Once, libraries were hubs of learning and engaging places for individuals to exchange ideas. Despite the politically challenging times of the Panchayat era, libraries flourished, and so did the habit of visiting them. But decades of official neglect and declining public investment have pushed many libraries to the brink of extinction. The closure of the Kathmandu Valley Public Library at Bhrikutimandap is a telling example. The Social Welfare Council, which manages the library, shut it down in April, citing unpaid rent of around Rs30 million. While the unpaid dues have been presented as the immediate cause, the closure ultimately reflects the government’s failure to recognise and protect libraries as essential public institutions. Instead of finding ways to further promote a library that housed around 60,000 books, journals, reports and booklets, served some 3,000 members and attracted around 200 daily visitors, authorities chose to shut it down.

Policymakers often speak of taking education to new heights, but the ambition rings hollow when a public library serving those who cannot afford expensive books, academic journals or reliable internet services is forced to shut down. Despite the rise of mobile phones, the internet and digital resources, the importance of libraries has not reduced. We just need to look at well-managed libraries such as the Nepal National Library, the Kaiser Library, and the Tribhuvan University Central Library to understand the importance of libraries even today. A large number of people throng these reading spaces as not everyone has the privilege of having a library-like environment at home or in the rooms they rent. Often, it is easy to access reference materials and books from libraries and read in their quiet corners.

Nepal should therefore rethink the role of public libraries. In the past, during the Rana regime, people fought for intellectual freedom, demanding knowledge that would be accessible to all. That history deserves to be remembered. Today, people have more access to knowledge, but many libraries continue to operate as they did decades ago, failing to adapt to the changes in how people learn. So, they should be equipped with both traditional collections and digital catalogues, e-books, academic databases, multimedia resources and high-speed internet services.

The responsibility of managing libraries should extend beyond the federal government. Many community libraries in the country were established by passionate founders and activists or through community initiatives. Now, they reportedly struggle to survive due to a lack of resources. Municipalities and communities should therefore recognise libraries as essential public spaces and invest in them. The private sector can also collaborate by investing in technology and library resources. The country desperately needs a vision for public libraries that meets the demands of modern learning practices while preserving their fundamental value.

Several countries around the world continue to expand public libraries as community learning centres, digital resource hubs and cultural spaces. They subsidise libraries to make them accessible to all, acknowledging that their purpose is to generate knowledge. Their practice is worth emulating. However, Nepal, with the recent closure of a library due to unpaid rent, is moving in the opposite direction. The current government boasts a Cabinet and Parliament filled with ‘intellectual’ and ‘educated’ individuals. Such a government has a greater responsibility to protect institutions of learning. If they cannot save libraries, it is difficult to imagine who will.