Kathmandu´s knowledge centers

KATHMANDU, Jan 20: Libraries in major cities, such as the New York Public Library and the British Library, are beacons of knowledge for its people. Poet Samuel Johnson once said, "No place affords a more striking conviction of the vanity of human hopes than a public library.” [break]



Walking the streets of Kathmandu, one is hard-pressed to find a public library one can peruse books, magazines and other periodicals. Those interviewed on the streets simply shrug their shoulders and say no when asked where one can find a public library.



Tribhuvan University student Binaya Humagain echoes this sentiment, and feels it is very difficult to find public libraries in Kathmandu, and even more so in the villages.



The 18-year-old makes his way,, walking for an hour from Imadol to Kupondole to visit AWON library; one of Kathmandu´s public libraries. AWON stands for Active Women of Nepal, an organization for community service.






This library, located opposite Hotel Himalaya, is well hidden from the busy streets of Kupondole. It has been around for close to 40 years and depends mainly on public donations of books and other publications.



The AWON library dedicates its first level to non-fiction and magazine publications, while the third level is mainly fiction. It is relatively spacious and comfortable as users are deeply absorbed in their reading, despite the slight noise from construction works outside. By applying for membership, you can check out up to five books for three weeks.



There is also a little corner for children’s books. Vaba Shrestra from Mitra Primary School enjoys reading the Arthur series by Marc Brown. “I enjoy these books because it has an interesting ending,” the 8-year-old, who comes twice a week, said.



Running the library, together with three permanent staff, is manager Ram Manandhar. “Public libraries play an important role in education.” Working close to 25 years in the library, he hopes to see more public libraries emerging in the city.



Similarly, library manager of Kathmandu Valley Public Library (KVPL) Juju Bhai Dangol would like to set up more public libraries in other areas of the city.






This public library has a central location in Bhrikutimandap, which Dangol says is an appealing factor for its users, mainly students from the surrounding colleges. He adds that this library is fortunate to have more users unlike libraries located near Pulchowk.



Recently, KVPL started a membership system that allows its members to check out two books for two weeks; similar to AWON library. So far, membership has hit close to 70 individuals in the two months, mainly students and college lecturers.



Set up in 2003 with zero books, KVPL has now amassed over 50,000 books through the sheer effort of donation from members of the Society for Kathmandu Public Library and the public, said Dangol. Most books are non-fiction as the books received are from government offices and research centers.



Inside the library, though small, it feels spacious and unpretentious for its users reading in the central reading table. One such patron of KVPL is 17-year-old Aayoush Raj Onta who comes to the library once a week. “The environment is quite nice and I use my time to study here,” the student of Malpi Institute said.






Besides KVPL and AWON library, there are also government-affiliated libraries like the Nepal National Library (NNL) and the Kaiser Library. However, these libraries do not allow the checking out of books.



Located in Harihar Bhawan, Pulchowk, the NNL has a collection of 86,000 books and periodicals. The old building, with its dark corridors and musty smell strikes a tenor of seriousness and gravitas for library users.



Chief librarian of NNL Dasharath Thapa agrees the lack of public libraries throughout the metropolitan city it due to a lack of resources.



“According to the well-accepted definition of the public library, the library should serve the local community according to their desired needs and the information the local community wants,” he said.



The NNL is one such avenue for the local community. It contains a majority of serious publications, such as reference books and periodicals, though it also has a children’s section like AWON.



Lastly, there is the Kaiser Library, located at the Ministry of Education in Kaiser Mahal. Named after Kaiser Shamsher, its founder developed a personal library collecting books, photographs, paintings and unique antiques.



Despite the musty smell of an old government building, this library has a majestic aura from its array of venerable books, life-sized portraits, life-like paintings and the stuffed heads of wild animals. Entering the library, you are greeted with the words - "Knowledge is Power and Work is Worship.”



It all adds to the library’s grand museum charm, yet remains cozy enough for students, such as English Literature student Bishwo Bhattarai, to enjoy reading literary classics such as Washington Square by Henry James.



All these libraries, some with rich cultural histories and others as merely depositories of immense information, make up the city´s landscape as Kathmandu’s knowledge centers.