Education helps human being in developing all his faculties and enables him to receive knowledge. Hence the need for education is universal in all the ages. The basic purpose of higher education is of instruction, research and public service along with preservation, transmission and advancement of knowledge. Knowledge for its own sake and its utilization are important aspects of higher education. Moreover, the fundamental objective of higher education emphasizes on the practical goal of the development of individual talents for the service to others.

To achieve the aims and functions of college education, the library can play an important role as it contains a variety of information sources, which can be used by the readers easily. Hence, it would also be useful to observe objectives and functions of the college library.

Every college must have a good library and it occupies a prominent position in the college campus. It is the heartbeat of the college. Therefore, the functions of the college library are important; these are:

1. First it serves the college community.
2. Its duty towards the alumnus.
3. It must have a positive influence in society for the expansion of knowledge and helping men and women to quench their quest for truth.

Library is a central organ of an academic institution on which the entire image and efficiency of the institute hinges. Primary objective of academic libraries is to support the teaching & learning programs of the universities and colleges. No educational institute can survive without a library

1. Overview of Facilities & Policies: The IIMK library primarily serves instructors, staff, and students at IIMK by offering access to physical resources such as books and periodicals, as well as electronic journals and online databases. The library’s book collection is growing at a rate of 700+ books every year. In addition, the library has subscriptions to over 20+ current publications, as well as a variety of electronic journals and databases. The librarian and three academic members oversee the library. The librarian, with the help of library personnel and trainees, runs the library on a day-to-day basis. The library’s collections are audited once a year by the staff.

2. Collection Development: Any IIMK member may recommend to the librarian the purchase of a desired or relevant book. At the library counter, you can fill out a recommendation form. Selected new books are displayed and reserved for two weeks before being released to the general public. A new journal subscription can be recommended by any member. The library committee takes decisions based on input from faculty, available funds, and academic needs. The library staff determines the journal’s readership/use during the year, and this information is utilized to aid make subscription selections.

3. Circulation of Materials: During working hours, members may check out books or journals and must sign them out at the library counter. At any given moment, a member may check out a maximum of two books and one bound journal under their name. The books are supplied for a maximum of one week and can be renewed if there are no reservations on the goods listed. For a maximum of two days, bound journals may be distributed.

If a librarian receives a request for an item that has already been issued, the librarian may request that the item be returned to the library. For books, the minimum duration before requesting a return is five days, while for bound journals, it is one day.

Reserved books and journals cannot be checked out. On the request of the concerned course instructor, the library may place books and journals on reserve.

Certain advertised categories of library materials cannot be checked out without special permission:1. Journal parts/issues that are not bound, 2. Atlases, encyclopaedias, and dictionaries, 3. Special selection of books, 4. Books with the designation “Reference Only”

Journals and books will be fined if they are not returned on time. The librarian will have access to the amount that will be charged. The money generated through fines and replacement fees will be used to meet the library’s needs. Unless specific permission is granted, books and periodicals borrowed from the library may not be carried outstation.

4. Library Access Control System: After hours and on weekends, including Saturdays and Sundays, the system is active. With the authorization of the concerned PIs, access control cards are distributed to all faculty members and students individually. Individuals must pay a refundable deposit of Rs. 150/- to obtain the cards, and a replacement fee of Rs. 150/- is charged if the card is lost or damaged.

The system keeps track of all the entrances and exits reflected on the card. These cards have been used for both entry and exit by users. These cards are not transferrable in any way. Access cards are granted by security at the front desk for administrative, technical, and other staff employees, as well as for emergencies and exigencies.

5. Loss and Defacement of Books, Journals, and other Library Articles:

The cost of replacement, plus a 20% handling fee, is paid by the person responsible for the library materials’ loss or damage. Library dues may not be paid with book grants. If a member is found to have wilfully defaced or destroyed a library item, his or her library privileges are revoked for a period of time specified by the library committee. If you commit multiple or major offences, your library privileges may be revoked permanently.

