About Library
Holy Cross College library caters to the needs of the teaching and non teaching staff, research scholars, students and outside scholars who look for information resources. The library is located in a three storey building situated in the central part of the college and easily accessible to all the departments. The library is fully automated with NIRMALS (Network Information Resources Management of Academic Library System) Software with Barcode Technology. The housekeeping operations are fully automated with 17 desktop computers kept in different sections of the library and connected to the main server to store and retrieve data regarding the resources, users and any other activities. The Library was established in 1923. Now the collection of books has risen to 138023 and 110Journals and magazines and a plethora of e-resources such as DELNET, NLIST, SCOPUS.
In the year 1999, Book Bank Section of the library was established. The automation process was started in the year 2000. The Barcode Tehnology was introduced in the year 2005. Wi-Fi Facility is available from 2015 onwards. Kindle and Tablets are introduced in the year 2015-2016. Web OPAC-online search facility was launched on 2018. In 2019, RFID Technology was introduced to improve the efficient functioning of library E-library feature is integrated with NIRMAL software in the year 2019.The library also began subscribing to E-Resources Web of science , scopus and ProQuest from the year 2019.The subscribed e-resources and Open Source Resources have been integrated into the website. Remote access facility is available for all the above e-resources.
A Rare book section and archival section were created in 2019, housing a collection of 1252 rare books, some dating back as early as 1840. The rare book collection covers a broad range of subjects, including Literature, History, Economics, Mathematics, Botany, Zoology, and Ethics. In 2020, the library launched a new digital section with 60 computers and purchased a document scanner for digitizing archival books. The library also became a member of Bookshare, an online library for people with print disabilities, and introduced the Non Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) software for visually challenged and print disability students.
Innovation Corner is a new initiative aimed at sharing and brainstorming new ideas and innovative projects by staff and research scholars. Innovation corner – an inspiring space in the college library, stimulates thinking and networking, culminating the new ideas. In the year 2022 we have purchased Turnitin software for detecting plagiarism in research articles and theses. The Holy Cross Publishing House was inaugurated in January 2023 with the primary objective of enabling staff and students to publish books with ISBN numbers.
Library Rules and Regulations
- The Library will be opened from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. on all working days.
- Students should scan their ID card at the library gate system when entering and exiting.
- Bringing any other books/articles inside the library is strictly prohibited.
- Students are advised to observe complete silence and discipline inside the library.
- Books will be issued from the library to students and staff only against producing their ID Cards.
- The lending period:
- UG students: 8 days
- PG students: 15 days
- Staff: one semester
- Books must be returned on the due date positively. A fine of Rs.1/- per day per book will be levied for late returns.
- Books issued to students must be kept in good condition. Any damage will attract a fine.
- Marking, underlining, etc., in books or periodicals is absolutely forbidden.
- Loss of books issued should be reported to the librarian immediately. The borrower must replace the lost book or pay the cost as fixed by the librarian.
- The library is a place for study. Eating, drinking, or speaking inside the library is not allowed. Violators will be asked to leave, and appropriate action will be taken.
- During student library hours, at least one faculty member must be present to supervise and maintain silence.
History of the Library
- Holy Cross College library serves the needs of the Faculty, Research scholars, students, and members of the library. It is the hub for study and research for the inmates of the college.
- 1923-1933: Holy Cross College was only a junior college; degree courses started in the 1930s.
- 1923: The high school library was well equipped with books of knowledge, Encyclopedias in volumes, and biographies.
- Sr. Julie, a French Sister fluent in English, was the librarian till 1935.
- By the beginning of 1933, the ground floor of the College was ready, and side by side the library started functioning.
- Almost two-thirds of the books of the school library were donated to the college. The initial expenditure on the library in the early years was just above Rs.1,000 per year.
- In June 1942, Sister Aurelia took charge of the library. All the books were stacked in the central library.
- The classification scheme followed by that time was the colon classification system.
- Even during World War II (1944-45), despite the wartime restrictions, the standard of the library was maintained.
- Sr. Aurelia attended a course for librarianship in 1950 and was nominated as the first Indian Regional Superior of the Sisters of the Cross, Trichy.
- Sr. Virginia succeeded Sister Aurelia as the librarian.
- In 1957-58, the total number of volumes in the library was 12,000, which increased to 12,500 in 1959-60.
- During Sr. Jositta’s period of service, the library was expanded in 1966 and occupied the entire ground floor in the Arts block.
- Department libraries in the Economics, Literature, Zoology, and Botany departments were started.
- In 1967-68, the number of books was 16,000 volumes.
- In 1969-70, it was about 19,000 volumes.
- The open access system has been followed since 1975-76.
- In 1977, before the historic flood, there were 33,000 books. Of these, 22,000 were washed away by the floods. The total estimate of loss was Rs.7,25,000.
