Best Libraries in Pune
Introduction
Pune has long been known as the Oxford of the East, attracting students, researchers, and book lovers from across India. Alongside its renowned educational institutions, the city is home to historic public libraries, research centres, university libraries, and modern community libraries that cater to readers of all ages. Whether you’re preparing for competitive examinations, conducting academic research, or simply looking for a quiet place to read, Pune offers a wide variety of libraries with extensive book collections, comfortable reading spaces, and valuable learning resources.
From heritage institutions like Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir and Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute to leading university libraries such as Jayakar Library, this guide explores the best libraries in Pune based on their collections, facilities, accessibility, and overall reading experience.
Table of Contents
- Jayakar Library
- Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir
- Pune Marathi Granthalay
- A.R.S. Inamdar Public Library
- COEP Central Library
- Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) Library
- MIT World Peace University Central Library
- Gokhale Institute Library
- JustBooks Community Library
- Albert Edward Institute Library
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Jayakar Library
Contact
Phone: +91 20 2569 6064
About the Library
Established in 1949, Jayakar Library is the central library of Savitribai Phule Pune University and one of Maharashtra’s premier academic libraries. Named after Sir M. R. Jayakar, the library supports higher education and research across multiple disciplines. It serves students, faculty members, researchers, and scholars with an extensive collection of print and digital resources in a modern learning environment.
Book Collection
The library houses over 500,000 books, along with research journals, theses, dissertations, manuscripts, e-books, newspapers, government publications, rare books, and online databases covering science, engineering, commerce, humanities, social sciences, law, and management.
Facilities
Timings
Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
2. Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir
Contact
Phone: +91 20 2445 4564
About the Library
Founded in 1848, Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir is one of Maharashtra’s oldest public libraries. It has played an important role in promoting reading, literature, and education for generations. The library is especially known for its strong Marathi collection while also offering books in English and Hindi. It remains a popular destination for students, researchers, writers, and avid readers.
Book Collection
The library houses over 500,000 books, including Marathi literature, English classics, history, biographies, children’s books, newspapers, magazines, competitive examination books, and rare publications.
Facilities
Timings
Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
3. Pune Marathi Granthalay
Contact
Phone: +91 20 2447 3892
About the Library
Established in 1875, Pune Marathi Granthalay is one of Pune’s oldest literary institutions. It is dedicated to preserving and promoting Marathi literature while providing readers with access to books across multiple genres. The library regularly hosts literary discussions, book launches, and cultural programmes.
Book Collection
The library has over 200,000 books, including Marathi literature, fiction, biographies, history, philosophy, science, children’s books, newspapers, and magazines.
Facilities
Timings
Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
4. A.R.S. Inamdar Public Library
Contact
Phone: +91 20 2645 1234
About the Library
The A.R.S. Inamdar Public Library is a modern public library that provides educational resources to students, researchers, and the local community. It offers a peaceful reading environment and a well-organized collection suitable for academic study and general reading.
Book Collection
Books on literature, history, science, commerce, management, competitive examinations, newspapers, magazines, children’s books, and reference materials.
Facilities
Timings
Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
5. COEP Central Library
Contact
Phone: +91 20 2550 7000
About the Library
The COEP Central Library is one of Maharashtra’s leading engineering libraries. It supports teaching, innovation, and research by providing students and faculty with access to high-quality technical literature and digital resources.
Book Collection
Over 150,000 books, technical journals, standards, patents, research papers, e-books, theses, and engineering reference materials.
Facilities
Timings
Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
6. Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) Library
Contact
Phone: +91 20 2565 4251
About the Library
Established in 1917, the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) Library is one of India’s most renowned research libraries. It is internationally recognized for its contribution to Sanskrit studies, Indology, archaeology, philosophy, and ancient Indian history. The institute is particularly famous for producing the Critical Edition of the Mahabharata and attracts scholars from around the world.
Book Collection
The library houses over 125,000 books and more than 28,000 rare manuscripts in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Pali, Persian, and several other languages. Its collection includes rare texts, journals, research papers, dictionaries, and historical documents.
Facilities
Timings
Monday–Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
7. MIT World Peace University Central Library
Contact
Phone: +91 20 7117 7104
About the Library
The MIT World Peace University Central Library is a modern academic library supporting teaching, research, and innovation. It offers a comprehensive collection of print and digital resources for students and faculty across engineering, management, law, pharmacy, design, sciences, and humanities.
Book Collection
The library houses over 150,000 books, research journals, e-books, theses, dissertations, conference proceedings, newspapers, magazines, and online research databases.
Facilities
Timings
Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
8. Gokhale Institute Library
Contact
Phone: +91 20 2565 0287
About the Library
The Gokhale Institute Library is one of India’s leading economics and social science libraries. It supports teaching and research through an extensive collection of books, journals, government publications, and statistical reports. Researchers, economists, and postgraduate students regularly use the library.
Book Collection
The library contains over 150,000 books, research journals, economic surveys, government reports, statistical publications, theses, dissertations, and digital databases focusing on economics, public policy, commerce, sociology, and related fields.
Facilities
Timings
Monday–Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
9. JustBooks Community Library
Contact
Available through JustBooks customer support.
About the Library
JustBooks Community Library is a membership-based lending library offering books for readers of all ages. It is known for its user-friendly borrowing system, curated collections, and family-friendly environment, making it a popular choice among children, professionals, and avid readers.
Book Collection
The library offers over 50,000 books across fiction, non-fiction, biographies, business, self-help, children’s literature, young adult fiction, graphic novels, and regional language books.
Facilities
Timings
Monday–Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
10. Albert Edward Institute Library
Location
Contact
Available through the institute.
About the Library
Established during the British era, the Albert Edward Institute Library is one of Pune’s historic public libraries. It continues to serve readers with a diverse collection of books and provides a peaceful reading environment for students, researchers, and local residents.
Book Collection
The library houses thousands of books on literature, history, biographies, science, philosophy, competitive examinations, children’s literature, newspapers, magazines, and reference materials.
Facilities
Timings
Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best library in Pune?
The best library in Pune depends on your needs. Jayakar Library is ideal for university students and researchers, while Pune Nagar Vachan Mandir is one of the city’s most popular public libraries. For ancient manuscripts and Indology research, the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI) Library is highly regarded.
Which is the biggest library in Pune?
Jayakar Library at Savitribai Phule Pune University is one of the largest academic libraries in Pune. It houses over 500,000 books, along with research journals, theses, dissertations, e-books, manuscripts, and digital resources.
Are public libraries in Pune free?
Most public libraries in Pune allow visitors to use the reading halls and reference sections free of charge. However, borrowing books generally requires a library membership, which may involve a nominal annual fee or refundable security deposit.
While physical libraries offer a peaceful environment and access to curated collections, they may not always be convenient due to location, operating hours, or borrowing limitations. For readers who prefer flexibility, digital platforms can complement the library experience by making books more accessible.
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