Delhi Public Library catalogue is going live on 2nd October with Koha 3.0, the consortia-quality open-source library management software. Users from across the world and nearly 45000 DPL members can now access the most current catalogue of Delhi Public Library system on its website at http://www.dpl.gov.in or http://59.176.17.111 DPL is very proud to be the first library in India to implement the latest version of Koha 3.0.

DPL at present has 15 lakh (1,500,000) books in its holdings spread across its network of zonal and branch libraries spread all over Delhi. Retro-conversion of such a massive collection is a huge and time consuming task. Hence DPL has planned to make implement koha in phases. To begin with the online catalogue of current acquisitions & books received under the Delivery of Books Act from 2007 and about 70,000 D.B.Act book's record available in cds/isis and conversion from cds/isis to MARC21 is already under way. Retro-conversion of old catalogue records is going to start soon and in the near future the entire catalogue will be made available online.

This is an important facet of DPL's modernization programme which was kick-started early this year. Other major initiatives are recently introduced Internet access service, a totally revamped and refurbished childrens' section. These new services are now available in the three libraries situated at Sarojini Nagar, S P Mukherjee Marg in Old Delhi and Patel Nagar. Soon DPL is going to use KOHA for computerizing circulation of DVDs in its three zonal libraries (Central Library, Sarojini Nagar and Patel Nagar). Response from public to these new services has been overwhelming and these will be introduced in other libraries as well in a phased manner.

Delhi Public Library is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Culture and governed by Delhi Library Board, started as a UNESCO project in the year 1951 by the Govt. of India. Delhi Public Library system includes a network of Zonal Libraries, Branches and Sub-branches Libraries, R.C.Libraries, Community Libraries, Deposit Stations, Mobile Library, Braille library, etc. spread all over Delhi. DPL provides free services to Delhi citizens. Its large book stock includes books in Hindi, English, Urdu, Punjabi & other Indian Languages, and almost all subjects are represented in its collection. The Delhi Public Library is also one of the four recipient libraries under the provision of Delivery of Books & Newspaper (Public Libraries) Act 1954 and busiest public library in Southeast Asia.