
Pushpa Bhusal
While many people would assume traditional libraries have faded into the background, the exploding geographic distribution of libraries in Nepal paints a promising picture of an educated nation.
In urban centers like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Biratnagar, libraries are essential pillars of educational and cultural development. These libraries offer a diverse array of Nepali books, providing access to the rich literary heritage of the country. Efforts to extend library services to rural areas have led to the establishment of community libraries, bringing books in bulk to underserved regions. These libraries stock a variety of Nepali books, offering them at discounted rates to encourage reading habits among rural populations. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) often collaborate with local communities to facilitate the purchase of books in bulk from library supply vendors, ensuring a sustainable library supply chain. Despite the challenges of terrain and accessibility, innovative solutions have also emerged to bring books to mountainous and remote regions of Nepal.
As per a survey conducted in 2022, there are a total of 929 libraries in Nepal. Let’s look at the geographic distribution of these libraries.
Province |
Number of libraries |
Sudurpaschim |
56 |
Lumbini |
110 |
Gandaki |
127 |
Madhesh |
149 |
Province 1 |
207 |
Bagmati |
253 |
Karnali |
27 |
Total |
929 |
Source: On Public and Community Libraries in Nepal (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology et. al, 2022)
With a focus on promoting literacy and knowledge dissemination, library establishment initiatives have been instrumental in ensuring a steady library supply of books in bulk.
Ensuring that these libraries have a rich catalog of books is a crucial factor for fostering a culture of learning and knowledge dissemination. Explore a diverse catalog of books, e-books, and audiobooks at our website thuprai.com. Reach out to us if you are looking to purchase books in bulk at support@thuprai.com.