literature Search Assistance
The
library provides literature search support to help users identify relevant
academic and research materials. Library staff assist in locating:
- Books
- Journals
- Research articles
- Reference sources
- Online resources
Users can
also access internet facilities for conducting scholarly searches through
platforms such as Google Scholar and various academic databases.
1.4 Print Journals and Magazine Subscriptions
The
library subscribes to a wide range of subject-specific academic journals and
popular magazines based on recommendations from the Library Advisory Committee
and user requests. These resources support teaching, learning, research, and
general awareness.
1.5 Reference Services
The
Reference Section provides guidance and support in locating information from
authoritative sources. Users receive assistance in accessing:
- Encyclopedias
- Dictionaries
- Yearbooks
- Directories
- Handbooks
- Other reference materials
Library
professionals also offer expert advice on the effective use of library
resources and services.
1.6 Compilation of Bibliographies
The
library assists users in preparing bibliographies on specific topics. This
service helps researchers identify relevant literature by compiling information
such as:
- Author
- Title
- Publisher
- Year of publication
- Library call number
Registered
library users can request customized bibliographic lists according to specified
research parameters.
1.7 Reprographic Services
The
library offers reprographic facilities including:
- Photocopying A4
- Scanning (A3 Colour)
- Printing (A4)
These
services are available to students and faculty members and are provided in
compliance with copyright regulations.
1.8 Digital Library
Nirmala
College Digital Library provides access to a growing repository of digital
resources, including:
- E-books
- Digital documents
- Images
- Audio and video materials
- Institutional publications
Digital
Library Portal:
https://nirmaladigital.libsoft.org/
1.9 E-Journal Search Facility
The
Library Network Resource Centre facilitates access to electronic journals
through:
- DELNET
- INFLIBNET
Users can
search and retrieve scholarly articles and research publications relevant to
their academic interests.
1.10 CD/DVD-ROM Search
The
library maintains a collection of CDs and DVDs containing educational and
reference materials. These resources are available for consultation within the
library premises.
2. Electronic Resource Services
2.1 N-LIST (INFLIBNET)
N-LIST
(National Library and Information Services Infrastructure for Scholarly
Content) is a project funded by the Ministry of Education, Government of India,
to provide access to scholarly electronic resources.
As a
member institution, Nirmala College Central Library enables users to:
- Access subscribed e-journals
and e-books
- Search journal titles and
publishers
- Browse scholarly databases
Students
and faculty can obtain individual login credentials by submitting a request to
the Librarian.
2.2 DELNET Services
Nirmala
College Central Library is a member of the Developing Library Network (DELNET),
which provides access to a vast network of library resources across India.
DELNET
enables users to:
- Access electronic resources
- Search union catalogues
- Locate books and articles
available in other libraries
Website: http://www.delnet.in/
Users may
contact the Librarian for login credentials.
2.3 Inter-Library Loan (ILL)
Through
DELNET, the library offers Inter-Library Loan services for research and
academic purposes.
Facilities
include:
- Borrowing books unavailable
in the college library
- Obtaining photocopies or
scanned copies of journal articles from other institutions
A nominal
fee may be charged by DELNET to cover photocopying and postal expenses.
3. Library Archives
The
library preserves valuable academic and institutional records through its
archival collections.
3.1 Newspaper Archives
Preserved copies of subscribed newspapers from the previous year are maintained
for reference purposes.
3.2 Magazine Archives
Popular
magazines subscribed by the library are preserved for one year and made available
for consultation.
3.3 Bound Volumes of Journals
Back
volumes of subscribed print journals are systematically maintained and
preserved to support research and reference activities.
3.4 Question Bank Collection
Previous
years' examination question papers of Mahatma Gandhi University are preserved
and made available for student reference.
3.5 Science and Society Archives
Science
and Society, the
biannual journal published by Nirmala College, is archived in the library.
Printed back volumes are available for academic reference.
3.6 College Magazine Archives
The
library preserves printed college magazines published since 1956. Available
issues have also been digitized and stored as PDF files on the library blog for
easy access.
3.7 Rare Books Collection
The
library has undertaken the preservation of rare and valuable books to support
historical and scholarly research.
3.8 Career Resource Collection
A
dedicated collection of books is available for:
- Competitive examinations
- UGC-NET preparation
- Career guidance
- Skill development
4. Special Collections
The
Central Library has developed several special collections to meet the diverse
academic, cultural, and research interests of its users.
4.1 Kerala Studies Collection
This
collection focuses on Kerala's:
- History
- Culture
- Folklore
- Social movements
- Freedom struggle
Resources
are available in both English and Malayalam.
4.2 Swami Vivekananda Collection
A
specialized collection comprising:
- Books written by Swami
Vivekananda
- Biographies
- Works on his philosophy and
teachings
4.3 Gandhian Studies Collection
This
collection includes books on:
- Mahatma Gandhi's life and
teachings
- Freedom movement under his
leadership
- Gram Swaraj
- Women's empowerment
- Gandhian philosophy
To
commemorate Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary, the library added approximately
280 books and over 100 volumes of his literary works.
4.4 Women and Gender Studies Collection
This
collection supports studies related to:
- Women's empowerment
- Gender equality
- Women's history and
achievements
- Feminist perspectives
Resources
represent various cultures, age groups, and national contexts.
4.5 Research Studies of the College Community
Research
theses, dissertations, and scholarly studies produced by faculty members and
researchers of the college are preserved for academic use.
4.6 Research Reports Collection
The
library maintains reports of:
- Seminars
- Conferences
- Workshops
- Research paper presentations
prepared
by members of the college community.
4.7 Career Guidance Collection
This
section contains:
- Competitive examination
guides
- Career planning resources
- Interview preparation
manuals
- Self-help and personality
development books
5. Library Blog
The
library maintains an active blog that serves as an information and
communication platform for users. The blog provides:
- Library announcements
- New arrivals
- Digital resources
- Academic updates
- Archival materials
- Reading recommendations
Library
Blog:
https://nirmalacollegelibrary.blogspot.com/
6.Plagrisam checking
The Central Library provides plagiarism detection
support through Plagiarism Checker X, a powerful software
solution designed to identify instances of plagiarism in various forms of
academic and professional writing, including:
- Research papers
- Project reports
- Assignments
- Dissertations and theses
- Articles and blogs
- Website content
The software offers enhanced speed and accuracy,
enabling rapid analysis of documents within seconds. It examines text
similarity by comparing submitted content against more than 16 billion
indexed web pages and numerous publicly accessible online sources.
Features
- Fast and accurate plagiarism
detection
- Comprehensive web-based
content comparison
- Detailed similarity analysis
reports
- Support for academic and
research integrity
- Suitable for students, faculty
members, and researchers
How the Service Works
Users need only submit their document, and the software
automatically scans and compares the content against billions of online
sources. The generated report helps identify potential similarities and
supports the preparation of original scholarly work.
Submission Procedure
To avail of the plagiarism checking service, users are
requested to send their documents in Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx)
or PDF format to the Digital Library email address:
Email: ncmlibrary56@gmail.com
Further Information
For additional details about the software and its
capabilities, visit:
https://plagiarismcheckerx.com/
Library services for physically challenged users:
- Separate room for physically challenged users near the entrance of the library and close to the circulation counter.
- Wheelchair
facility
- Height
Adjustable tables.
- Kibo
XS Device : A multi-lingual scanning & reading device that can
connect with Computer / Android smartphone to read any printed documents in audio format
- Braille
Books
- Braille
Magazines
