Manuscripts Collection Development in Mahamahopadhyaya Dr.U.V.Swaminatha Iyer Library: A Case Study

Abstract

Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. U. V.Swaminatha Iyer Library is one of the oldest Manuscript Libraries having palm leaf and paper manuscripts amongst its collection which provides authentic records for tracing the cultural, social, political and economic history of people in Tamil speaking regions as such. This paper elicits the quantum of manuscript collections in this library. It recognizes the availability of access of manuscripts in different languages together with relevant information about the various subjects contained in these manuscripts housed in this library. This paper states the different aspects of manuscript management in this library. This paper also aims to restructure and reconstruct the information about the manuscript collection in digital environment and to provide a web OPAC for dissemination of information about the rich and valuable knowledge contained in the manuscript collections of the library.