Ravi J. Matthai Library, IRMA

Library Overview

Libraries are vital to strengthening and expanding an institute and its activities. IRMA's Ravi J Matthai Library was named after Prof. Ravi J Matthai, one of the founder members of the Institute and was formally inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, on March 22, 1986. The Ravi J. Mathai Library at IRMA is the country's most comprehensive and resourceful library in the area of rural management. India's rural sector has been subjected to inordinate changes, especially over the past two decades warranting changes in policy framework, institutional framework, and the eco-socio-political dynamics of rural society. The challenges posed by the underlying dynamics are both plentiful and daunting presenting limitless opportunities for exploration and learning.

The Ravi J Matthai Library supports the teaching and research programmes of the institute. It has built up a need-based collection to meet the information needs of the faculty and participants of various programmes of the institute. The collection includes books, journals, back volumes, project reports, microfilms, microfiche, videocassettes, maps, compact discs and state, national and international documents. It has developed an information retrieval and dissemination system for effective and efficient utilisation of the available resources. The library services happen to be fully automated through Koha software enabling searching, reporting, circulation and innumerable other functions. Linked to a campus-wide computer network the library provides easy access to faculty, students, and researchers through the intranet powered by Koha Web-OPAC. Services provided by the library include reference, library orientation, inter-library-loan, Internet access and photocopying. The library has also been subscribing to E-journals and Databases i.e. ABI-Inform (Management), EBSCO (Management, Environment, IT, Social sciences), JSTOR (Social Sciences Archives), CMIE databases (Prowess, Commodities, Economic Outlook & States of India) and Indiastat.com, a database of Socio-Economic statistical information, EPW & EPWRF, Sage e-journals etc. The library also subscribes to DELNET services which is a helpful resource for teaching and research.