- The Government of Tamilnadu and public libraries assisted the college, and about 20,000 books were replaced.
- Under the care of Sr. Jositta, the library was further expanded to include a section on the first floor with a stack of books.
- Sr. Saghayamary Arokiasamy and Sr. Mercy administered the library during their period. The library staff increased to 13, covering both Day and Evening College. The staff were updated to be computer literate.
- There are seven computers on LAN, and the stack and its functions are computerized.
- The average usage per day has increased to 462. The collection of books also increased to 105,830 in 2012-2013.
- The automation process started in the year 2000 with Barcode Technology.
- An E-Library was constructed through a website: www.crossianslibrary.weebly.com, where both subscribed and open access journals were hyperlinked for student’s usage.
Web OPAC
- Web OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue) helps the user to view the information regarding the book or journal or any other CD/DVD, project reports and also provides details of the status of the resources, whether it is available in the library or in circulation.
Digital Library
- E-library feature is an integral part of NIRMAL software. This feature is used to build the digital library. The E-library contains the subscribed journals, open access full text journals, subscribed and open access e-books as well as Newspaper and MOOCs. These e-resources are hyper linked to provide convenient access for students and staff and researchers. Question paper copies are added to the virtual library for remote access.
RARE BOOKS
The Holy Cross College library is one of the well-equipped and updated libraries in the central region of Tamil Nadu.
It was started in the year 1923 and currently it has 1252 rare books and a few that are printed as early as 1840.
The rare book collection includes Literature books in Tamil and English, History, Economics, Mathematics, Botany, Zoology and Ethics.
MUSEUM
The Department of History has a museum which contains a collection of Palm Leaf Manuscripts preserved and displayed for the education of the students.
The Department of Zoology has a museum which houses around 376 specimens spanning the entire animal kingdom, from invertebrates to vertebrates.
OTHER KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES
There are a total of 1,30,622 books available along with 148 periodicals and a plethora of e-resources such as DELNET, NLIST, Web of Science and IGI global.
Back volumes, dissertations and old magazines and journals form the Archives library.
Holy Cross College library is the institutional member of National Digital Library (NDL), NPTEL (Local Chapter). Courses are offered to students and staff through SWAYAM and NPTEL.
Bookshare is an online accessible library for people with print disabilities. Holy Cross College is a member of this online library. The Non Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) software to enable use by visually challenged and print disability students.
SPECIAL SERVICES
WORKING HOURS : 8.00 AM. TO 8.00 PM
SELF CHECK-IN AND SELF CHECK-OUT
Using the Self check-in and Self check-out the students and staff can directly borrow the books and return the books without the intervention of the library staff, using the barcode.
DIGITAL LIBRARY
E-library feature is an integral part of NIRMAL software. This feature is used to build the digital library. The E-library contains the subscribed journals, open access full text journals, subscribed and open access e-books as well as Newspaper and MOOCs. These e-resources are hyper linked to provide convenient access for students and staff and researchers. Question paper copies are added to the virtual library for remote access.
INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORY
DSpace, institutional repository management software, is used to store the 2047 video lessons, 710 Research thesis/dissertations, 92 multimedia documents, 164 Ancient copyright free books, 64 Holy Cross College Old magazines. 74 ancient Photos of historical importance were scanned and uploaded in to DSpace Server. DSpace collection has reached to 5000 documents.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism checking is done for the P.G.Projects , M.Phil dissertations and Ph.D Theses and research papers / articles and books for publications using Turnitin Software.
BOOK BANK
The library operates a Book Bank scheme for students who are economically deprived. Under this scheme, text books and reference books are issued to the eligible students. for a entire semester under Book Scheme.
REPROGRAPHY SERVICE
Xerox facility is available in the library.
PART TIME VOLUNTARY SERVICE
Students can spare their services to the Central library during their leisure time as part time volunteers. Such students are honored with certificates at the end of each academic year.
DEPARTMENT LIBRARIES
Many department in the Holy cross college has a department library apart from the central library. Department libraries are available in the following departments: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Rehabilitation Science, English, Commerce, History, Computer science, Hindi and French
Faculty List
- Dr. A. Senthamilselvi
- Ms. L. Roseline Mary
- Ms. T. Lilly Rosy
- Ms. A. Donitta Salominal
- Ms. G. Josethina Mary
- Sr. KulandaiMary. G
- Ms. S. Deepa
- Ms. V. Jane Ida
- Ms. P. Mercy
- Ms. G. Priyadharshini Bernath
- Ms. A. Metilda
- Ms. P. Kanimozhi
- Ms. K. Stephy
- Ms. N. A. Aruljothi
- Ms. A. Jasmin Preethi