It is ensured, that all members should treat library resources with care and not deface them in any manner, including underlining, writing, drawing on them, or removing any part of them. It shouldn’t be like this books, journals, and other library articles go lost or defaced.

6. Newly Arrived Journals / Magazines and Newspapers:

Newly received journals and publications cannot be checked out of the library until a certain time period has passed. The duration for “in-library use only” will be specified on the relevant issues/parts and will vary for individual subscriptions. The librarian will calculate the period based on the general pattern of use and requirements. The library does not issue any journals, periodicals, or newspapers before the period mentioned on the item. Newly received journals and publications cannot be checked out of the library until a certain time period has passed. The duration for “in-library use only” will be specified on the relevant issues/parts and will vary for individual subscriptions. The librarian will calculate the period based on the general pattern of use and requirements. The library does not issue any journals, periodicals, or newspapers before the period mentioned on the item.

7. Books Used for Reference in the Library:

By putting their name, the message (“please leave” / “don’t disturb”), and the date on the tables, readers can reserve books, bound journals, and journals for up to three days. If the reserve materials are used, this date can be adjusted once; otherwise, the reserve materials will be replaced on the shelves after the third day. Seat reservations are not allowed. The library staff has the right to remove books and other materials that have been left unattended for an extended period of time.

8. Computers in the Library:

Users can access the internet, online journals, and other databases from the library’s three user computers, which are connected to the IIMK network. Only one PC has access to the library’s online/web catalogue. The library’s web catalogue can also be accessed via a ‘HTTP’ connection from any other PC on campus.

The computers are solely available for academic purposes. Users should not utilise the facilities for anything other than academic work, such as email or online browsing. On any of these PCs, users are not allowed to install any software or programmes.

It is requested that users do not save or keep any data/files on any of the library computers. If you leave your files/data on these computers, they will be unprotected. Please presume that they are erased every day at 17.30 p.m.

9. Photocopying:

A photocopy machine will be available to teachers and library employees at all times in the library. All other users must utilise the shared photocopying facility. When the common photocopy facility is unavailable, photocopy privileges may be extended at the discretion of the librarian. A photocopy machine will be available to teachers and library employees at all times in the library. All other users must utilise the shared photocopying facility. When the common photocopy facility is unavailable, photocopy privileges may be extended at the discretion of the librarian.

10. External Users / Visitors:

External users from other institutions are permitted to use the library to print library access cards or letters from their respective institutions. On the Director’s advice, library access cards would be provided to the affected institutions. External users are not allowed to check out goods from the library. External users can use the photocopying function for a fee, which must be paid immediately.

Other library visitors are welcome to use it if a staff member introduces them to the librarian. The guest is the responsibility of the involved staff member. Visitors and external users are only permitted to use the library during office hours. The institute’s permanent employees can give a list of family members who may be granted access to the library. Only the concerned personnel may issue library materials to the family member.

On payment of a membership fee and approval from the Director’s, IIMK, corporate users may be allowed to use the library facilities.

11. Role of the Library Staff in Helping Users:

The librarian and other library personnel help users during normal working hours. They also assist individual users in obtaining relevant reference material from other organisations. The library assists instructors and students in obtaining personal subscriptions or book purchases through teaching/book grants. The library can buy reprints for personal use or for reference. The expense of these services is passed on to the individual or grant recipient.

12. Code of Conduct:
13. In the library, no loud conversations or group discussions are permitted.
14. Laptop computers must have their own power and cable connector if they are to be utilised in the library.
15. Food and drink are not permitted in the library.
16. It is forbidden to borrow materials without a valid membership/identity number. No one will be allowed to borrow items using another member’s ID number or name.
17. Do not reshelve books, magazines, or other items. After each use, place them neatly on the tables.
18. When leaving the library, please take your personal things with you. Any object left in the library is not the responsibility of the library.
19. Do not try to install any unlicensed software on the computers.