{{Short description|Library in Prayagraj, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox library | name = Allahabad Public Library | logo = Thornhill Mayne Memorial, Alfred Park, Allahabad.jpg | country = [[India]] | type = [[Public library]] | ref_legal_mandate = | location = [[Prayagraj]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] | coordinates = {{coord|25.4557596855282|81.84941995931914}} | established = 1864<ref name="PublicTOI"/> | num_branches = | collection_size = approx. 125,000 books, 40 magazines and 28 newspapers<ref name="PublicTOI"/> | annual_circulation = | pop_served = 55,100 reader inclusive of 1,271 membership (2013-14)<ref name="PublicTOI"/> | budget = | director = | num_employees = | website = {{URL|http://agplib.org/}} }} '''Allahabad Public Library''', also known as '''Thornhill Mayne Memorial''', is a public library situated at [[Chandrashekhar Azad Park]] in [[Prayagraj]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Handbook of the Bengal Presidency: With an Account of Calcutta City |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookbengalp00eastgoog |quote=Thornhill Mayne Memorial.|year=1882 |publisher=John Murray |page=[https://archive.org/details/handbookbengalp00eastgoog/page/n381 366]}}</ref>
== History == Established in 1864, it is the biggest library in the state of [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name="PublicTOI" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://mediaindia.eu/freestyle/a-bibliophiles-travel-itinerary-2/ | title=A bibliophile's travel itinerary | date=11 April 2017 | first=Surbhi | last=Kapila | publisher=Media India Group | access-date=13 July 2018 }}</ref> The building was designed by Richard Roskell Bayne and is considered a remarkable example of [[Scottish Baronial architecture|Scottish Baronial Revival architecture]].<ref name="TGEIAAp57">{{cite book |title=The Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture, Volume 3|author=Jonathan M. Bloom, Sheila Blai|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year= 2009|isbn=978-8125013839 |page=57 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=un4WcfEASZwC&dq=holy+trinity+church+allahabad&pg=PA57 }}</ref> The monument served as the house of legislative assembly in the [[British Raj]] when Allahabad was the capital of the [[United Provinces of British India|United Provinces]]. In 1879, the Public library was shifted to the present premises at Chandrashekhar Azad Park.
==Holdings== The library has an approximate collection of 125,000 books, 40 types of magazines, and 28 different newspapers in [[Hindi]], [[English language|English]], [[Urdu]] and [[Bengali language|Bangla]] and it also contains 21 [[Arabic]] manuscripts.<ref name="PublicTOI">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Public library witnesses 37% increase in readers |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Public-library-witnesses-37-increase-in-readers/articleshow/43224473.cms |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |location=Allahabad |date=23 September 2014 |access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> It also has a collection of old government publications, parliamentary papers, and blue books of the 19th century, and old manuscripts and journals.<ref name="GovtTOI">{{cite news |last=Dixit |first=Kapil |date=12 June 2013 |title=Govt public library gets international recognition |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Govt-public-library-gets-international-recognition/articleshow/20547384.cms |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |location=Allahabad |access-date=6 October 2014}}</ref>
==Building== The building known as Thornhill Mayne Memorial is situated at [[Alfred Park]]<ref name="GovtTOI"/> and was designed by Richard Roskell Bayne in [[Scottish Baronial architecture]] with sharp pillars and [[Turret (architecture)|turrets]] of granite and sandstone. It represents [[Polychrome|structural polychromy]] with lofty towers and arcaded [[cloisters]].<ref name=TGEIAAp57/><ref>{{cite book |last=Chandra |first=Ramesh |title=Cities and towns of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8-ZOAAAAMAAJ&q=queen+victoria |year=2004 |publisher=Commonwealth Publishers |page=393|isbn=9788171698080 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Michell |first=George |title=The Penguin Guide to the Monuments of India: Islamic, Rajput, European |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fa5NAAAAYAAJ&q=Thornhill+Mayne+Memorial |year=1989 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |page=202|isbn=9780140084252 }}</ref> When completed in 1870, the building cost approximately [[Indian rupee|INR]] 94,222.<ref>{{cite book |title=Various Census of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9KgIAAAAQAAJ&dq=Thornhill+Mayne+Memorial&pg=PA117 |year=1877 |publisher=Oxford University |page=117}}</ref> It was funded by Commissioner of Allahabad, Mr. Mayne and was opened as a memorial to Cuthbert Bensley Thornhill.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sharma |first=Om Prakash |author-link=Om Prakash Sharma (librarian) |title=Forces Behind the Indian Public Library Movement, 1858-1892 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x2noAAAAMAAJ&q=Thornhill+Mayne+Memorial |year=1970 |publisher=[[University of Chicago Graduate Library School]] |page=243}}</ref>
== Gallery == {{gallery|mode=packed |Public Library Prayagraj 4.jpg|Allahabad Public Library, Prayagraj |File:Interior of Allahabad Public Library - Allahabad - Uttar Pradesh - India (12564081663).jpg|Interior of Allahabad Public Library }}
==See also== * [[List of tourist attractions in Prayagraj]] * [[List of libraries in India]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{commons category}} {{Prayagraj landmarks}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Public libraries in India]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Prayagraj]] [[Category:Libraries in Uttar Pradesh]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Prayagraj]] [[Category:Library buildings completed in 1870]] [[Category:1870 establishments in India]]