Colonel Pyara Lal Memorial USI Library is located on the ground floor of United Service Institution of India, New Delhi. The collection consists of over 50,000 books, bound volumes, government documents, general documents and journals, including some books of 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries vintage, on an astonishing variety of subjects. While the principal emphasis is on strategy and defence, there are a large number of works on different vistas of Indian life. There are memoirs, bibliographies, recollections, diaries, journals and manuscripts. In the old books, some of the illustrations and colours are truly fascinating. An idea of the rare books can be had from 'Journal of the private Life and Conversations of the Emperor Napoleon at Saint Helene' published in 1823 in eight volumes, and 'The History of Nations' published in 1908 in 65 volumes. There are dozens of books on expeditions and adventures. The Library also has a rich collection of atlases, encyclopaedia and reference material.

The Library is air-conditioned and it has computerized its activities and services to provide fast service to the users.   In addition to books and journals, the Library has a good collection of audio/video-recorded lectures.  It issues a monthly 'Information Alert' which covers important current journal article titles and also digests and lists new additions to its book collection.

Over 200 defence and strategy related journals and magazines and leading newspapers from India and some foreign countries are provided. There is a complete section devoted to newspaper clippings of important articles on defence related subjects.

Inter-Library Cooperation

The Library not only  provides ready access to its collection for the users, it also draws upon the collections of other libraries through inter-library cooperation.  The Library is a member of DELNET, the largest library network in the country covering more than 800 Indian and foreign libraries.  It endeavors to meet the requirements of the users through this network also.

 

                                                            Collections

Resources

	Books - Reference, General, Rare, Continental and Nations Documents.
	Journals and Newspapers - Indian and Foreign.
	USI Publications.
	Information Alert - Monthly.
	Government Documents.
	Audio Cassettes.
	CDs.
	On line Internet Access.
	DELNET.
	USI Museum.

                                             Major Subject Areas

Some Important areas covered by the Library collections are as follows:                    

The Library receives the following journals/Periodicals:-

Photocopying Facilities

                                                                    

Copying of Library material is subject to the Copyright Law and other restrictions, since it prevents Library staff to provide copying of an entire book demanded by a member / user.
The photocopying facilities are available for users as per the Library Rules.  For Library members, Re 0.65 per copy and for non-members, Re 1:00 per copy will be charged in cash. A maximum of 30 pages are allowed to be photocopied for a member in one day, provided the document being photocopied is not likely to be damaged by opening in full.
 

                                                 Rare Books

The Library's Rare Collections  are a repository of the Armed Forces, academic, historical material, historical photographs, maps, prints and artifacts. Access to this collection is available only with  prior permission of the USI Librarian.

Cyber Centre

Internet facility is available free of cost only for members. Members can use the Library database (OPAC) using the guidelines displayed in the Cyber Centre.
 

USI Museum

It has a treasured collection of medals displayed in the Library hall duly captioned, dating from the beginning of the East India Company's campaigns. It can  be viewed by members.
 

Circulation

Check-in/out timings for using the Library are as follows:-

                            Monday to Saturday - 1000 hrs to 1630 hrs
                            Every third Saturday - 1000 hrs to 1500 hrs
                                  (Lunch Break 1300hrs to 1345hrs)
                                  (Break during spraying of Insecticide)

Also, Circulation Counter does not function  from 1300 hrs to 1345 hrs. The Library remains closed on Sundays and gazetted holidays.

Members are allowed to draw two books at a time for a period of four weeks on their Identity Card. New books are issued only for two weeks. Books are to be drawn and returned personally or through authorized representatives, but never through post or courier.

USI Research Fellows may be permitted by the Librarian, on request, to draw up to four books at a time for a period of one month during the currency of their fellowship.

The following documents are not issued :-

Reservations

If a book is not available for issue, it may be got reserved by the member by getting the entry made in the computer at the Circulation Counter. Telephone No. and address of the member should be got entered to facilitate action.

Members are expected to handle the books, pages of  documents with care, and not mark anything (even in pencil).


Delay in Returning Books

After the due date of return, a telephonic message, or a letter if necessary, will be sent to the member concerned to return the book immediately. If the book is still not received within a week of this reminder, the matter will be brought to the notice of the Deputy Director and Editor for further necessary action.

Loss of Books by Members

If a book is lost by a member or if he fails to return it for two months, the cost will be recovered from the member as under:-
 

                                                Suggestion Books

To facilitate the members two registers are kept on the Library counter, one for suggesting books / Journals for purchase and the other for suggestions/improvement in the functioning of the Library. The registers are regularly  put up to the Deputy Director and Editor/Director for necessary further action.

 

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Librarian
United Service Institution of India
Rao Tula Ram Marg
Opposite signal Enclave, Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi-110057
Tel 2614677, 26146755/Extns. 105, 108/Fax : 26149773 Email
library@usiofindia.org/usilib@hotmail.com
Website: www.usiofindia.org