From The Hindu Archives, January 13, 1926: The literary institute, Namakkal

The Secretary writes: The Literary Institute, Namakkal was started in the year 1876. From small beginnings, the Association has grown in its usefulness. The rules of the Association are so framed that even a poor man may become a member of the same — the least subscription being Rs. 4 per month. About 5 years ago, the Association thought of expanding the library attached to it and thus making the Association more useful to the public. With this end in view, private efforts were made and are being made even now to make additions to the library which contained only 100 volumes in the beginning and the efforts so far made increased the number of volumes to about 500 in number. Want of funds stands in the way of further improvements.