Tribhuvan University Central Library

 

 

1. Background:

 

TUCL was established in 1959 along with Tribhuvan University. This is the largest library in Nepal in terms of space, collection, users, activities, service and number of library members. The library has a rich collections of general and special valuable, rare books, journals and manuscripts. The special collections are of great values and useful to the scholars and researchers of Nepal and others. The library is also depository of United Nations, its agencies and many other international organizations publications. The prime objective of the library is to support university's research, teaching, planning and decision makers of the country by providing them with necessary materials both in conventional and electronic formats.

 

1.1 TUCL is the National Coordination Institute for the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publication (INASP) in Nepal. INASP nominated TUCL as the National Coordinating Institute for Nepal to implement Programme for Enhancement of Resources Information Implement (PERI) programme in Nepal. This progrmme was implemented in February 2003. Since then PERI has made it possible to access world's more than 25,000 high quality scientific electronic online journals to the Nepali scientists, scholars, professors, researchers and others.

 

1.2 TUCL has been compiling the Nepalese National Bibliography (NNB) since 1981. It acquires Nepalese publications by purchase and as gift. Nepal Research Center, Germany has supported TUCL in compiling NNB. So far TUCL has published ninth issues of this publication.

 

1.3 TUCL is the National Agency for Issuing International Standard Book Number (ISBN) to Nepalese Publications. It has provided ISBN to more than 13,779 Nepalese publications since the ISBN system began in January 2000. In addition to the university, the library has also been providing services to the government ministries, foreign diplomatic missions, local and foreign scholars and others. The library has the following special collections:

 

2. Special Collections:

 

2.1 Archive collection

2.2 Audiovisual collection

2.3 General collection

2.4 Microfilm collection

2.5 Nepal collection

2.6 Nepali Journal collection

2.7 Rare Book collection

2.8 Reference collection

2.9 Research Journals collection

2.10 Singh collection

2.11 Textbook collection

2.12 United Nations Depository collection

 

3. Services Rendered:

 

Library provides following services:

 

3.1 Membership

3.2 Circulation Service

3.3 Loan Services

3.4 Book Reservation

3.5 Reference service

3.6 User Education Service

3.7 Press clipping service

3.8 Content service

3.9 Xerox service

3.10 E-mail and Internet service

3.11 Information Technology (IT) services

3.12 E-resources

3.13 Special collection services

3.14 Special collection service

3.15 Document Delivery service

 

4. NepJol (Nepalese Journal Online):

 

4.1 What NepJol is?

 

NepJol is a programme of PERI, which includes Nepalese journals in English accessible world wide through the web www.nepjol.info. The NepJol website uses the open journals system created by the public knowledge project based in Canada. Researchers can read free abstracts and access full text articles from participating journals while authors can submit their articles to NepJol online website. So far 23 Nepalese journals in English are uploaded in the NepJol website.

 

4.2 NepJol offers participating publishers:

 

  • Online hosting of abstracts free of charge
  • Opportunity to load full text online
  • Loading and managing own content
  • Consistent growth in exposure
  • Online instructions for authors
  • Contact information

 

4.3 NepJol offers the researchers:

  • Reputable peer reviewed journals
  • Free access to abstracts
  • Free email alerts
  • Sophisticated searching facilities
  • Link to online full-text
  • Online article submission

 

5. International Relation:

 

TUCL recently signed an MOU with the library of University of Miyazaki Japan for a period of five years. Following five major activities are included in MOU:

 

  1. Utilization of the library
  2. Exchange of publications
  3. Cooperation in library development projects
  4. Exchange of Library staff
  5. Other Exchange Projects to which both libraries agree

 

Upon implementation of these activities, both libraries will provide opportunities for researchers of Japan and Nepal. Specialized programs can be carried. Library staff will have opportunity to share, learn and exchange ideas to improve library services of both libraries. Finally cooperation will turn to the development of libraries. Perhaps, TUCL is the first library of Nepal which has signed an MOU with the library of Japan.

 

6. Microfilm Unit

 

Microfilm unit was established on October 4, 2004. The equipment is being used to microfilm valuable manuscripts and others archival materials including rare books and books published from Nepal. The main objective of the unit is to preserve valuable or even unique historical, cultural, educational books, old documents and journals of Nepal on a priority basis. At present, the library is microfilming rare books and newspapers. So far some of the important titles have been microfilmed.

  1. Ranajiko Vanshavali (Published in 1992 B. S.)
  2. An account of Kingdom of Nepal, being the substance of observation during a mission to that country in the year 1793 (Published in 1811)
  3. Asia the first; on the Kocch, Bodo and Dhimal tribes (Published in 1848) similarly, the library has also microfilmed Regmi Research Collections unpublished, hand written documents.

 

7. Japanese Studies Collection:

 

The Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Tsutomu Hiraoka and the Former Vice Chancellor of Tribhuvan University Prof. Dr. Govind Prasad Sharma jointly inaugurated the Japanese Studies Collection at TUCL on February 23, 2005. The collection includes more than 300 volumes of useful and valuable books including documents on Japanese studies, journals, newspapers, etc. Japan University Students Association of Nepal (JUSAN), SAKAI LIONS club and Imanishi Memorial Fellowship Trust donated the collection, and they will be helping to enrich the collection.

 

8. Constituent Assembly Corner (CAC):

 

 

Tribhuvan University Central Library (TUCL) established Constituent Assembly Corner (CAC) in November, 2006. It is a well-known fact that election of Constituent Assembly is a national agenda. It is an historical event happening in Nepal. TUCL thought how the library could help in the historical agenda of the nation. At the moment the collection includes more than 200 volumes of books in English and Nepali. Encyclopedia of the world constitutions (in 3 volumes) Constitutions of the world ( in 2 volumes) and Constitutions of the several countries like Jordan, Norway, Russia, Turkey, Japan, Germany, France are available in the collection. Articles published in journals and newspaper, magazine both English and Nepali are also preserved. All documents are collected and organized in a separate room providing services.

 

Constituent Assembly Corner includes documents on inclusive democracy, Janajati, Dalit, Madhesi, Constitution making process, Fundamental rights, Debate on constitution, Election process, etc. The library has received books on constituent assembly from American Centre Katmandu. A large number of visitors have used the collection. Many of them have expressed their opinion on CA and its establishment at TUCL. All interested readers on CA are welcome to use CAC.

 

 

 

 

Mr. Krishna Mani Bhandary

Librarian

Tribhuvan University

Central Library Building

Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal

Phone: 00977-1-4330834, 4331317

E-mail: tucl@healthnet.org.np

URL: www.tucl.org.np