Daniel Poor Memorial Library in Madurai: Difference between revisions

| name = Daniel Poor Memorial Library

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'''Daniel Poor Memorial Library''' often abbreviated as DPM Library is a century old college central library of [[The American College in Madurai|The American College, Madurai]], [[Tamil Nadu]] in [[India]] that officially began its functions on June 28, 1915.

Daniel Poor was one of the pioneer missionaries of the [[American Board]] who started the [[American Ceylon Mission]] in [[Jaffna]] in 1816. He was also one of the founders for the [[American Madura Mission]] established in Madurai (then [[Madurai|Madura]]) in 1835. Samuel A Morman, the granddaughter of Dr. [[Daniel Poor]], was the key person to build the library building by donating $25,000 to the [[American Board of Missionaries]] on January 26, 1926.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://americancollege.edu.in/departments-2/library-2|title=Daniel Poor Memorial Library, The American College, Madurai |access-date=2021-06-10}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.americancollege.edu/Lib_History.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613162341/http://www.americancollege.edu/Lib_History.aspx |archive-date=2011-06-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Between 1914 and 1920, J. A. Sanders worked as its first [[librarian]], establishing the [[college library]]. This building was originally planned for a ground floor that would house a stack room for about 50,000 volumes, a small museum, and a teacher's room. The first floor was to house a library study room and two lecture rooms. Presently this building houses a stack room, a reference section, a reading room, technical section and a computerized student access catalog system. Stack room at the library houses more than 1,60,000 volumes. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://americancollege.edu.in/departments-2/library-2|title=Daniel Poor Memorial Library, The American College, Madurai |access-date=2021-06-10}}</ref> <ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Indian Library Directory|author1=Singh, J.|author2=Seṭhī, Ā.|author3=Indian Library Association|date=1985|publisher=Indian Library Association|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3V_oAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=2015-04-05}}</ref>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[File:Tamil palm-leaf manuscript of Ciṟupañcamūlam 2.jpg|A palm leaf manuscript with ancient Tamil text in DPM|300x200px|thumb]]

The library boast's rare antiques, archaeological artifacts and ancient coins of [[Pandyan Dynasty]], [[Cholas]] as well. Many ancient palm leaf script copies like [[Tiruvacakam]], [[Manimekalai]] etc. are preserved here under rare archives section.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Shrikumar|first=A.|date=2015-08-26|title=The library that has outlived a century|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/history-of-a-100yearold-library-in-madurai/article7582873.ece|access-date=2021-05-08|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Important letter correspondence between the Indian Government and The American Missionaries are preserved here, wood carvings from [[Nayak dynasty|Nayak]] period, five metal bronze statues of Vishnu and other Hindu gods, Indonesian wood carvings and wooden statues dated more than 1000 years etc. are few among the collection.<ref name=":0" />