Tribhuvan University Central Library (Kathmandu, Nepal)
Name: Tribhuvan University Central Library
Address: Kirtipur, Kathmandu - 2
City: Kathmandu map
Zone: Bagmati
Country: Nepal
Tel: (1) 4212834
Fax: (1) 4226964
Email: tucl@healthnet.org.np
Founded in: 1959
Address: Kirtipur, Kathmandu - 2
City: Kathmandu map
Zone: Bagmati
Country: Nepal
Tel: (1) 4212834
Fax: (1) 4226964
Email: tucl@healthnet.org.np
Founded in: 1959
Introduction
Tribhuvan University Central Library (TUCL) was established along with the University in 1959. It began with a collection of 1200 volumes of books. Now, the collection exceeds 2,90,000 volumes of books. In addition, there are more than 25000 back volumes of periodicals. Over 450 titles of periodicals are received every year on subscription or as gifts. Many philanthropists and bibliophiles have contributed this library to grow into its present size. It is the largest library in the Kingdom in terms of collection, services and the number of members.Even though TUCL is an academic library established to support the teaching, study and research programmes of the university, it has extended its services beyond the limit of the university campus. Apparently, having no public libraries in the valley and respecting the need and sentiments of all the concerned, the TUCL started rendering services by offering memberships to the general public as well as to the foreigners residing in Nepal.And in addition, the library also serves the government ministries & foreign diplomatic missions. Therefore, it functions also as a public library and to some extent as a National library.Since 1965, the TUCL has also been working as the Depository Library in Nepal for the United Nations� Organization and other International Organizations� publications. A separate section UN Depository Collection section containing more that 25,000 volumes has been set up to house the publications received from these organizations.Since the beginning of January 2000, the library has also started functioning as the ISBN National Agency in Nepal to distribute International Standard Book Numbers for the books published in Nepal.In addition to the usual Services, i.e., books circulation, Reference service and Special collections services, the TUCL also brings out Publications relevant to various subjects.The library has maintained the traditional system of card catalogues for searching the materials. But in addition to this, since 1995, it has been providing in-house computer database searching facilities through OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue) computer terminals to search the existing records of the library. The work of retrospective conversion of the card catalogues into computer records has yet to be done.
Library Hours
Summer: Opening hour: 800 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Working hour: 8.00 a.m. to 6 p.m.Winter: Opening hour: 800 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Working hour: 8.00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Brief History
The Central Library: In its report The Nepal National Education Commission, appointed in 1954, recommended as saying �A strong central library should be established as a center for study and research�. As a result, an agreement between the Government of Nepal and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was signed on April 30, 1957 to establish a Central Library in Kathmandu. Consequently, a Central Library at Lal Durbar, Kathmandu was established under the guidance of Dr. E.W. Erickson on June 1, 1959.The T.U. Library: In July 1959, the Tribhuvan University Act was passed and the University itself came into existence. This same year, Tribhuvan University Library was established. This library originally suffered from inadequate book collection and facilities. At that time the library had only 1200 books, shelved in stacks made out of bricks and planks of wood in a very limited space. With the absence of a trained librarian, the collection could not be organized in a systematic manner.Merge of two libraries: After three years, in 1962, the Central Library at Lal Durbar was handed over to Tribhuvan University Library in accordance with a decision of HMG of Nepal, and thus, after the merge of the 3 years old Central library (having a collection of 15,000 volumes of books) with the Tribhuvan University Library (having a collection of 7813 volumes) it came to be known as Tribhuvan University Library (TUCL) and the collection reached 24,813 volumes of books. In 1977 (2033 B.S.) it became the T.U. Central Library. Now, by May 2002 the library has altogether 250,000 volumes of books and other documents.After the merge, the University high authority felt a necessity of a trained librarian to organize and run the library in a systematic manner. Furthermore, the USAID provided one scholarship seat for the study of Library Science course in the USA. Astonishingly, no teaching staff of the University showed interest to study Library Science course. Finally, one temporary instructor in History Ms. Shanti Mishra (Shrestha) agreed to study this subject and was sent to the States for study. After her study, she came back as expected, with a degree in the art and science of library organization and management and was appointed as the librarian. This year 1963 is a landmark in the history of library development in Nepal as well as in the growth and organization of TU Central Library itself.
