The public libraries and local libraries in India play a vital role in creating readers and enabling enthusiasts to read. Many students and readers still visit libraries regularly to access printed copies or hard copies of a wide range of books, materials, and resources. But the number of readers switching from conventional libraries to online or digital libraries has been increasing consistently. Many people these days doubt the relevance of conventional libraries in a digitized world.
According to the Times of India,
“Preserving the books, providing information and space for reading has been the very purpose of libraries for ages. But today, at a time when information is at the disposal of the users around the clock through digital modes – are libraries still relevant, and should resource be spent on libraries. One cannot debate the fact that a visit to the library is on a decline.”
In India, many libraries have already started converting traditional print resources into digital resources. Likewise, many schools, colleges, and universities have already set up digital libraries that allow readers to access materials and resources in varying digital formats – ebooks, PDF documents, static images, infographics, audiobooks, video, journals, quizzes, and simulations. We have prepared this list of digital libraries in India to make it easier for students and readers to access the desired content without putting in extra time and effort.
Overview of Digital Libraries in India
The digital transformation of India’s education system has brought about a remarkable rise in digital libraries. These platforms serve as virtual knowledge hubs, offering access to books, academic journals, videos, and other learning resources anytime, anywhere. Whether you’re a student in a metro city or a teacher in a rural village, digital libraries bridge the gap in educational access. In recent years, national initiatives like NDLI and state-level programs have further propelled the adoption of these platforms. Our curated list of digital libraries in India offers an up-to-date guide to the most impactful resources available today. These libraries not only promote self-paced learning but also support the broader goals of digital literacy and inclusive education. From government-funded platforms to private and institutional initiatives, the ecosystem is growing fast and getting smarter.
Government & Policy Initiatives
The Indian government has played a pivotal role in promoting digital learning through projects like the National Digital Library of India (NDLI), part of the Ministry of Education’s National Mission on Education through ICT (NMEICT). This initiative alone hosts over 70 million academic resources across disciplines. State governments have followed suit with projects such as the Tamil Nadu Digital Library, enabling localized access to e-books and reference materials. Policies like the NEP 2020 encourage institutions to embrace digital platforms, making digital libraries a core part of modern education. These initiatives aim to democratize access to knowledge and overcome geographical, economic, and linguistic barriers. Through these efforts, the idea of Digital Libraries in India has evolved from a concept to a national movement. The impact is visible in improved learning outcomes and increased accessibility to quality content.
Types of Digital Libraries in India
Digital libraries in India can be broadly categorized into national, academic, subject-specific, public, and special libraries. National digital libraries like NDLI serve learners across the country, while academic repositories are created by universities and research institutions for their communities. Subject-specific libraries, such as the Medical Knowledge Hub or Law Library India, focus on niche domains for targeted learners. Public or community digital libraries are designed for general use, often managed by municipalities or NGOs, and sometimes deployed in rural or underserved areas. Lastly, special libraries cater to needs like accessible content for visually impaired learners or regional-language collections. This classification helps readers find platforms most aligned with their academic goals or professional development. Adding this structure to our list of digital libraries in India improves both usability and SEO clarity.
An Attempt to Prepare a Comprehensive List of Digital Libraries in India
National Digital Library of India (NDLI)
The Government of India has launched the National Digital Library of India (NDLI) with the aim of making online resources and materials available to students from primary to postgraduate levels. The students currently have the option to access over 58000000 online resources in many Indian languages. Also, they can find the relevant learning resources by initiating searches based on important criteria like type, subject, and source. The NDLI has been collaborating with top digital libraries across the world to enable students to study at home by accessing additional and high-quality content.
Universal Digital Library
The Universal Digital Library was launched as part of the Million Book Project. It aims to collect and preserve the artistic, literary, and scientific works of mankind in digital format. At present, students and readers can visit the Universal Digital Library online to access millions of books scanned and cataloged by the team. The readers can use the advanced search options included on the website to find relevant information in seconds. Also, they have the option to browse through the collection of ebooks and digital resources. They can do that using important criteria like the book title, author, year of publication, subject, and language.
Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB)
As a set of principles and practices, Open Access (OA) makes research output accessible to students and researchers without any cost or restrictions. The Directory of Open Access Books is developed with the aim of making open-access books accessible to researchers instantly and seamlessly. A researcher can find the relevant open-access book using either the advanced search option or browsing the resources using parameters like title, subject, and publisher. At the same time, academic publishers can enhance the discoverability of their open-access books by providing metadata. The students can access and read the content from DOAB without any restrictions. But they have to follow the licensing guidelines to reuse the content for any purpose.
Internet Archive
The non-profit digital library allows readers to access a wide range of online content for free. The users can access the Internet Archive to find information and content by searching over 525 billion web pages. Also, they can access books, videos, audio, images, and web pages from some of the popular online sources. Some of these sources are Universal Libraries, American Libraries, Canadian Libraries, Children’s Library, Project Gutenberg, and Community Texts. Internet Archive makes it easier for readers to find relevant content by organizing digital books by language.
British Council Online Library
As an international organization, the British Council has been promoting cultural relationships and creating educational opportunities in many countries, including India. In addition to helping Indians learn English, the British Council also allows members to access an online library. An individual can access the online library hosted by the British Council by becoming a digital library member. The digital library membership enables individuals to read and download a wide variety of digital content – ebooks, e-journals, e-magazines, e-newspapers, audiobooks, games, and school resources. Also, the members can stream live concerts, watch theatre performances, and access music documentaries 24 hours a day.
Delhi University Library System (DULS)
Delhi University Library System (DULS) makes over 37 libraries in its fold accessible to a wider academic community over the internet. The students, teachers, and research scholars can access digital content stored in 63 high-quality electronic databases using the campus network. However, the students who are studying in other universities still lack the option to access and leverage DULS. The students and research scholars studying in colleges under Delhi University can access and borrow a variety of digital content using a membership generated electronically.
How to Choose the Right Digital Library
With so many options available, selecting the right digital library depends on several factors such as your educational level, field of interest, and preferred language. Learners should look for platforms that offer a wide content repository, support multi-language access, and are easy to navigate. Mobile compatibility, offline access, and content variety (text, video, audio) are also critical. For example, a medical student may prefer MedInd, while a school teacher in a remote village might benefit more from Mintbook’s portable digital library box (mbox) with offline access. Always check if the platform is free, government-funded, or requires a subscription. Our list of digital libraries in India includes both public and private options to help you make an informed choice. This ensures the library you choose truly supports your learning goals.
Future Trends & Challenges
As India advances toward a digital-first future, the next wave of digital libraries will likely include AI-powered learning paths, voice search in regional languages, and even immersive VR-based content. Blockchain is also being explored to manage content copyrights and traceable usage. However, challenges persist, such as inadequate digital infrastructure in remote areas, a lack of digital literacy among users, and the need for content in local dialects. Data privacy and content piracy are also growing concerns. Despite these hurdles, the growth trajectory of Digital Libraries in India remains strong, driven by government policies, edtech innovation, and rising demand for self-paced learning. Addressing these issues will unlock the full potential of digital learning platforms in the country.
About Mintbook
Mintbook is one of the major providers of cloud-based digital library solutions that specifically cater to the Indian learning systems. It allows readers to access over one million digital resources in a variety of formats – eBooks, PDF documents, audio, video, infographics, images, quizzes, and simulations. Also, the digital library is developed by combining content from over 100 publishers in more than 10 languages. The learners can access the digital library on both computers and mobile devices. Likewise, educational institutions can boost the learning experience of students by integrating the digital library solution with learning management systems (LMS) and virtual classroom software. Mintbook has also been helping many public libraries go digital.
You can get in touch with eLearning experts to create a custom digital library suited to your needs.
Related Resources & Further Reading
If you’re interested in building your own digital learning environment, explore our guides:
These resources will help you understand how to leverage digital libraries effectively across different educational settings in India.
