About us
The Library at ICTS, officially known as the "Scientific Information Resource Centre" (SIRC), is the most distinctive structure on ICTS campus. Its striking design, featuring an interior spiral ramp leading to a dome, draws comparisons to the renowned Guggenheim Museum in New York.
The primary aim of the library is to curate, organise, preserve, and provide access to a wide array of scholarly resources for the ICTS community. Currently, the library houses an impressive collection of over 2800 print books, primarily focused on Physics and Mathematics. In addition to physical resources, it offers access to a wide range of electronic resources from leading academic publishers. The library's operations are fully automated, employing state-of-the-art software tools and RFID technology to enhance efficiency and accessibility. The centre is supervised by 'SIRC committee' consisting of the librarian and three members from the faculty and administration.
Staff:
1. Devanath P R, Scientific Assistant (Library)
2. Archana Mahantashettar, Library Trainee
About us
The Library at ICTS, officially known as the "Scientific Information Resource Centre" (SIRC), is the most distinctive structure on ICTS campus. Its striking design, featuring an interior spiral ramp leading to a dome, draws comparisons to the renowned Guggenheim Museum in New York.
The primary aim of the library is to curate, organise, preserve, and provide access to a wide array of scholarly resources for the ICTS community. Currently, the library houses an impressive collection of over 2800 print books, primarily focused on Physics and Mathematics. In addition to physical resources, it offers access to a wide range of electronic resources from leading academic publishers. The library's operations are fully automated, employing state-of-the-art software tools and RFID technology to enhance efficiency and accessibility. The centre is supervised by 'SIRC committee' consisting of the librarian and three members from the faculty and administration.
Staff:
1. Devanath P R, Scientific Assistant (Library)
2. Archana Mahantashettar, Library Trainee
Opening hours and access
All ICTS members have access to the library's resources, facilities, and services. Your ICTS identity card serves as your library card. The library is open 24/7 to ICTS members, ensuring round-the-clock access. For visitors, free access is available on weekdays, from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. However, visitors can obtain temporary access cards from the relevant office (see details below) for after-hours entry. Outside of staffed hours (from 5:30 PM to 9:30 AM) and during holidays, the Access Control System is activated. You can enter the library by scanning your valid ICTS identity card. To exit the library, wave your hand in front of the sensor near the exit door to unlock it for a moment. In case of emergencies, the security at the reception desk holds an access card. Visitors needing access beyond staffed hours or on holidays should contact the relevant office to receive a temporary access card:
Please note that the ID cards are strictly non-transferable and must not be used by anyone other than the cardholder. For further assistance or any questions, feel free to reach out to library@icts.res.in.
Borrowing and managing your library account
If you are a new member, visit the library to sign up to access the library services.
- All ICTS members can borrow 10 books for a loan period of 45 days and can be renewed twice. Remember that if another user has reserved the book you borrowed or if you have exceeded the loan deadline, you will not be able to renew the book.
- Books meant for consultation (categorized as Reference/Not for Loan) in the library are excluded from the loan.
- Borrowed items should be handled with great care and should be returned or renewed on or before the due date.
- You must check the book before borrowing it to ensure that it is not damaged. If a book is found to be damaged or certain pages are missing, you should get this statement recorded on the book from the library staff. Otherwise, you shall be held responsible for the damage discovered at the time of returning the book.
- The library reserves the right to call back any issued book or item at any time.
Follow the below guides for more information on borrowing and managing your library account.
How to library search for books on opac
How to locate a book on the shelf
How can I return my books?
The easiest way to return your books is by using the self-service kiosk in the library. Check your email or get a receipt to confirm that the item(s) have been returned. The book will remain your responsibility until it has been received at the library.
Request material
This service is open to all registered ICTS members.
If the book you are looking for is not part of our collection, you can request it. There are 3 types of requests:
- purchase a book: If the material you are looking for is not part of our collection but you think it should be, fill out a Recommendation form.
- borrow a book from a partner institution (through InterLibrary Loan)
- request a (probably) free PDF of an article or chapter from a partner institution (through InterLibrary Loan)
To request, email library at library@icts.res.in
Email your recommendations on online resources and other services to library@icts.res.in.
Before you make a recommendation, please search the catalog to see if it is already available in our collection. The library reviews each recommendation and acquires it if found appropriate.
Print books published outside India may take 8-10 weeks to acquire.
Reference service
Have problem locating a document? Have questions about online/offline resources? Please seek assistance from the library staff. we are always happy to help you. Email us at library@icts.res.in.
You can get access to reference sources like dictionaries, handbooks, and other not-for-loan materials to refer to inside the library.
Using other libraries
- Please mail us at library@icts.res.in if you would like to access any Library in India, we will try to get you in.
Kindle e-reading facility
Library offers Kindle e-reading facility in the Library.
The library has a Kindle device and a subscription to ‘Kindle Unlimited’. You can issue a Kindle device and read inside the library (it cannot be issued outside the library).
Kindle Unlimited includes books on:
Indian Language e-books and so on.
Drop by in your free time to make use of this.
Flip Through
FLIP-Through is a weekly Article Alert service for ICTS members. We will share interesting articles from standard journals, magazines, newspapers, and other sources. You may go through the archive of the previously shared articles. The objective is to encourage ICTS members to explore fascinating topics.
You can Sign up for alerts of this service (use ICTS email): https://groups.google.com/a/icts.res.in/group/flip.through/subscribe
Open Access Publishing
- To make Open Access Publishing comfortable for DAE researchers, DAE has negotiated terms and conditions (transformative agreements) for many journals with Springer Nature & Wiley where DAE authors can publish Open Access at no cost to them (Article charges covered centrally by DAE). These agreements include access to 2600+ Springer journals, 60+ Nature journals, and 1300+ Wiley journals.
