M. J. Library

M. J. Library or Sheth Maneklal Jethabhai Pustakalaya is a public library in Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad, India.

History
Mahatma Gandhi proposed to construct a public library by the collection of books he had at Sabarmati Ashram. Gandhi donated approx 7,000 -15,000 books to start this library.

It was named after Maneklal Jethabhai; father of Rasiklal Maneklal, who donated to construct this library. It was inaugurated by Vallabhbhai Patel on 15 April 1938.

Architecture
The architectural design of library was done by Claude Batley. It is built in Rajputana Colonial architecture style.

The entrance area is octagonal space with a dome on top of it. The building is ornamented with chhajjas, brackets and jalis which Batley considered "practical climatic essentials" and rooted in the traditional Indian architecture.