The Romain Rolland Library in Pondicherry, formerly known as the ‘Bibliothèque Publique,’ is one of India’s oldest libraries and the largest in the Union Territory of Puducherry. Established on May 16, 1827, it was renamed in 1966 to honor the French scholar Romain Rolland, a contemporary and close friend of Mahatma Gandhi.

Key Features:

Extensive Collection: The library houses approximately 400,000 items, including books, journals, magazines, and manuscripts in French and English.

Membership and Usage: With over 49,000 adult members, the library lends nearly 200,000 books annually. It subscribes to about 190 periodicals, and on average, around 1,000 readers utilize the reading room facilities daily.

Children’s Section: A dedicated area fosters reading habits among children aged 4 to 14, offering a variety of books tailored to different age groups. This section operates from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on weekdays, and from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on weekends and during vacations.

Rare Book Collection: The library maintains a collection of approximately 15,000 rare and old books. To preserve these valuable resources, a micro-filming unit has been established.

Timings: The library operates daily from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. It remains closed on public holidays.

Entry Fee: There is no entry fee for visitors.