Region's First AI-Enabled Library: A World-Class Learning Space at SR University

A great library is more than a place to read books. It is a space where students learn, explore new ideas, find answers, and build knowledge.At SRU, the University Library is built to support this journey. With modern facilities, a large collection of books, digital resources, research tools, and technology-based services, the library offers students a space to learn beyond the classroom.Spread across 3,100 sq. metres (33,222 sq. ft.), the library follows an Open Access System and serves students, faculty, research scholars, and staff across the university.

A Library Built for Today's Learners

The way students learn is changing.Books remain an important part of learning, but students today also need access to research papers, e-books, online journals, digital databases, and other academic resources.The SRU Library brings these resources together in one learning space.The library has 53,111 books across 10,129 titles, giving students access to resources for their courses, projects, reading, and research.The library has 8,496 members, including UG and PG students, M.Tech students, research scholars, faculty, administrative officers, and supporting staff.

A Space for Focused Learning

Good learning needs a good environment.The library provides a separate reading hall for textbooks and reference materials, with seating for 100 users. The reference section includes encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, handbooks, bibliographies, data books, and M.Tech and Ph.D. theses in soft copy.The library is also open for long hours.

• Weekdays: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Reading Hall: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

This gives students more time to read, study, prepare for exams, and work on academic projects.

From Books to Digital Knowledge

Learning does not stop at the bookshelf.The SRU Library provides access to several digital academic resources. These resources cover areas such as engineering and technology, science, agriculture, management, social sciences, arts, and humanities.

IEEE Digital Resources

The library subscribes to the IEEE All-Society Periodicals Package (ASPP Online) and IEEE conference proceedings.These resources help students, faculty, and research scholars explore technical research and stay updated with developments in their fields. The university also conducts orientation programmes to help users make better use of IEEE resources.

J-GATE

J-GATE gives users access to academic literature across many subjects.Its resources cover engineering and technology, basic sciences, agriculture and biological sciences, social and management sciences, arts, and humanities.

DELNET

The library is a member of DELNET (Developing Library Network).Through DELNET, users can search and access e-journals, e-books, e-articles, bibliographic databases, and other academic resources.

National Digital Library of India

The library is also registered with the National Digital Library of India (NDLI).As of March 2026, the NDLI collection listed in the library profile had more than 14.5 crore digital resources. This gives students and researchers access to a large digital collection for learning and research.

Technology That Makes the Library Smarter

Technology plays an important role in the day-to-day working of the library.Library services and operations are computerised. The library uses SOUL Library Management Software for areas such as book acquisition, serials, and circulation.It also uses RFID and barcode systems for issuing and returning books. These systems help make book circulation faster and more organised.The Web OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue) helps users search for books and other resources using details such as:

• Author
• Title
• Subject
• Classification number

This makes it easier for students and faculty to find the resources they need.

Supporting Research and Innovation

A strong university library should also support research.The SR University Library works with the INFLIBNET Centre and is part of the Shodhganga/Shodhgangothri programme.Awarded Ph.D. theses are uploaded to Shodhganga and the University's Institutional Repository using DSpace software. This helps preserve and provide access to academic research.The library also provides access to plagiarism detection software through the ShodhShuddhi programme under INFLIBNET.This helps research scholars and faculty check similarity in Ph.D. documents and research articles.

More Than Books

The library offers several services to support the daily needs of its users.These include:

• Book lending through RFID
• Reference services
• Online Public Access Catalogue
• Book reservation
• Bibliography compilation
• Inter-Library Loan
• Book Bank facilities
• Current awareness services
• Book binding services
• Newspaper clippings
• Internet and Wi-Fi facilities
• Library bulletin and new-book updates

The library also receives 11 daily newspapers in English and Telugu, helping students stay aware of current events and developments.

Helping Students Use Resources Better

A library becomes more useful when students know how to use its resources.The SR University Library conducts orientation programmes for new students. These programmes introduce students to the library, its resources, and its services.Training sessions are also conducted when new products or services are introduced.The library also conducts orientation programmes for resources such as IEEE, J-GATE NEXT, and DELNET, helping users get better value from these digital resources.

A Library That Listens to Its Users

The needs of students and faculty can change over time. The library therefore follows a user-focused approach.The Library Advisory Committee works on the growth and development of the library. It also reviews suggestions from users and departments and helps plan the purchase of books, journals, and e-resources.The library also collects feedback from its users through a structured questionnaire.According to the 2025–26 library profile, 90% of users expressed satisfaction with the library's services.

A Library That Students Use Every Day

The library is an active part of campus life.During 2025–26, the library recorded 26,820 books circulated and an average of 390 visitors per day.

The average daily visitors included:

• 340 students
• 45 teachers
• 15 other users

The library also recorded an average of 340 transactions per day.These numbers show how the library supports everyday learning, reading, and academic work at SRU.

Where Knowledge Meets Technology

The modern university library is changing.It is no longer only about shelves, books, and reading tables. It is about giving learners easy access to the right knowledge, tools, technology, and research support.The SRU Library brings these elements together through its extensive book collection, digital resources, research databases, Web OPAC, RFID services, reading spaces, research repositories, and user-focused programmes.For a student, it can be a place to find a textbook before an exam.For a researcher, it can be a gateway to academic literature and research resources.For a curious learner, it can be the starting point for discovering something new.That is what makes a modern library an important part of university life.

At SR University, the library is not just a place to find knowledge. It is a space designed to help students explore it, use it, and create more of it.