It is a library meant primarily for research and higher learning in the field of social sciences and humanities and reflects the interdisciplinary research ethos of the center. The collection consists of about 29,000 books and 5000 bound volumes of journals and a modest set of reports and booklets. More than 130 journals are received regularly.

Apart from works on contemporary themes, the library houses a rich collection of works on Asia and Africa, arms race and peace movement, non-European perspectives, science studies, ecology and environment, human rights collected over many years. Among the significant collections developing now, the areas are media, city/the urban, democracy, philosophy, political theory, cultural studies, art, history, and information society. There is a separate collection of Hindi books covering a broad range of subjects including literature.

The access to CSDS library collection has been computerized and the catalogue can be accessed through any computer in the center. The electronic journal database JSTOR and Project Muse can be accessed in the library. The CSDS library is a member of Developing Libraries Network (DELNET) and Social Science Libraries Network (SSLN).

The library is open for consultation to all scholars without any fee but only CSDS researchers are borrowing members.

The library is  proud to host the collection of the late Professor TGV or TG Vaidyanathan.

LIBRARY TIMINGS: 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM
                            Monday to Friday (Except Government holidays)