Kannada Collection

Collection Details
Description of Collection
Subjects of the Collection
Collection Material and Size of Collection
Collection Management Information
Collection Catalogue Information
Collection Printed Catalogues

Collection Details

Kannada Collection held at Asian and African Studies [Institution record]

British Library Public Catalogue

Description of Collection

Content description

Manuscripts: a collection of approximately 82 items including palm leaf, copper and paper manuscripts.

Early & Modern printed books and periodicals: the whole range of humanities and social sciences subjects are covered, mainly obtained directly from India through purchase, gift and exchange. The monograph collection amounts to over roughly 20,000 items spread across various catalogues.

History and development

The collection between 1867 to 1948 by copyright requisitioning under the (Indian) Press and Registration of Books Act (Act XXV of 1867).

Strengths

The 19th & early to mid- 20th century collection of Kannada materials is very important. This strength is complemented by relevant records on Karnataka, held by the IOLR at OIOC. The collection of early printed material of Christian literature by various missionaries in Kannada, Konkani in Kannada script, and Tulu in Kannada script is also significant.

A small of segment of literature in Kannada script belonging to the Srivaishnava sect using Tamil syllables which can not be expressed by Kannada syllables is another significant feature of this collection.

General arrangement and access regulations

The collection is organised into the following sections: manuscripts, early printed books, and a research collection of modern printed books, periodicals, newspapers, audio/video materials.

Subjects of the Collection

Regions of Asia

South Asia.

Countries

India.

Languages of material

Kannada.

Subjects

Agriculture, Anthropology, Archaeology, Arts, Communication and media, Development, Economics, Education, Environmental sciences, Geography, History, Human rights, Industries, International relations, Language, Law, Literature, Medicine, Music, Philosophy, Politics and government, Recreation, Religion, Science and technology, Sociology, Travel, Women.

Collection Material and Size of Collection

Material Types

Books, Manuscripts, Newspapers (includes microfilm editions), Serials.

Total size of collection

82 manuscripts, 20,000 volumes of printed books and periodicals

Collection Management Information

The collection is being actively developed, and the average intake has fallen.

Annual intake

300

Content date range

0 to 0 AD

Collection Catalogue Information

Catalogue

No catalogue of Kannada manuscripts in OC or IOL has yet been published. 16 Kannada items are included in Indian charters on copper plates / A. Gaur, London, 1975. A total of 4191 Kannada titles are available on BPLC. IOLR Catalogue of Kannada Books to 1970, IOLR/OC Kannada catalogue 1972-1983 edited by Nalini Persad (currently in microfilm, paper copy for the Reading Room is under preparation).

British Library Public Catalogue

Catalogue transliteration schemes

ALA-LC romanization tables in the online catalogue, various styles of romanization in the printed catalogues.

Collection printed catalogues

Indian charters on copper plates.
Gaur, A.
London, 1975.

A Catalogue of the Kannada, Badaga, and Kurg books in the library of the British Museum.
Barnett, L.D.
1910.

Supplementary Catalogue of Kannada Books in the British Library Department of Printed Books, India Office Library and Records.
Gaur, A.
1985.