By Renuka Dhakal
Kathmandu, Mar. 8  : Basanta Bhattarai, 25, was deeply engrossed preparing for the Public Service Commission examination reading at Kaiser Library situated in Kanti Path, Kathmandu.
Bhattarai, a graduate in engineering from Kathmandu University (KU), said that no one disturbed him in the library.
He shares a common room with friends in Kathmandu and is often distracted by them if he studies at his room.
He frequently visits several libraries in the hope of getting peaceful and readable environment. He frequents libraries because he believes they offer a variety of books to the interested readers.
Library is a perfect place to fulfill the quest for knowledge, said Bhattarai.
Likewise, Prem Prasad Lamichhane, 60, a resident of Chitwan district, regularly visits various libraries.
The Nepal-Bharat Library located in New Road, Kathmandu, is one of his favoured libraries. He is interested reading history, geography and old books. He said he wanted to buy the books but they were really expensive for him. “I visit the library to satisfy my desire to read different books when I cannot afford to buy them,” he said.
According to Govinda Dahal, Chief Librarian of Valley Public Library, the trend of visiting the library for study is on the rise. Most students go to the library to find authentic information and study materials for their projects or research.
However, latest technology is making it easier for people to find information in a simple and smart way. No longer do people need to visit the libraries to find books and other reading materials, tools like the internet which are available in mobile phone and laptop are helping them find information easily and quickly within a few minutes.
According to Maheshwar Rijal, currently working at a non-profit organisation, technology has made learning easier. He also has changed himself with the advancement of technology.
He recalled that in the past he had to visit different libraries, spending much time and effort even to acquire small piece of information, but nowadays technology has made learning much easier.
“If I need any information, I just google and get instant answers,” he said. “People have to keep pace with the technology to update themselves.”
Dahal said that regularly 250 to 300 people visit the Valley Public Library.
“Even on Saturday and other public holidays, 300 to 400 people visit this library. These days, many people come to the library to read, so that many visitors don’t even have a place to sit on,” he said.
Currently, there are more than 300,000 books in the library. Most of the visitors tend to read fictional, philosophical and autobiographical books, said Dahal.
He said the libraries which are located in easily accessible places and have an easy access to the readers to use books attract more readers.
According to Dashrath Mishra, Chief Librarian of Kaiser Library, it has more than 60,000 books now, including newspapers, manuscripts, and paintings. Every day, 100-150 people visit the library to study. However, the number would increase in the summer to 200–250.
He added that the library was the backbone of education. “People visit this library for deeper study,” he said.
The library doesn’t provide membership facility to readers. Readers are not allowed to borrow the books. However, with the technological advancement the library these days provides free wifi facility to the readers.
The library was badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake and now it is operating from a prefab building on the premises of the old library. Retrofitting on the old library building is going on and they said it would complete in two years.
As the country has embraced federalism, the government has also brought policy on libraries in accordance with the new federal set-up. According to the new policy, every municipality and Gaupalika should have at least one community library.
Mishra said that there are more than 50 libraries in Kathmandu alone, adding that libraries should be mandatory everywhere in the country. Library has an important role to play in educating the country, he added.