Tribhuvan University Central Library (TUCL) was established along with the University in 1959. It began with a collection of 1200 volumes of books. Now, the collection exceeds 2,90,000 volumes of books. In addition, there are more than 25000 back volumes of periodicals. Over 450 titles of periodicals are received every year on subscription or as gifts. Many philanthropists and bibliophiles have contributed this library to grow into its present size. It is the largest library in the Kingdom in terms of collection, services and the number of members.Even though TUCL is an academic library established to support the teaching, study and research programmes of the university, it has extended its services beyond the limit of the university campus. Apparently, having no public libraries in the valley and respecting the need and sentiments of all the concerned, the TUCL started rendering services by offering memberships to the general public as well as to the foreigners residing in Nepal.And in addition, the library also serves the government ministries & foreign diplomatic missions. Therefore, it functions also as a public library and to some extent as a National library.Since 1965, the TUCL has also been working as the Depository Library in Nepal for the United Nations� Organization and other International Organizations� publications. A separate section UN Depository Collection section containing more that 25,000 volumes has been set up to house the publications received from these organizations.Since the beginning of January 2000, the library has also started functioning as the ISBN National Agency in Nepal to distribute International Standard Book Numbers for the books published in Nepal.In addition to the usual Services, i.e., books circulation, Reference service and Special collections services, the TUCL also brings out Publications relevant to various subjects.The library has maintained the traditional system of card catalogues for searching the materials. But in addition to this, since 1995, it has been providing in-house computer database searching facilities through OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue) computer terminals to search the existing records of the library. The work of retrospective conversion of the card catalogues into computer records has yet to be done.
Library Hours
Summer: Opening hour: 800 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Working hour: 8.00 a.m. to 6 p.m.Winter: Opening hour: 800 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Working hour: 8.00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Brief History
The Central Library: In its report The Nepal National Education Commission, appointed in 1954, recommended as saying �A strong central library should be established as a center for study and research�. As a result, an agreement between the Government of Nepal and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was signed on April 30, 1957 to establish a Central Library in Kathmandu. Consequently, a Central Library at Lal Durbar, Kathmandu was established under the guidance of Dr. E.W. Erickson on June 1, 1959.The T.U. Library: In July 1959, the Tribhuvan University Act was passed and the University itself came into existence. This same year, Tribhuvan University Library was established. This library originally suffered from inadequate book collection and facilities. At that time the library had only 1200 books, shelved in stacks made out of bricks and planks of wood in a very limited space. With the absence of a trained librarian, the collection could not be organized in a systematic manner.Merge of two libraries: After three years, in 1962, the Central Library at Lal Durbar was handed over to Tribhuvan University Library in accordance with a decision of HMG of Nepal, and thus, after the merge of the 3 years old Central library (having a collection of 15,000 volumes of books) with the Tribhuvan University Library (having a collection of 7813 volumes) it came to be known as Tribhuvan University Library (TUCL) and the collection reached 24,813 volumes of books. In 1977 (2033 B.S.) it became the T.U. Central Library. Now, by May 2002 the library has altogether 250,000 volumes of books and other documents.After the merge, the University high authority felt a necessity of a trained librarian to organize and run the library in a systematic manner. Furthermore, the USAID provided one scholarship seat for the study of Library Science course in the USA. Astonishingly, no teaching staff of the University showed interest to study Library Science course. Finally, one temporary instructor in History Ms. Shanti Mishra (Shrestha) agreed to study this subject and was sent to the States for study. After her study, she came back as expected, with a degree in the art and science of library organization and management and was appointed as the librarian. This year 1963 is a landmark in the history of library development in Nepal as well as in the growth and organization of TU Central Library itself.