Pioneering Expertise in Library Architecture & Space Utilization
Dr. John Neelankavil, CMI, formally commenced his doctoral research (Ph.D.) in 2011 under the supervision and guidance of Dr. (Mrs.) S. Ally Sornam, Associate Professor and Head of the PG and Research Department of Library and Information Science, Bishop Heber College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, India. The institution is nationally reaccredited with an ‘A’ Grade by NAAC, with a CGPA of 3.58 on a four-point scale, recognised by the UGC as a “College of Excellence” and affiliated with Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, India.
Dr. John Neelankavil began his professional career as a Librarian in 2003, following the completion of his MLISc. His initial professional assignment involved the planning and space designing of the newly constructed DVK Central Library, Bangalore, which comprises a built-up area of 45,000 square feet, along with approximately 50,000 square feet of natural surroundings developed as a Garden Library and Forest Library.
The innovative space management and design of DVK Central Library attracted considerable attention from various academic institutions. Impressed by its planning and utilisation of space, several institutions approached Dr. John Neelankavil for professional consultancy in library planning, space designing and management for their library projects.
Since then, he has continuously extended his consultancy services to libraries and academic institutions. During his pre-research period (2003–2010), he provided consultancy services to 12 libraries. During his doctoral research period (2011–2017), he extended his consultancy to another 23 libraries, the details of which are provided in Appendix 4. Continuing his professional journey, Dr. John Neelankavil has provided consultancy services to more than 125 libraries between 2003 and 2026.
As part of his doctoral research, Dr. John Neelankavil undertook an in-depth study on “Space Management of University Libraries.” His research focused on library space planning, effective space utilisation, management and the development of functional library environments. The research also contributed to his professional expertise and consultancy services in library planning and space designing.
Doctoral Research by John N. V. (Dr. John Neelankavil, CMI)
Bishop Heber College (Autonomous) • Bharathidasan University
Professional Memberships & Advisory Councils
Distinguished life memberships, executive leadership appointments, and trustee council positions held by Dr. John Neelankavil, CMI across national library bodies, scholarly associations, and premier institutions.
Library & Information Science Associations
Indian Association of Special Libraries and Information Centres (IASLIC)
Indian Library Association (ILA)
Indian Theological Library Association (ITLA)
Indian Library, Information Science and Knowledge Management Association (ILIKSMA)
Indian Library, Information Science and Knowledge Management Association (ILIKSMA)
Joint Library Committee, Bangalore (JLC)
Joint Library Committee, Bangalore
Karnataka Library Association (KALA)
Academic Library Association (ALA)
Historical & Scholarly Associations
Church History Association of India (CHAI)
Church History Association of India (CHAI)
Institutional Trustee Councils
Trustee Council of Amala Medical College and Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur
Trustee Council of St. George Educational Society, Mumbai
Trustee Council of Christ Academy, Bangalore
Ph.D. Thesis Selected Documentation & Sections
For a better understanding of his doctoral research and related professional services, the following links provide access to selected areas of his Ph.D. thesis.
Title page & Table of content
Preliminary pages, research approval certificates, declaration, acknowledgement, and complete chapter outline of the doctoral study.
List of Selected Uni. Libraries in S. India (in Chapter-4)
Comprehensive empirical survey and architectural evaluation of major state and central university libraries across South India.
Appendix – 3 (List of Experts)
Distinguished panel of senior university librarians, professors, information scientists, and library architectural consultants consulted.
Appendix – 4 (List of Consultancy during the Research Period)
Complete archive of the 23 academic, college, and seminary library projects planned and designed during the doctoral research tenure (2011–2017).
STEPS FOR LIBRARY PLANNING
Library planning involves various steps. Usually, the planning involves the following steps:
Brainstorming session
Strategy session
Booster session
Execution planning
Presentation of the Plan-chart
Following are the relevant Plan-charts:
PHILOSOPHY OF WORK
Dr. John accepts all the concepts, visions, and missions of OLC to serve the people and institutions that promote research and knowledge. He provides consultation service on one end, and on the other, they are providing opportunities.
As a library professional, he has a mission with the following four areas:
Good Library
DVK Central Library keeps the library as a model. It provides consultancy services for library planners, constructors, and library professionals to make and maintain an excellent library. (More than 50 modern libraries in India modeled/consulted).
Good Librarians
The committed library team of DVK provides quality service to the users with joy and love at the library. Many libraries and information science students, teachers, and professionals consider this library an ideal place to train fresh professionals. So, they regularly provide rigorous training/internships for fresh professionals from different parts of India. It will help them get good placements, the opportunity to gain experience with traditional and modern library systems, and personality development to serve society excellently as library professionals.
Good Users
The library prepares the user community to use the library as a partner, responsible for the quality research. It provides maximum connections for the researchers to the resources with creative and lovely research-ecology.
Good Resources
In the DVK library, the library resources are selected with the help of staff and students (academic community). It is a combined effort to improve the quality of resources in the library.