The academic library movement in India during the 20th century marked a pivotal era in the development of higher education and knowledge dissemination across the nation. Academic libraries, serving as the cornerstone of universities, colleges, and research institutions, underwent significant transformation during this period, reflecting broader social, economic, and political changes in the country.

At the beginning of the 20th century, India’s academic libraries were rudimentary, primarily serving colonial institutions and catering to the needs of a limited elite class. The libraries were inadequately funded, lacked infrastructure, and had minimal access to contemporary resources. Most academic institutions had small collections of books, largely in English, with limited focus on indigenous knowledge or research. The library services were passive, and the concept of organized library science had not yet taken root.

The foundation for change was laid with the establishment of major universities such as the University of Calcutta, University of Bombay, and University of Madras in the latter half of the 19th century. These institutions began developing library systems to support their academic programs. However, the real momentum for the academic library movement emerged