State Central Library, District Libraries & Sub-District Libraries
The first Public Library started by the Government of Manipur is the present State Central Library, Imphal. It was started as a District Library at Imphal in 1958 and later on upgraded as the State Central Library, Imphal. A Children Library was also established by the Manipur Administration during 1958 as Children Library – Cum – Museum to provide Library facilities to the Children of Manipur. The Children Library was shifted to the premises of the State Central Library, Imphal in 1972 and is running as a Children Section of the State Central Library, Imphal till date.
There are 10 – Government Libraries (8 – District Libraries +1 Branch Library at Ningthoukhong and 1 – State Central Library, Imphal). The District Library at Bishnupur is yet to start functioning at its newly constructed Library Building at Bishnupur near the D.C. Complex of Bishnupur.
The Hill District Libraries at Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Churachandpur were established in the year 1974 and at Chandel in 1976. The Branch Library at Ningthoukhong was started on 11th Nov., 1993. The District Library of Thoubal was established on 15th July, 2002. Imphal East & West on 17/12/2006.
Library Books :-
The total number of books in the State Central Library, Imphal during the year under Report is 67,089.
| 1 | State purchase | 9,278 Books |
| 2 | Gift Books | 20,106 Books |
| 3 | Saved (Burned Books) | 10,443 Books |
| 4 | Books purchased from the Assistance / Grant of the RRRLF, Kolkata | 45,262 Books |
| Total | 85,089 Books |
News paper / Magazines / Journals :-
The State Central Library, Imphal has been a regular subscriber of News paper / Magazines / Journals from within the State as well as from the Outside the State of Manipur. The total number is 61.
| 1 | Local Dailies | (a) English | 2 |
| (b) Manipuri | 10 | ||
| 12 Nos. | |||
| 2 | Outside Newspaper | (a) English | 6 |
| (b) Hindi | 1 | ||
| 7 Nos. | |||
| 3 | Magazines / Journals | 42 Nos. | |
| Total | 61 Nos. |
Library Hour :-
The State Central Library, Imphal remains open for public readers from 10: 30 a.m till 5:30 p.m. on all working days. General Holiday & Sunday remains closed.
Registered Borrower / Members :-
The State Central Library, Imphal has total numbers Registered Borrowers including Children readers is 1629 during the year under report (2015-16) / as on 08/02/2016.
| 1 | Registered Borrower / Borrowers (Adult) | 2269 |
| 2 | Children Readers | 59 |
| Total | 2328 |
Raja Rammohon Roy Library Foundation – Wing:-
Manipur has been participating in the schemes of the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata since 1981-82. The State Government contributes its State’s Share toward the Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation, Kolkata and Rs. 15.00 lakhs only is contributed as its share in 2014-15. The Foundation has been giving its Financial Assistance to Government Libraries in Manipur including 144 –Beneficiary Libraries under Foundation’s Matching Scheme of Financial Assistance for purchase of books, furniture, equipment, Library awareness programmes including extension of Library Building.