1. Art of Living
International Library
Ved Vignan Mahavidya Peeth
Kanakpura Rd Bangalore

2. The Art of Living
International Library
is a unique and irreplaceable archive of books,
journals, audio, video and other media that
document spirituality in the context of scientific,
social and economic development over time.
Supplemented by leading technologies to
automate library processes, and to facilitate
widespread dispersal of this knowledge.

3. At a Glance

4. Mission
To contribute to H H Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision for a
stress-free and violence-free society
Through:
providing books and other resources in an
environment that fosters the dissemination of knowledge.
Uniqueness of Art of Living
To engage every section of society irrespective of age, group, class,
caste, religion to promote overall growth, well-being and
knowledge.

5. Mission
The mission is delivered through three core activities:
•Collecting • Preserving • Access
With the aim of providing:
 Knowledge to promote self-development
 Discussion forums
 Books and media spanning diverse cultures and religions.

6. Our Books
 Broad spectrum of human knowledge under one roof!
 Diverse spiritual books and scriptures
 Ayurveda, Agriculture, Environment, Fiction, Children,
Computers, Finance, Medical, Law, etc
 Around 12,000 books in all
 6,000 of which have been donated in the past 2 years
 Over 7,500 books have been cataloged so far
 Binding and preservation of old, precious books (ongoing)

7. Advanced Digital Library
 Best-in-Class Technologies and Paradigms
 FOSS: Free and Open Source Software (Koha and Ubuntu)
 Cloud Computing: using Amazon Web Services (AWS)
 OPAC: Online Public Access Catalog
 International Library Standards:
 MARC 21 bibliographic standard
 Z39.50 bibliographic search
 Z39.50 service: give back to the global library community

8. Website and OPAC
On our Library’s Website, users can:
Search for books online
Reserve books online (if available)
Enquire about library membership on the website
Soon: online registration via payment gateway
Click for
YouTube Video

9. Internal Library Management
Click for
YouTube Video

10. The Journey So Far

11. August 2012
We began with an empty hall

12. First Steps
Cleaned up the hall that was filled with pebbles
Used the pebbles to decorate the Library corners

13. Book Racks Laid Out

14. Unloading Books
More than 12000 books have
been obtained from the old
Ashram Library and
present-day donors

15. Sorting, Categorizing
Thousands of Books

16. How to Start Cataloging??
 Catalog: paper or digital?
 Many libraries were visited and examined
 Started searching for appropriate software/technology
 Software vendors sent quotations of lakhs of rupees and
several months of time (including Sumeru)
 With Gurudev’s grace, happened to meet a devotee at
Devi Puja: Ambar Seksena. He found and deployed
“Koha” - the free Library software we are using.
 Zaver Swamiji gave barcode printer and scanner

17. The Most Arduous Task:
Cataloging and Barcoding Each Book

18. The Library now stands at the
threshold of a new service paradigm
The combined forces of digital technology,
reader empowerment, co-location with
educational institutions in a new setting, provide
the impetus to bring the collections and services to
wider audiences in innovative ways.

19. People from Sumeru visiting and
using the library

20. Visitors At The Library

22. Observations and Requirements
 Repair work needed: glass ceiling
 Requirement for digitization/preservation
 Periodic maintenance: repair of shaking glass windows
 To block dust and rain: shades for 8 mesh windows
 To block direct light and oxidation of the books: curtains
 Need more terminals to include up to date library services like
Ebooks, moving images, sound, E learning and discussion rooms
 Security door/camera
 Online registration through payment gateway

23. Library's Unique Contribution
 Arouse curiosity in industry executives visiting the Library
to discover the Art of Living programs and campus
 Encourage non Art of Living members to use the
Discussion Room on subjects of interest
 A peaceful environment for people in neighboring
institutions to conduct study and research

24. Gratitude!
 Ambar: software work, sponsoring Website and Domain
costs
 Zaverji: for giving bar-code printer and scanner
 Buildtech Company: for sponsoring and installing the
front door
 VP Gupta: helped with a donation to the Library
 Mr Rajagopal, EVP HDFC Mumbai: donated 50k
 Uma Madan: donated the TV and VCR
 All the people who donated books, seva, time, money and
energy to this project
 Free subscription from Asian Agri Society

25. Ved Vignan Mahavidya Peeth, 21st KM
Kanakpura Main Road, Bangalore 560082