Kathmandu, February 18
The Ministry of Education says half of the public libraries shut their services in the past year. Officials in the ministry have blamed the growing internet penetration for the problem.
Yadav Chandra Niraula, the chief of the Library Coordination and Documentation Section in the ministry, says 674 public libraries were recorded operational across the country until last year. “This year, however, we have recorded 230 libraries only. We hope the number will hit 250 to 300 as we complete the documentation.”
Niraula remembers there were around 1,000 libraries in Nepal around four years ago.
To cope with the problem, Niraula thinks the libraries also need to convert themselves to e-libraries.
Provincial and local governments also need to pay attention to the problem and make efforts for the solution, Niraula says, adding the ministry will also provide the needful support.
