The library has a well-defined collection development policy and uses multi-prolonged strategies to develop and enrich its collection. It purchases published material on a regular basis by going through a variety of book selection tools. Its collection of institutional reports/ papers is developed primarily through networking at the local, regional, national and international levels. Along with these channels, the library also receives relevant material as gifts from individual scholars/ researchers and organizations from time to time.
The thrust subject areas over the last few years have been Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, Computer Science, Social Science, Sociology, Statistical Quality Control & Operations Research, Economics etc. The collection is primarily in the English language. Present collection consists of:
- Books & Conference Proceedings
- Printed: 129000+
- Ebooks: 700+
- Gift and Exchange Documents: 30000+
- Reports & Records: 20000+
- Current Journals
- Print: 1000
- E-Journals/Databases: 800+
- Bound Volume: 60000+
- CD-ROM: 1000+
- Reprints: 32000 [Closed]
- Special Collections
- P.C. Mahalanobis Personal Collection: If the wealth of an Academic Institute lies beyond the depth of its coffers into the richness of its scholarship, then Professor P.C. Mahalanobis, Founder Director is a major benefactor to the Central Library. During his lifetime, he donated many books and journals to the Central Library. However, after his death in 1972, the Central Library took possession of his remaining personal collection of nearly 4000+ books and periodicals on statistics, mathematics, economics and literature. The collection is housed in Special Collections, on the third floor of the Library building.
- W.A. Shewhart Personal Collection: Dr W A Shewhart personal collection was offered as a gift to the Indian Statistical Institute, and the Governing Body and Council of the Institute accepted the offer in 1965. The Shewhart collection, which constitutes a special wing of the Central Library of the Institute contains in all 3060 volumes, including 112 reprints of Dr. Shewhart's scientific papers, lecture notes, popular talks and copies of his books. The collection bears testimony to his diverse intellectual interests, extensive reading habits and monumental contributions to scientific thinking and application. The collection is housed in Special Collections, on the third floor of the Library building