Investing in libraries is a win-win proposition: no ward chairperson can be in principle against the idea of building a mini library because everyone can gain from such a facility. They can start with some temporary arrangements, and then with additional funding, they can think and plan bigger
Recently the new municipal administration of Kathmandu presented its policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2022/23, a list of important initiatives that the new elected mayor and deputy mayor want to take.
There are many interesting ideas, most of them feasible and doable because they represent effective solutions to pressing problems without waiting for an endless period of time required by the biggest and more ambitious projects.
Yet while this "grounded" and humble approach makes total sense, there was something missing in the list of undertakings to be soon developed. It is related to the right of each citizen of this country to have access to equal reading opportunities, a right that directly contributes to strengthening local democracy.
I am talking about the creation of libraries throughout the entire metropolis, social and civic infrastructures of such vital importance for the progress of the entire population.
We know it is a pressing issue, but, perhaps, because the people never got accustomed to having access to libraries then, the metropolis tends to completely overlook the issue.
In short, the people, as sad as it might sound, are not fully understanding the transformational potential that libraries have in their lives.
I am not just referring to spaces acting as "books storage" but rather as civic centres where people can read the news, meet other fellow citizens and directly enhance the levels of local social capital.
Libraries do not need to have a "grand" infrastructure, though a place like Kathmandu should have one major civic centre acting as a knowledge creator, a place for events, discussions, reading and studying, which are fundamental functions of any respectable library.
We could start with the existing approach, "simple but fast and effective", and each ward administration could allocate one or two rooms in their now well-dignified buildings for cultural purposes, including facilitating people's access to books and newspapers.
This is not a huge undertaking and it won't require massive resources: it is doable and, with political will, each ward chairperson could establish a mini library as a first step, for them to be able to allocate future resources for more appropriate and standing alone buildings.
Then there is no doubt that a metropolis like Kathmandu should host a national library. There were plans of establishing such a library at Jamal, but in 2020 the central government shelved the entire project.
It was a complete misjudgment by the Oli administration then, and we are still paying the consequences for that.
While it is true that such a huge undertaking depends on the central government's availability and good will, the new Mayor Shah and Deputy Mayor Dangol could lay the ground for a constellation of mini civic centres across the town, something that would certainly facilitate discussions for a major new national library, the nation's cultural hub.
Investing in libraries is a win-win proposition: no ward chairperson can be in principle against the idea of building a mini library because everyone can gain from such a facility. Again as suggested, they can start with some temporary arrangements, and then with additional funding, they can think and plan bigger.
I am interchangeably referring to libraries as civic centres because libraries are true "shining" places to strengthen the fabric of the society, bringing people together, also offering the youth a place where they can study and concentrate in peace.
Moreover as civic centres, libraries should not be seen as "boring" places.
They can host conversations, exhibitions, discussions, places of socialisation.
In short, libraries can play a fundamental role in strengthening local democracy because they bring people, from all the walks of life, together. If you ask anyone who grew up with consistent access to a library, you will hear about how important these structures were for their professional and personal lives.
They are "enriching" places where people can rediscover the magic of reading a book for free, and it is exactly this aspect of the library that can enhance trust because you know that someone will depend on you to have access to a book that right now you are reading.
I do not buy the argument that books given to the people will all disappear because the society is not ready yet and because there is no such culture for landing public goods like books. In this way, the nation will never ever move ahead.
We need to try, to find local ways and have people understand the principle of reciprocity that "I borrow today a book and I will return it in the given time because others will adhere to the same principle, and, therefore, I will gain access to more books".
Another idea could involve private schools and colleges: they could step in and open up their libraries to the general public. For example, with students acting as volunteering custodians of their school's library, each Saturday morning, the college could open up its library to the people of its neighbourhood. If restaurants agreed to open up their toilets to the general public, why can't private schools do the same with their libraries? Moreover, the corporate sector could also chip in and support the cause.
I am well aware that taking decisions as elected officials it is not as easy as writing columns like this.
Yet a capital city like Kathmandu, with plenty of opportunities for people to interact and learn, will definitely become a better place to live and invest. Libraries, let's not forget, are one of the greatest assets to cultivate people's civic duties and propensity to do good in life.
Galimberti is the co-founder of ENGAGE, an NGO
A version of this article appears in the print on June 30, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
