Library

The UTC Library is one of the biggest theological libraries in Asia and the biggest in India. The well furnished library building has a built-in area of over 43,000 sq. ft with bright, spacious and airy reading rooms on one side and stacks on the other.

About Facilities

The United Theological College library was renamed after Late Prof. Rev. Dr. E. C. John as “E. C.
JOHN LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES” (Former Principal, UTC 1983-1993) during the AGM on
19 th August 2022, and the stone tablet was dedicated by The Rt. Rev. Prof. Dr. K. Ruben Mark,
President, UTC Society & Presided by Prof. Rev. Dr. Chilkuri Vasantha Rao, Principal & CEO,
UTC.
The E. C. John Library and Archives stands as one of the largest theological libraries in Asia and
the biggest in India. It continues to fulfil its dual roles as the heart of the institution and as an
integral part of the Educational system. It provides resources and services to enhance the
research at the United Theological College and in the region at large.

Working Hours :

Image Gallery

Collections:

S.NoDetailsStack
1.Books / Monographs105527
2.Periodicals / Current & Bound Vols857
3.Dailies08
4.Archival Documents and Rare BooksMore than 80000
5.Dissertations3201
Non-Book Materials
6.E-BooksMore than 10000
7.Microfilm420
8.Microfiches23023
9.Maps & Charts160
10.DVDs/CD-ROM's987

E-Resources & Online Databases

S.NoDatabasesParticulars
1.EBSCO Religion and Philosophy E- Books Collection
  • More than 30,000 e-books related to Religion & Philosophy and Theology
2.ATLA RDB with Serials
  • More than 400 full-text journals (current)
  • More than 1.1 million review records
  • More than 294,000 essay records
  • More than 491,000 book records
3.JSTOR Religion & Theology / Collection with Archival Collections
  • 88 Full-text journals
  • 3,92,000 articles and
  • Complimentary e-books
4.Global DTL
  • 3,00,000 books
  • Millions of journal articles and
  • Dissertations

Circulation Services

ParticularsLocationUses
Reference Section IGround Floor / Reading HallTo be referred within the Reference section I Only
Reference Section IIFirst Floor / Reading HallTo be referred within the Reference section II Only
Max Mueller SectionFirst Floor / Reading HallCan be borrowed
General Collection
Stack I (000-239)
Ground FloorCan be borrowed
General Collection
Stack II (240-294)
First FloorCan be borrowed
General Collection
Stack II (295-999)
Second FloorCan be borrowed
Back vol. of PeriodicalsThird FloorCan be borrowed on Weekends
ArchivesBasementTo be referred to within the Archives section Only

Special Collections

The UTC Archive serves as an invaluable repository of original records, periodicals and microfilm/microfiche that illuminate the history of missions and churches over the past two centuries. In addition to preserving these important documents, efforts are underway to collect treasures housed in archives such as

  1. Martin Luther’s Commentary on the Galatians was printed in Basel in 1523.
  2. Bartholomew Ziegenbalg’s Grammatica Damulica, published in Hale in 1716.
  3. The Biblia Damulica, co-authored by Ziegenbalg and Benjamin Schultze in Tranquebar from 1725 to 1728.
  4. First Printed Bible in Tamil by B. Ziegenbalg in 1726.
  5. Sadhu Sunder Singh Letter in 1918.
  6. Mahatma Gandhi’s Letters in 1935.
  7. The Palm Leaf Collection, which dates back approximately 600 years, features works in Kannada, Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, and Malayalam on a wide range of subjects, including history, poetry, stotras, Puranas, and astrology.

This rich collection not only preserves historical knowledge but also provides insight into the cultural and intellectual heritage of the region.

Library Automation

The College Library is fully automated using NIRMALS (Networked Information Resource Management for Academic Library System) has been installed with the following six main modules for the Library’s in-house operations:

  • Acquisition System
  • Cataloguing System
  • Circulation System
  • Technical Processing & Serial Control
  • OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue)

Transferring Metadata to Koha Library Management Software and D-Space for the Digital Institutional repository is in progress.

Computers & Internet

The Library provides wired computers in library locations that connect to Library-licensed databases. We also offer Wi-fi on Library premises and remote access to the Library Catalogue and Licensed Databases.

Inter-Library Loan

The United Theological College is one of the pioneer institutions that collaborates with the Joint Library Committee, which connects it to a network of around twenty-one Theological College libraries in Bangalore to Strengthen, Maintain and share resources.

Institutional Membership

  • Asian Theological Librarians Association (ForATL).
  • Indian Theological Librarians Association (ITLA).
  • Joint Library Committee, Bangalore (JLC).

Best Practices & Facilities

  • New Year’s Day
  • Republic Day
  • Maundy Thursday (after 01.00 PM)
  • Good Friday and Holy Saturday
  • May Day
  • Independence Day
  • Gandhi Jayanti
  • Karnataka Rajyotsava Day
  • Christmas (from 24th December to 01st of January)

Best Practices & Facilities

  • Web-OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue)
  • Microfilm & Microfiches
  • Centralized Printing & Photocopying Facility
  • Digital Library Unit and Wi-Fi
  • Research Cubicles
  • Current Reserve Section
  • Children Library
  • Online Databases with Full-text
  • Inter-Library Borrowing Facility with 21 Libraries
  • Turnitin Similarity Check Software
  • Ecclesiastical Archives
  • Palm leaves Collection
  • AACR II
  • Institutional Repository
  • Thesis / Dissertation Section

Guidelines for External Users

  1. Proper recommendation letter from a research guide or Institution.
  2. Strict Decorum and Discipline must be maintained in the Library.
  3. Tea/Coffee, edibles, Water bottles, umbrellas, bags, personal belongings and other such articles into the Library. They may be deposited at the property shelve provided at the entrance.
  4. Writing or Underlining in the Library Documents/Books
  5. Documents/Books taken out from the shelves and shelving or replaced.
  6. The Reader/User is fully responsible for the safe return of the Documents/Books.
  7. Photocopying service is available for readers at nominal charges and a maximum of 30 pages in a day. All photocopying must comply with copyright legislation.
  8. The UTC Library is committed to fostering a culture of academic integrity and excellence, we don’t encourage or support plagiarism