National 8 (Spotlight Weekly)

‘Our Society Does Not Have A Tradition Of Respecting Knowledge’

— KRISHNA MANI BHANDARY

KRISHNA MANI BHANDARY, chief librarian of Tribhuvan University (TU) Central Library, has been working in the institution for more than three decades. Bhandary, who holds a master's degree in library science, says Nepal seriously lacks a library culture. He spoke to SPOTLIGHT.Excerpts:

How frequently do TU teachers use your library?

It is publicly said here that teachers don't have to visit the library. Once the notes are prepared, they can be used for 20 years. When an individual joins the teaching profession, he or she usually prepares notes by consulting books. And that's the end. If such notes are adequate and no one evaluates performance, why should teachers bother to learn? Even if someone were to make new notes, what incentives would he or she get?

Is the situation that bad?

The teachers who use 20-year-old notes are promoted. Those who consult the library and work harder have to wait longer to get a promotion. No teacher is evaluated on the basis of examination results. Even if you are knowledgeable, it's better to keep quiet. Our society does not have a tradition of respecting knowledge. However, you cannot expect truthful and honest comments from half-read intellectuals. We can often see the same intellectual expressing wildly inconsistent opinions on the same issue. This is because he or she lacks sufficient knowledge on the subject. Unfortunately, such half-read people dominate our society. Such people always interpret issues and ideas as per the convenience of politicians. Following a politician is far more profitable than reading books. Politicians have the power to transform one's personal life, which knowledge cannot.

You have been working at the TU Central Library for long. How do you view the increase in the annual budget?

The annual budget has certainly been increasing in keeping with pay scales and grade of the employees. As far as budget trends for education materials are concerned, the increase is very nominal relative to the number of students. In 1975\76, when there were 25 central departments with 500 students, our annual budget for books and magazines was Rs.700,000. Now we have 35 central departments and 6,000 students, but the annual budget is Rs.800,000 for books and Rs.1.1 million for magazines and periodicals. Student enrolment has increased 10 times and the Nepalese rupee has depreciated by about ten folds against the US dollar. Importantly, the prices of books have gone up. Because of lack of funds, we have not bought any new books in the last two years. In fiscal year 2001\2002, the TU's finance department issued a notice telling us not to spend money on anything except salaries.

How many books do you have?

We have 245,000 books and 52 volumes of magazines. We have 8,000master's theses and 400 Ph.D. theses. This is one of the reasons why we claim to be the biggest library in the country. More than 600 students can use the library at a time. We have 80 employees, including 15 professional librarians. Last year 100,000 people came to the library and we issued 50,000 books. As far as visiting teachers and professors are concerned, the number is gradually coming up. With the construction of the new library building under the support of the World Bank, we have now enough space. The atmosphere is better, but the number of teachers is yet to increase.

What is your fee structure?

Concerned departments charge a Rs.75 deposit and another Rs.75 library service charge from students for one academic year. And the academic year lasts for more than a year. Even this nominal service charge goes to the concerned department's own account. The money is not transferable to the library. I have already raised this issue but no one seems have the courage to change it. We should get the charges for the services we provide. Students, too, are calling for an increase in the service change and deposit. But the decision has not been implemented. The library's annual sources are the late fee and compensation for stolen books. Since we don't have our own account, we have to deposit the money in TU's account. Even small departments with a handful of teachers and fewer than 50 students have their own account. But the library, which provides service to more than 100,000 students, scholars and teachers with 80 employees, does not have one.

How many books do you lose annually?

I can't give you a precise number on how many books are missing. One of the objectives of the library is to protect the books. In our country, only a few people are aware about the importance and value of the library. We don't have a library culture. Even in private schools, where students have to pay higher fees, the library has limitations. Whether it is in schools or colleges, students cannot search books on their own, since there are no catalogues. Access is denied to the students.

How many books have you got back?

After the disclosure of the names, more than 7,000 books were returned. A large number of the names printed in the papers are yet to come. We still have 5,000 books due. Some people, on the other hand, even challenged us.

What is the situation of college libraries?

The TU has 61 campuses and all of them have libraries. Barring regional libraries and those of technical colleges, they do not have good reference books or catalogue systems. Access is restricted. Nobody knows the number of books they have. Most of the libraries have cheaper books related to curriculum. The colleges are overcrowded. They don't buy quality reference book. They order 40-50 books based on the curriculum.

Don't they need books and periodicals for research?

Like I said earlier, there is no library culture. So nobody minds whether or not they get books, periodicals and journals. There is great demand for guess papers and cheap books. There is no mandatory provision to use the money to buy books. It can be spent on anything.

What should be done to compel schools and colleges to use their library fees on books and magazines?

Unless parents and guardians respond vigorously, I don't think there can be any improvement in the libraries. I have not seen parents complaining about the misuse of such money. Once again, it comes down to the lack of a library culture in Nepal. If children see parents reading during leisure time, they would be inspired to do the same. Few parents have reading habits at home and schools rarely teach beyond the prescribed books.