KATHMANDU: The 14th National Library Day has been observed in the country virtually amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology organized a virtual event here today with the tagline ‘Basis for strong society development and expansion of public libraries.’

On the occasion, the Ministry announced that it would award various public libraries for their better services to the public and preservation of books.

Ministry’s secretary Ram Prasad Thapaliya asserted that digitalization of the books and preservation of the library books remained a challenge in the wake of Gorkha Earthquake in 2015 and COVID-19 pandemic.

The Day has been celebrated in Nepal every year since 2008 on the 15th of Bhaudau to mark the institutionalization of the library named –Pustak Chitahi Tahbil- at Hanuman Dhoka palace in Kathmandu during the rule of King Girwanyuddha Bir Bikram Shah Dev (in 1812).

Since then, the country has recorded 674 public libraries in operation as of now, according to the Education Information-2020 published by the Ministry.

On this day, the Ministry launched a souvenir publication with articles and stories related to public libraries in the country.

RSS