National Library

The library is situated at the Belvedere Estate, near Alipore Zoo in Kolkata (Kolkta). It is 4 km from Esplanade, 10 km from Howrah Station and 20 km from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The Esplanade Reading Room, which stacks newspapers is located at 6 Esplanade East, Kolkata 700 016, near Raj Bhavan. The Location Maps and Pictures of the Buildings
Postal Address	The National Library Belvedere KOLKATA India Pin: 700 027
Phone	Main Cmpus: 91-33-2479 1381 to 87  Esplanade Reading Room: 91-33-2248 7831 Director's Phone: 91-33-2479 2968 Librarian (PLIO): 91-33-2479 2467
Fax	91-33-2479 1462
Library Timings The library is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all the working days, and from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and other holidays. On holidays only the Lending section, Reading Rooms of the Main Building, Annexe Building, New Annexe Building and Esplanade Reading Room remain open. The Library remains entirely closed on 26 January (Republic Day), 15 August (Independence Day) and 2 October (Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday).
Membership Any person above 18 years of age, can become the member of the National Library. Separate membership is necessary for Reading Room and Lending Section. For membership one has to apply on prescribed forms. The membership will be provided under certain conditions. Applications for any kind of membership must be accompanied with two passport size photographs (4.5cm x 3.5cm).
Reprographic Charges
Photocopying Readers and institutions can get photocopies of pages from a book or a journal (maximum thirty page or one article or one third of a book—with special permission). The charges are Re 1.00 per exposure. (Minimum Charge: Rs 5.00)
Microfilming	Research scholars and institutions can get copies of microfilms or their bromide enlargements. The rates are  1. Microfilm Negative Rs 4.00 per exposure (minimum charge Rs.20.00) 2. Microfilm Positive Rs 20.00 per metre (minimum charge Rs 100.00)  3. Microfilm Reader Printer Copy (A3 and A4 only)  Rs 5.00 per copy from microfilms Rs 7.00 per copy from microfilms already available at the National Library 4. Enlargement Prints (Bromide Copy) in different sizes Rs 20.00 per print (600 sq cm or part thereof) (minimum charge Rs 50.00)
Statistics (The figures were estimated as on 31.03.2009. These are subject to revision after verification.) 1. Total number of books: 24,65,352 2. Number of books in Indian languages: 6,43,255 3. Number of maps: 88,161 4. Number of manuscripts: 3,227 5. Number of books received under the D.B. Act: 10,66,396 6. Number of current periodical titles (print): 17,530 7. Number of bound periodicals: 1,46,820 8. Number of newspapers (titles): 905 9. Number of bound newspapers: 11,745 10. Number of Indian official documents: 5,05,807 11. Number of microfilms: 6,042 12. Number of microfiche: 97,715 13. Number of Digital Image Material: 9,141 14. Total capacity of reading rooms: 814 15. Total shelf space: more than 45 Km. 16. Total area of Belvedere campus: 30 acres 17. Total covered area in the library buildings: 62,825.157 sq.m

The sprawling structure of the National Library, with a , most imposing facade and staircases in Belverde near Alipore houses collection of precious books in India. It is the biggest in India.
* This information is based on 12/07/2013 information.