Chennai Libraries & Bookshops

Libraries

The British Council Library in Anna Salai is at the end of a small by lane with a neon sign on the roof. Casual visitors are not actively encouraged but you can take a temporary membership for Rs. 60 a month. The American Centre Library attached to the US Consulate and the Alliance Francaise de Chennai at Nungambakkam, have a wide range of Indian and foreign books. In Mylopore, the Ramakrishna Matth Library specialises in philosophy, mythology and Indian classics. The Krishnamurti Foundation in the Adyar Area, is housed in the premises of the Theosophical Society and has a huge collection of books on religion, philosophy and mysticism.

Bookshops
Landmark Books, in the basement of Apex Plaza, Nungamabakkam High Rd, has one of the best selections in southern India. Higginbothams at Anna Salai and its kiosks at Central station and the domestic airport and The Bookshop in Spencer Plaza, have reasonable assortments of novels and coffee-table books. Fountainhead located at Laxmi Towers); Odyssey located at Ceebros Enclave Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Xaanadu located at Ceebros Arcade Adyar contain good selections of both Indian and Western books. Bookworms should not miss Giggles Book Shop at the Connemara Hotel.