Kannur University Central Library was established in 1998. It was opened to the academic community in 1999. Prof.. (Dr.) P. K. Michael Tharakan, who was the Vice Chancellor of Kannur University, wanted to make the Kannur University Central Library the best knowledge resource centre of the north Malabar. As a result of his effort, Sri M. A. Baby, the minister of education and culture, laid the foundation stone for the Kannur University Central Library and research centre on 20/02/2011. In the inaugural address, he expressed his wish that, after completion, it will function as a beacon by catering to the intellectual needs of the academic community as well as the general public.

The five-story library building spread over 1,20,000 sq. ft. was inaugurated by Honourable Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on 29th Feb 2016 and named the library as Dr. Hermann Gundert Central Library. The library has a separate seminar hall with 350 seating capacity and a separate section for the research area. The library building also houses the Department of Library and Information Science. The library has been serving the various sections of the University community viz. Students (regular and distance) research scholars, faculty members, staff, graduates and students belonging to the other universities in the jurisdiction of Kannur University. It also provides temporary membership for utilising the library services. The library is also a recognised research centre of the University in the subjects of History, Sanskrit, Hindi, Malayalam, Sociology, Philosophy, Statistics, English, Economics, Arabic, Urdu and Music. It is automated using the Library software KOHA.

In addition to the Central Library, Campus libraries are functioning in the different campuses at Kasargod, Nileswaram, Payyannur, Mangatuparamba, Thalassery and Mananthavady.