Kathmandu Public Library Shut Down Amid Dispute Over Rent

A prominent public library in Kathmandu has been shut down for 109 days due to a dispute over rent between the library’s management and the Social Welfare Council. The Kathmandu Valley Public Library, which has been in operation since 2004, was locked down by the council’s employees on Chaitra 30, 2083 B.S.

The library’s management claims that the council has been demanding full rent, which they say is unfair. According to the library’s chairman, Govinda Raj Pokharel, the library had an agreement with the council to pay only 25% of the rent, as it is a non-profit organization. However, the council has been demanding the full amount, which the library says it cannot afford.

The library’s users are unhappy about the shutdown, saying it has affected their studies and research. Mukund Raj Acharya, a writer and researcher, said he was saddened by the shutdown, as he had used the library to research and write his book. Ranju Regmi, a student, said the library was an important resource for her and many others, and its closure was a loss for the community.

The Social Welfare Council claims that the library owes them around Rs 3 crore in rent arrears. However, the library’s management disputes this, saying they have been paying their rent regularly. The council’s employees have been trying to collect the rent from the library, but the management has refused to pay, leading to the shutdown.

The shutdown has sparked a debate about the importance of public libraries in Nepal. Lok Ranjan Parajuli, a researcher who has studied the role of public libraries in Nepal, said that public libraries play a crucial role in promoting education and knowledge. He criticized the government for not doing enough to support public libraries, saying that the shutdown of the Kathmandu Valley Public Library was a sign of the government’s lack of commitment to education and knowledge.

Other writers and intellectuals have also spoken out against the shutdown, saying it is a blow to the country’s intellectual and cultural heritage. Nayan Raj Pandey, a writer, said that the shutdown was a sign of the country’s declining interest in education and knowledge. Sanjiv Upreti, a writer and engineer, said that the shutdown was a symptom of a larger problem, namely the country’s lack of investment in education and knowledge.

The Kathmandu Valley Public Library has a collection of over 50,000 books, rare publications, computers, and other materials. The library’s management is worried that the shutdown will put these resources at risk. The library’s vice-chairman, Yangkila Sherpa, said that the library was an important institution that had been established through the efforts of many individuals and organizations. She appealed to the government to take steps to resolve the dispute and reopen the library.