Origin:
There was only the University of Madras for the whole state of Tamilnadu until 1967 other than the Annamalai University - a privately funded one. It was Dr.A.Lakshmanaswamy Mudaliar who thought of a Post Graduate Centre of the University of Madras, down south. The Post Graduate Centre of the University of Madras was opened on 15th December 1957,at the premises of the time old renouned The American College at Madurai. Dr.S.J.Savarirayan, Principal of the American College was the in-charge person of the Centre.

The occasion was marked with the establishment of a small library with Prof. S.Gnanamuthu as the Librarian, who later became the first University Librarian. On 2nd February, 1957, Dr.C.P.Ramaswamy Aiyar laid the foundation stone for a new library building at the N.M.R. Subbaraman Park adjacent to the Pandyan Hotel. The building was opened by Dr.C.D.Deshmukh, the then chairman of the University Grants Commission on 16th October, 1961.

In view of the growing number of colleges in the southerndistricts encircling Madurai as an academic pivotal point, the Government of Tamilnadu pronounced the opening of a University, bifurcating from the University of Madras. That was the Madurai University which breathed in on 1st February 1966. The University of Madras Extension Centre Library was renamed as the Madurai University Library.

The city complex could not cater to the growing needs of the new born university, the authorities decided to shift to a new venue named Palkalainagar near Vadapalanji village, on the Theni Main Road. The new building was declared open on November 20, 1973 by Thiru V.R. Nedunchezhiyan, the then Pro-chancellor of the University. The total cost of the building and furniture came upto Rs. 14,04,251. The library was constructed with the financial assistance of the UGC and the Government of Tamilnadu. The University Library was shifted from the old campus at Tallakulam to Palkalainagar and it started functioning in the new building from April 3, 1974. it is called "Dr. T.P. Meenakshisundaran Library" after out first Vice - Chancellor.

Current Awareness service:
A list of books assed to the library every week was published in the Sunday edition of "The Indian Express" for the benefit of the reading public. In 1971 "quarterly Additions List" is being printed and published for the benefit of the readers. From August 1987, weekly additions to the Library are being published in the "University News Letter". In 1988 Reference Section has started publishing monthly entitled "Journals Contents" which carries the content page of journals subscribed in each subject. The Library brings out a one-page news letter highlighting the special sources acquired now and then.

COPSAT Service
The INFLIBNET'S journal content service called COPSAT (Contents of periodicals of Science and Technology) is subscribed at a cost of Rs. 3,800 a year. Through this service information on content pages of 30 science journals together with abstracts were received periodically. From December 1993 this service is available in computer floppy diskettes.

Personalised Information service
The Library has taken up an annual subscription to Personalised Information Service of INSDOC, New Delhi which supplies copies of content pages and abstract of articles from selected science journals.

INFLIBNET
In 1993 the UGC's INFLIBNET programme had offered free computer training to 2 of our Library personnel. During October, 1996 for the automation of libraries programme, the UGC sanctioned Rs. 6.50 lacs to our University. The sanction is valid in the current financial year 1996-97. The library has already spent this amount by acquiring the computers and other accessories. A separate room is allotted for this service.

Reprographic Facilities

• Micro Film Services
  The library possesses a micro film unit through which any business record, back issue of periodical, Ph. D. dissertations and many unpublished and mimeographed research reports can be reduced to 1/40 to 1/50 the area of each page when it is photographed on a standard 35 mm film. It also possess a microfilm reader for reading. The Library also helps the scholars by donating micro film strips of rare materials, translations etc., from INSDOC.
• Xerox Services
  In 1985 one photocopier - xerox machine has been installed. From Febraury 1989, a fee based xerox has been started. In 1992 it has become a self supporting system by which the library is empowered to purchase xerox paper and pay the service charges direct to Modi Xerox company.
• Library Automation
  One word processor with 3 terminals have been produced for our library in 1985. As first step towards computerization, the department collections, Thesis, Journals both current and back volumes are put on diskette in 1989. in 1993 the UNESCO has given a very versatile software called CDS/ISIS designed to create databases and carryout Documentation Services. In 1994 the Computerised list of Thesis awarded by the Madurai Kamaraj University in diskette was brought out for sale.
• Teaching Programme
  A full-time certificate course in Librarianship has been started in 1970. this is an another mile stone in the history of our library. In 1974 the starting of a one year full time degree course in Library science is another landmark in the history of Madurai Kamaraj University. The staff of the library including the Librarian are handling classes for the C.Lib.Sc. for the two sessions in a year i.e. from April to June and from September to November.
• Book exhibition and other celebrarions
  The library conducted book exhibitions in 1969, 1975 and in 1979. The library celebrated its 10th Anniversary on 14th December, 1968 and on that occasion Dr. T.P. Meenakshisundaran then Vice Chancellor released the SOUVENIR.