The Panjab University Extension Library is outcome of the joint effort of the Panjab University Chandigarh, University Grant Commission and Indian Wheat Loan Education Exchange Programme of US Embassy. Late 1959, a UGC Committee with the representatives of Panjab University and the Wheat Loan Office visited Ludhiana and after looking into the claims of the town of Ludhiana with its large number of
students and teachers, the teaching facilities offered at undergraduate and graduate levels in the local colleges and the library facilities available in the town, the committee finally decided to establish an Extension Library at this place. Funds were made available, a skeleton staff was recruited and a centrally located building was acquired on rent. In the early stages of the set-up of this library at Ludhiana, the work of book acquisition were done at the Panjab University Library Chandigarh, but later on the entire work was transferred to Ludhiana in April 1960. With the help of the funds provided by the UGC the PL 480 contribution received through the U.G.C., the Panjab University got funds and generous book donations from the Asia Foundation, the British Council, the US Information Service and United State Book Exchange Programme, the library had built up an initial representative collection of over 43,000 books. The actual construction work of the present building was started in June, 1966. The building plans were prepared by the Panjab University Architect, Shri B.P. Mathur in consultation with the then Panjab University Librarian Dr. Jagdish S. Sharma. Funds for the library building were provided by the U.G.C., the State Government, the Local Zila Parishad, and by the Panjab University Chandigarh from the Universitys own resources. The present building was built at a cost of about Rs 9 lakh. The building has a covered area of 250.X 150.. It has a stacking capacity of about 150,000 volumes and seating accommodation for 200 readers at a time. Besides this, there is provision in the library building for an auditorium with a seating capacity of 250 for holding Seminars, film shows, dramas, etc. Now, this auditorium is being extensively used by the Panjab University Regional Centre, Ludhiana for different educational programs. The library is administered through local committee consisting of the Vice. Chancellor, Panjab University (Chairman), Director PURC Ludhiana (Senior Vice Chairman), Principal of the Local affiliated colleges, the Syndicates & Senate Members of the Panjab University residing at Ludhiana, Librarian, Panjab University Library Chandigarh, Librarian, PAU and the Librarian of the Extension Library as ex-officio secretary. At present the library has a collection of over 1.67 lakh publications which include books, bound volumes of journals, dissertations, rare books, reports, governments documents, standards, back files of newspaper, Braille books, University result gazette/ notification/ syllabi etc.
