National
Nat’l Audio Library awaits proper maintenance
The National Audio Library in Pokhara has been unable to extend services the public due to lack of attention from the concerned authorities towards its repairs and maintenance.Lal Prasad Sharma
The National Audio Library in Pokhara has been unable to extend services the public due to lack of attention from the concerned authorities towards its repairs and maintenance.
Established 13 years ago on the premises of Prithvi Narayan Campus through the joint efforts of Kaski Netrahin Sangh and the campus administration, the library now is a state of disrepair and lacks sufficient audio textbooks, including other materials in the library. Even the library room is not spacious enough.
Prabha Tripathi, an audio recorder of the library, said that most of the equipment, including computers are out of order. “Neither the campus management nor Kaski Netrahin Sangh is showing concern towards upgrading the library. Many of the campus faculty members are also oblivious about audio library,” said Tripathi.
There are around 450 audio books in the library. The syllabus of grade eight to masters level can be recorded here, especially the books on education and humanities. Students can use such audio books through CDs and memory cards. But it does not have adequate audio books to cater to all the students.
Chairman of the sangh Laxman Subedi said that the government had been indifferent towards the library maintenance. “As the campus also has not taken ownership of the library, we are unable to work effectively,” he admitted.
Sandhya Chhantyal of Pakhapani in Myagdi, a visually impaired student, said that she has been facing problems due to lack of audio textbooks.
“The syllabus is changing each year. There are no records of the books in the library accordingly,” said Chhantyal.
Another visually impaired student Prem Bahadur Gurung, from Gorkha, shares the same sentiment as he says, “The concerned authorities are not sincere and serious about our problems.”
Chief of the Western Regional Library Kishor Subedi said that the sangh should take responsibility of the library management. “We have provided staff and place to run the library,” he said.
But campus campus chief Devendra Bahadur Lamichhane said the allocated budget was inadequate to maintain the library.