Peshawar Library

Peshawar Library. The library is situated in the heart of Peshawar, near the famous Bala Hissar fort and the Peshawar Museum, which is a Mughal Empire-era monument. It is a major hub for University of Peshawar students, Khyber Medical College researchers, and Islamia College University scholars. The library is also close to the Lady Reading Hospital and the Peshawar Cantonment, making it easily accessible to Pakistan Army personnel and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police officers.

Introduction

The Peshawar Library serves as a central library for the city, providing access to a vast collection of books, journals, and newspapers from around the world, including The New York Times, The Guardian, and Dawn (newspaper). It is a popular destination for students from Edwardes College, Jinnah College for Women, and Frontier Corps. The library is also a hub for researchers from COMSATS University of Science and Technology, City University of Science and Information Technology, and Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology. Additionally, it caters to the needs of scholars from Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Shah Abdul Latif University, and Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology.

History

The library has a rich history, dating back to the British Raj era, when it was established as a small reading room for British Indian Army officers and Indian Civil Service officials. Over the years, it has undergone several transformations, including a major renovation in the 1980s under the supervision of the Pakistan Public Works Department and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Archaeology. The library has been visited by several notable figures, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who were all prominent leaders of the Pakistan Movement. It has also been a hub for Pakistani intellectuals, including Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Saadat Hasan Manto, and Ashfaq Ahmad, who were all influential writers and Pakistan Movement activists.

Collections

The library's collections include a vast array of books on various subjects, including history, literature, science, and technology, with a focus on South Asian studies, Middle Eastern studies, and Islamic studies. It also has an extensive collection of journals and newspapers from around the world, including The Times of India, The Hindu, and Al Jazeera. The library's collections are particularly strong in the areas of Pashto literature, Urdu literature, and Persian literature, with works by notable authors such as Rumi, Hafez, and Ghalib. Additionally, it has a significant collection of rare books and manuscripts, including works on Sufism, Islamic philosophy, and South Asian history, with contributions from scholars such as Ibn Sina, Ibn Rushd, and Shah Waliullah Dehlawi.

Architecture

The library's building is a beautiful example of Mughal architecture, with a mix of Islamic architecture and British colonial architecture styles, similar to the Lahore Museum and the Karachi Museum. The building features a large reading room with high ceilings, wooden shelves, and stained glass windows, as well as a reference section and a lending section. The library's design is inspired by the works of Mimar Sinan, a famous Ottoman architect, and Lutyens, a renowned British architect. The building is surrounded by a beautiful garden, which is a popular spot for University of Peshawar students and Khyber Medical College researchers to relax and study.

Services

The library offers a range of services to its users, including lending services, reference services, and interlibrary loan services, in collaboration with other libraries such as the National Library of Pakistan, the Quaid-e-Azam Library, and the Lahore University of Management Sciences library. It also provides access to online databases and e-journals, including JSTOR, EBSCO, and ProQuest, as well as Wi-Fi and computing facilities. The library hosts various events and exhibitions throughout the year, including book fairs, literary festivals, and cultural events, in partnership with organizations such as the Pakistan Academy of Letters, the National Book Foundation, and the Peshawar Arts Council. Additionally, it offers research assistance and bibliographic services to scholars and researchers from institutions such as the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs, the Institute of Strategic Studies, and the Area Study Centre.