Opened in cowshed 55 years ago, Kiran Library has modern building now

By Ramesh Bishwokarma,Gulmi, Nov. 30: Kiran Library, which has a history of 55 years in Lumbini Province, is in Tamghas, the district headquarters of Gulmi.

The library was established on November 5, 1968, in a cowshed. 

Shashi Panthi, chairman of Kiran Library, said that they started the library from a cowshed by collecting 50 paisa each from colleagues.  

As people showed interest to the read books, the library was established by collecting 130 books in the beginning. 

Kiran Library has now 11, 724 books in its modern library building which has all the required facilities. The building was constructed at a cost of Rs. 40 million, according to Panthi.  

 Panthi recalled that in the initial years, one could become a member of the library for a year by paying just 50 paisa, but there was a shortage of books at that time.

Now one has to pay Rs. 1,000 to become a member for a year. 

He said books of culture, literature, science, history, political science, religion philosophy and others published in Nepali, English and Hindi are collected in the library.   

The library has also been publishing 'Hamro Purushartha' since 1973 for the development of the Nepali language and literature. 

Initially published annually, 'Hamro Purushartha' became half-yearly in 1979 and quarterly since 2013.   

So far, 99 editions of 'Hamro Purushartha' have been published over the years. Din Panthi, vice chairman of Kiran Library, said that the library is currently preparing to publish the 100th  edition of 'Hamro Purushartha'.

The library has been regularly celebrating birth anniversaries of various poets,  publishing books, and organising meetings, conferences and seminars.

Works related to history, culture, religion, philosophy and literature are also being published. The library regularly distributes the prize entitled 'Janaki Sahitya Puraskar'. 

The library is now providing computer training in the library to build the infrastructure according to the concept of the e-library. Now it has 10 computers. The library has so far eight patron members, 14 special members and 127 life members. 

The new building of the library that came into operation in a cowshed now spreads in an area of 13 annas of land.