Please read the news below. In every city there may be a number of such privately owned public libraries. How about some PhD student studying these and subscription libraries -- how they supplement government efforts? Vyasamoorthy, P ========== http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20050716012637&Topic=0&Title=Southern%20News%20-%20Karnataka&Page=K Institute of World Culture opens reference library Saturday July 16 2005 11:48 IST BANGALORE: The Indian Institute of World Culture in Basavangudi has opened up the K T Behanan Library on the second floor of its new Diamond Jubilee block. The library, which boasts a rare collection of books, used to be housed in the old building and was opened only on request. The new library will be open for reference everyday from 10 to 11.30 in the morning except Mondays. The shelves hold rare personal collections of late Dr K T Behanan, who used to be associated with institute. "Dr Behanan donated his entire collection before he passed away. We set up a library in his memory," said Y M Balakrishna, the institute's honorary secretary. The library got a further boost in 1963 when Dr Behanan's wife, M T Behanan, set up a permanent endowment for the institute for a substantial amount at the Canara Bank. "With the annual amount, more books are periodically add to the K.T. Behanan Library," adds Balakrishna. Among the large collection are eight volumes of the Encyclopaedia of World Art, 15 volumes of the Encyclopaedia of Science and Technology and entire collection on Sri Aurobindo, Srimad Bhagvad Gita, 24 volumes of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, complete works of Sankaracharya, complete works of Daniel Defoe, Charles Dickens, Alexandre Dumas, Balzac, Elliot, Holmes, Hawthorne, Poe, Thackeray besides modern self-help books. The institute has also added new books to its old library and the children's section. "The new block has just opened and more people are visiting it," says Balakrishna. Balakrishna said there are plans to include some magazines also at the new library. Some of Dr Behanan's collections have also been kept on shelves at the old block, where they can also be borrowed. ==================