- You may wish to read Open Access in Physics | Mathematics | Biology.
- You may wish to consult this list of potential predatory journals and publishers before submitting your work.
In the below table click on the Publisher name for more information on publishing open access:
|
Publisher |
Journals/ Description |
Article Processing Charges (Approx.) |
|
Free |
||
|
Physical Review Accelerators and Beams, Physical Review C, Physical Review D, Physical Review Letters. This only applies to articles posted to arXiv.org in the hep-* categories |
Free |
|
|
Physical Review Journals |
USD 1,390 - 4,285 |
|
|
USD 1,625 - 3,255 |
||
|
EURO 150 - 2,250 |
||
|
Varies |
||
|
Nuclear Physics B, Physics Letters B |
Free |
|
|
USD 200 - 10,100 |
||
|
Reduced APCs for authors based in lower-middle income countries |
USD 1,350 - 4,325 |
|
|
CHF 971 - 2,900 |
||
|
USD 790 - 6,850 |
||
|
Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (PTEP) |
Free |
|
|
USD 0 - 7,256 |
||
|
SciPost Physics, SciPost Physics Core |
Free |
|
|
Free (DAE Transformative agreement) |
||
|
Varies |
||
|
Publish open access in a hybrid (subscription) journal that offers open access, or submit your article to a fully open access journal that is covered under the agreement. |
Free (DAE Transformative agreement) |
|
|
Varies |
Gifts/Donations
The Library welcomes gifts of books and other reading materials that are deemed to be within the scope of the Institute’s research areas; and unique books or reading materials in science shall be accepted depending on the item's physical condition.
Although exceptions may be made for rare or unique materials, the following types of items we do not accept:
- items that are duplicated in our collection (except some important books);
- children’s books;
- popular fiction and trade books;
- issues of journals/periodicals;
- media (e.g., DVDs, video/audio cassettes, CDs);
- popular magazines.
Likewise, material that shows signs of mold, infestation, or significant degradation will not be accepted.
Conditions of Acceptance:
- Upon acceptance, a gift becomes the property of ICTS Library.
- The Library reserves the right to determine if the donated item(s) will be added to the collection, where the item(s) will be located within the collection, and how the item(s) will be made accessible.
- We do not provide an appraisal.
How to donate:
Please contact the Library staff in person or
Speak on the Phone: 080 4653 6080 or
Email: library@icts.res.in
Library Policy
General
- You must carry your ICTS identity card while using the library. These cards are Not Transferable. In the event of loss of the card, please report it to the establishment.
- Personal belongings are to be kept on the shelf provided at the entrance, and it is advised not to leave any valuable items. The library shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to personal belongings. Users should take care of their possessions at all times.
- Strict silence, decorum, and discipline must be maintained in the library.
- Smoking, eating, sleeping, loud conversations, and similar objectionable practices are strictly not allowed in or around the library premises.
- Mobile phones / Electronic devices may only be used for silent functions.
- The library staff is authorized to examine everything that passes into or out of the library.
- The books taken out of the shelves should be left on the reading tables; do not reshelve them.
- Click here to learn about some specific precautions you need to take when borrowing library books.
- A "No-Due" certificate should be obtained from the Library and presented to the administration before a person leaves the institute on long leave, gets transferred, or submits a resignation.
Loss and Defacement of Books, Periodicals, and any other library material
- Users must not mark, damage, misuse, move, or remove items belonging to the library, including furnishings, fittings, and equipment.
- If you believe you have lost a book, you should email library@icts.res.in as soon as possible to report it to the library. We will carry out some checks to make sure the book has not been returned to the library.
- In the event of a book being lost, damaged, or in any similar case, the borrower shall either replace it or pay the cost of replacement with an additional 10% handling fee. Book grants may not be used to settle library dues. Any member who is determined to have defaced or damaged any library item intentionally, in addition to the above penalty, will have his or her library privileges revoked for a period determined by the SIRC committee, and the library privileges may be revoked permanently for multiple or serious offenses and strict action will be taken.
The policies are subject to revision or change from time to time. The 'SIRC committee’ reserves the right to make any decision in the interest of the library or institution.
If you have any queries, email us library@icts.res.in.
Library Internship
The ICTS Library offers an internship programme to the students of Library and Information Science courses in India.
- The internship is open to students pursuing Library and Information Science from any recognized University/Institute in India.
- The internship duration is up to one month, or as required by the student's institution, but will not exceed two months.
- Only one student shall be accepted at a time; new applications will be considered only after the ongoing internship is completed.
- Working hours are Monday through Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm.
- Applications must be submitted through the Chairperson of the Department/ Dean/ Head of the respective University/Institute, addressed to the Administrative Officer, International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS-TIFR), Bangalore (email to abhijit.de@icts.res.in with cc to library@icts.res.in).
- Applications should be submitted well in advance, as the approval and confirmation process requires at least one month.
- ICTS will not provide financial support for the internship; students must make their own arrangements for travel, accommodation, and other expenses.
- Upon successful completion of the internship and an evaluation, students will be issued a certificate.
- Practical exposure to day-to-day library operations.
- Procedures for acquiring library resources; books, e-resources, and dailies.
- Hands-on experience with the Koha library management system; book circulation using RFID, patron management, acquisitions, cataloging, renewals, reservations, lists, and report generation.
- Applications of Library RFID systems.
- Organizing books according to the Library of Congress Classification System.
- Documentation processes for audits.
- Familiarity with library policies and procedures.
What a student can expect to learn during the internship:
Past internships:
Ms. Sneha A.N. from Tumkur University (3rd October 2024 - 2nd November 2024).