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{{short description|Membership library in Mumbai, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox library
| name =
| native_name_lang =
| logo =
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| image = JN Petit Library, Bombay-1938.jpg
| image_size =
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| caption =
| country = [[India]]
| type = [[Subscription library|Membership library]]
| established = 1898
| architect = Merwanjee Bana
| location = Dadabhai Naoroji Road, Azad Maidan<br />Fort - 400001
| service_area =
| coordinates = {{Coord|18.9345|72.8324|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| location_map = India Mumbai#Mumbai
| num_branches = 1
| items_collected = Rare gold-leaf illustrated manuscript of 11th-century epic poem ''[[Shahnameh]]'' by [[Ferdowsi]]
| collection_size = c. 150,000<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/room-to-read-j-n-petit-restores-lost-sheen-but-members-dwindle/|title=Room To Read: J N Petit restores lost sheen, but members dwindle|date=16 March 2015}}</ref>
| members = c. 2000<ref name="auto"/>
| budget = 
| director =
| num_employees =
| parent_organization= 
| affiliation =
| website = 
| references =
}}

The '''J. N. Petit Library''' (officially the '''J. N. Petit Institute''') is a [[membership library]] in a [[Heritage structures in Mumbai|Grade II heritage structure]] in [[Fort, Mumbai]]. It was founded in 1898 by a group of [[Parsi]] students studying at [[Elphinstone College]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/hc-orders-survey-stays-metro-work-outside-petit-bldg/articleshow/60703728.cms|title=HC orders survey, stays Metro work outside Petit building | Mumbai News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref> Membership is open to residents of Mumbai.<ref>http://www.jnpetitinstitute.org/membership.htm</ref>

The library is one of the finest examples of [[Neo-Gothic architecture]] in Mumbai.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-award-of-distinction-from-unesco-for-jn-petit-institute/16502168|title=Mumbai: Award of Distinction from UNESCO for JN Petit Institute|date=2 September 2015|website=mid-day}}</ref> In 2014–15, it was restored by a team led by the conservation architect [[Vikas Dilawari]]. The restoration project won the Award of Distinction under the [[UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation]] in 2015.<ref name="auto1"/>

==History==
The library traces its origins to a smaller library that was set up in 1856 by students of [[Elphinstone College]] who were living in [[Fort, Mumbai|Fort]]. In the beginning, it was called the "Fort Improvement Library". In 1895, the [[Parsi]] philanthropist Bai Dinbai Nusserwanji Petit donated {{Indian rupee}}250,000 for the construction of a library building, to be erected in memory of her deceased son, Jamsetjee Nesserwanjee Petit or J. N. Petit. The library was inaugurated on 1 May 1898.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g_WxDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA341|title=The Methuen Drama Handbook of Theatre History and Historiography|first1=Claire|last1=Cochrane|first2=Jo|last2=Robinson|date=31 October 2019|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=9781350034310|via=Google Books}}</ref> Today, it is run by a private trust, which depends on donations and membership fees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/3s3fN0WLH0Pld3Kuz9J9QL/The-pages-of-history.html|title=The pages of history|first=Mumbai Multiplex | Kavitha|last=Rao|date=28 June 2008|website=Livemint}}</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:JN Petit library, 1898.jpg|left|thumb| The library interiors in the early-20th century.]]

The library is considered to be among the finest examples of [[Gothic Revival]] architecture in the city. It was designed in the [[Venetian Gothic]] variant with a [[polychromatic]] limestone exterior. It has two storeys and a mezzanine, and the high-ceilinged reading room has [[stained glass]] portraits of the Petit family.<ref name="auto"/>

===Restoration===

Between 2014 and 2015, the library was restored by the conservation architect [[Vikas Dilawari]] and his team. Both exteriors and interiors, including the Reading Room, were restored to the original state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/Mumbais-JN-Petit-restoration-project-among-12-winners/articleshow/48764313.cms|title=Mumbai's JN Petit restoration project among 12 winners|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref> The [[stained glass]] was restored by Swati Chandgadkar, one of the country's few glass restorers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/this-former-english-prof-now-specialises-in-restoring-heritage-stained-glass/story-piLcP6VMVFxbWxsVsNo2fK.html|title=This former English prof now specialises in restoring heritage stained glass|date=20 April 2019|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> In 2015, the restoration project won the Award of Distinction under the [[UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basf.com/za/en/media/Magazines/archive/issue-6/award-winning-restoration.html|title=Award-winning restoration|website=www.basf.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vikasdilawari.in/content/np/news/jnp/jnp1.pdf | title=Award of Distinction from UNESCO for JN Petit Institute | work=Mid-Day | first=Fiona | last=Fernandez | page=5 | date=2 September 2015 | accessdate=20 June 2022 | via=vikasdilawari.in}}</ref>

==Collection==
[[File:J N Petit Library.jpg|thumb|The library today]]

The library has about 150,000 books and a strong collection on [[Zoroastrianism]] that includes old manuscripts.<ref name="auto"/> The collection comprises mostly [[English language]]-books, but there are some in other languages, including Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Sanskrit, Urdu and Persian.<ref name="auto2"/> It has a rare copy of the 11th-century epic poem ''[[Shahname]]'' by [[Ferdowsi]], which is illustrated with [[gold leaf]].<ref name="auto"/>

==Membership==
There is a tiered system for membership, which is open to all residents of the city. The current member strength is about 2,000.<ref name="auto"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{official|http://www.jnpetitinstitute.org/}}

[[Category:Library buildings completed in 1898]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Libraries in Mumbai]]
[[Category:UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards winners]]

J. N. Petit Library - Revision history

UpdateBot at 00:25, 21 June 2022