Madras University Library has glorious history by serving to the global academic and research community over a period of more than a century. This library is called as mother library of all the academic libraries of south India from its inception in the year 1907 previously it was housed in the senate house of the university. The existing library building, built in Indo-British style was opened on 3^rd September 1936. This building is built with the pointed arches in granite, domes with octagonal base. The kiosks resemble the islamic architecture of India.

The main objective of the library is to support the educational and research programs of the university by providing both the print and online information pertaining to the present academic and research functions of the university. In accordance with the objectives of the university, over the years, the library has been developing a comprehensive collection of peer-reviewed scholarly literature useful for the faculty and the researchers of the university as well as its affiliated institutions. The visiting of scholars from other countries is an unique phenomena of this library.