GC University Lahore Library came into existence in 1872. Mr. Sardari Lal was deputed to hold its charge. Muhammad Asadullah Khan joined in 1916 as the first qualified librarian. The British Government honored him with the title Khan Bahadur in 1935. A proper library with an office and a reading room was established in 1937 in memory of Mian Fazl-i-Hussain, a renowned educationist. Mrs. Farkhanda Lodhi, recipient of the Pride of Performance from the Government of Pakistan was associated with the library during 1993-1998. The library building once again expanded in 1964. In 1999, the Postgraduate Library was established to enhance library activities. Library fulfills the information needs of more than 5000 students, teachers and students annually. The total area of the Library is 30803 sq. feet which is capable of accommodating 800 students at a time.

 

The Library has continuously been improved not only as a collection of books, but also as an instrument for the assistance of study and research. At present, its collection of books is more than 302,523 including journals and precious personal collections. The library acquires 51 national and international journals. A total number of 13 newspapers are also subscribed. The library has 500 CD-Rom. Microfilms reader is available in the Postgraduate Library. The unique electronic security system has also been introduced to detect un-issued library material.

 

The convergence of data processing techniques and telecommunications has provided enormous opportunities for processing, storing and disseminating information. IT has changed the way we have been communicating, interacting, and enabled us to access the required peace of information globally. The University Library is striving to respond to technological challenges. We have developed two websites i.e. GC UNIVERSITY LAHORE'S WEB SITE and GC University Library's website. These pages introduces online recourses web pages to complement rapidly growing variety of online collections.

 

The library has acquired and developed variety of resources to support the teaching and research programs offered at GC University Lahore. They are well organized and easily accessible, arranged into various sections according to the specific nature of material and the requirements of the users.

 

Periodical Section is functioning in postgraduate library. The library has been subscribing more than 50 national and international journals and magazines in print. The current issues are displayed on special shelves in the sections. Back volumes of the same are bound and shelved separately.

 

The library prides in the personal collection of Prof. Sufi Tabassum, Prof. Qayyum Nazar, Mr. Ashfaq Ahmed, Mirza Maqbool Baig Badakshani, Dr. Ibadat Barailvi, Dr. Waheed Qureshi, Dr, Razi Wasti, Syed Waqar Azeem, Dr. Muhammad Ajmal, Iftikhar Jalib, Dr. Khalid Aftab and others. The use of these collections is restricted only in the library premises.

 

Besides above personal collections, a special collection has been developed in 1998. These include very old and rare books on various subjects in English, Arabic, Persian and Urdu. These have been arranged and placed in a separate room in the Central Library. The readers are allowed to utilize collections within the library premises. However these books are not issued. An index with library reference pages of valuable collection of former Indian Govt. documents, reports, gazettes, gazetteers and university calendars is arranged subject wise. These documents can only be consulted within the library. The complete and latest information of theses/ dissertations of M.A./ M.Sc./ M.Phil./ Ph.D. is available by department wise in the circulation section of the Central library.

 

Multimedia section provides access to CD-ROMs, microfilms, audio and video cassettes etc. The CD-ROMs terminals are often busy in heavy use and it is necessary to book a time not all terminals are connected to printer and it is advisable to bring /CD-ROM so that information may be downloaded. It is located near the circulation counter of the Postgraduate Library.

 

Reference service function is to answer the reader's reference questions. It also answers the questions as to who is who, what is what, how and where etc, to save the precious time of the users. The reference tools like encyclopedias, dictionaries atlases etc, are placed in this section. These books can be consulted within the library. The services related to online resources have also been introduced to facilitate the users.

 

A monthly index covering about 26 major headings from English dailies published under the title GC University Library Newspaper Index, dating back to 1998. The press clipping headings are: Corruption, Economics, Human Rights, International Issue, International Relation, India Iran Relations, Kashmir Issue, Nuclear Issue, Pakistan Economics, Pakistan India Relation, Pakistan Politics, Political Science. The index is also available in the electronic format on the GCU Library web site. (www.gcu.edu.pk/Library/news_index.htm)

 

GCU Library covers all disciplines taught in the GC University, Lahore. It is also worth mentioning that it is the first ever Virtual Library at any University in Pakistan launched in 2001. The Library maintains automate English catalogue containing bibliographic information of the books journals etc in the library. Database that is under LMS software is searchable on internal OPACs and Internet also. The Library has developed online resources section on Library web site to facilitate the users to access the different electronic resources.

 

Library's website is a one-stop information solution. It is managed, maintained and organized by the University Librarians and IT experts. It provides links to almost all academic disciplines. The library is now accessible on the GC University network free of cost. It is providing access to 12,000 full text scholarly journals available on eight world known databases e.g. EBSCO Host, Blackwell Synergy, Springer, OUP, CUP, ACS, AIP, ASABE, EMERALD, IOP, JSTOR, Nature, Science online, Science Direct, and etc. The Journals may be downloaded from the GCU Library Network.

 

GCU Libraries provide its members with an environment that is conducive not only to academic but also climatic change. We manage cleanliness, prompt accessibility as well as healthy air-conditioning. The key objective of these continuous library efforts is to enhance its hard and e-resources and also to improve its services by capitalizing the options extended by the traditional, professional and recent IT applications in the libraries. This will enhance our archive and current collection potential and will certainly help faculty boost research activities. It provides one window instant access to huge amounts of data and information remotely. It will save a lot of time and energy of information seekers. This is purely GC University Library product focused to serve the Ravians, people of Pakistan, and International researchers.

 

The professional staff of the library includes Chief Librarian. Deputy Chief Librarian, Senior Librarian, Librarians. Presently the library has Six library professionals, Four IT professionals and twenty one non-professional members. Mr. Abdul Waheed MA (Lib & Info Sc.) (UK), MLSc., MA(Urdu) (Pol. Sc.) LL.B (Pb) joined as Chief Librarian (BS-20) on 10-08-2004. Prior to this Position until recently he was Chief Librarian Punjab University Lahore. He is first ever Chief Librarian of GC University and Punjab University having post graduation from UK.