Casa de la India Library is a centre specialising in providing information about India. It supports the educational and cultural activities of the Casa and promotes public access to its collections. As a specialised documentation centre, it aims to become a national reference point for academics and researchers.
Library collection
The library has a collection specialising in India, consisting of books, magazines, audiovisual materials (DVDs, CDs, VCDs) and multimedia (CD-ROMs). Most of the collection is in English, although there are also materials in Spanish and other Indian languages such as Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam. Users have access to films, documentaries, music and books, both fiction (novels, poetry and theatre) and non- fiction, organised by subject: philosophy, religion, society, politics, economics, travel, history, cuisine and art, to name a few.
For library lending service in Casa de la India library
Castile and León Library User Card
Issued by any of the libraries belonging to RABEL (Castile and León Library Network). This card is required for any type of loan
The minimum age for access to the library is fourteen, except for children’s activities taking place inside the library. To enter the library, it is essential to present your card to the staff upon request.
Services
Loans
Each user may borrow two books, one DVD, one CD and one multimedia item. The return period is 15 days for books and 7 days for audiovisual and multimedia items.
Reservations
Users may request a document from the catalogue that is currently on loan. The library will inform the user when the item becomes available, and the user will have two days to collect it.
Renewals
Book loans may be renewed provided that there are no pending reservations for the item.
Information, reference and search assistance
Service created for the purpose of guiding users to locate the documents they are looking for.
DSI (Selective Dissemination of Information)
Exclusive service for users with a Friend of Casa de la India card, which consists of regularly providing users with the results of a personalised search profile, providing them with information on new developments in a particular subject or topic of interest to them.
Wifi Zone
Exclusive service for users with a Friend of Casa de la India card. Users with a laptop can access the Internet free of charge.
Desiderata
Request for the acquisition of books, audiovisual and multimedia materials.
Suggestion box
Reading areas
Reading garden
Open during the summer months and for the exclusive use of Friends of Casa de la India.
Storage room
This is used for materials of special value and for duplicate or miscellaneous materials, and is only accessible to library staff.
Loan room
Located on the ground floor of the Casa, with access to most of the collection, which is classified on the various shelves.
Opening hours
The library is open to the public from Monday to Friday:
Mornings: 9:00 to 14:00
Afternoons: 16:00 to 18:00
Monday afternoons: closed
The library reserves the right to change its opening hours depending on the activities scheduled at Casa de la India and during holiday periods. Such changes will be announced well in advance on the Casa’s notice board and on its website.