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Central Library

Introduction

Library plays crucial role in academic institution. It is the heart of the institution and indicator of its quality and standard. Keeping this in mind, KU, since its inception in 1991, set a priority for the development of good library systems in the university.

The Kathmandu University Central Library (KUCL) is centrally located in the university central premises and can be reached within three to five minutes from all departments and hostels. The library is housed in a three-story building with a space of about 2290 square meter. The KUCL has majority of books and journals specially related with School of Science and School of Engineering. It monitors services of all libraries of the university. Schools located in Kathmandu valley and Dhulikhel, have their own libraries to cater the information needs of the students and faculties.

Other KU Libraries
  • Management Library, Balkumari (Lalitpur)
  • Arts and Education Library, Hattiban (Lalitpur)
  • Medical Sciences (KUMS) Library (Basic Sciences: Chaukot (Panauti) and Clinical Sciences: Dhulikhel Hospital)
  • KU Panchkhal Library (for Agriculture and AI), Panchkhal (Kavrepalanchowk).
  • Yogic Science Library, Chaukot (Panauti)
  • KUHS Library, Chaukot (Panauti)
Objectives
  • To provide information for the fulfillment of the objectives of the university.
  • To provide information for teaching, research and management of the university.
  • To provide learning materials both in conventional and e-resources for study and research.
  • To adopt ICTs in housekeeping operations of the library.
  • To manage important documents in Archive mode
  • To be a full-fledged modern library (e-Library, Digital Library) and connect to all schools, extended & affiliated colleges.
    Resource sharing between KU Central library systems to all schools, extended & affiliated colleges
Collection of Information

The main focus is on professional areas like:

  • Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Management
  • Teacher-Education
  • Medical Sciences
  • Arts
  • Law
KU Central Library has:
  • 60,000 Plus - Volumes of books
  • 2500 - CD-ROMs
  • 200 - Videocassettes
  • 125 - Journal titles and newsletters
  • 20 - Newspapers and Magazines
  • 75 - Audio cassettes
Infrastructure:

Periodical section, technical processing section, Reference section, Stack-cum-reading room, Circulation section, Offices for librarian and assistant librarian, Store are all well designed. They are all equipped with necessary library furniture and equipment’s designed by the experts.

  • Space
    1. Reading space
    2. Book Stack Rooms
    3. Faculty–Student discussion room
    4. Arrangement of adequate space for Reference section
    5. Meeting Hall
    6. Smart computer Lab
    7. Archive space
Library Rules and Regulations:
  1. Library Opening Hours: 7:00AM - 8:00P.M. in weekdays and 12:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. on Saturday. The opening hour is subject to change as per needs and circumstances.
  2. Books Circulation Hours: 9:00A.M. - 4:00 P.M. The circulation hour may be adjusted as per need and circumstances.
  3. All bags, briefcases and personal belongings should be left outside the library.
  4. Books as well as the personal files should be checked out from the checking counter.
  5. Body search can be done for those who are suspected of malpractices in the library.
  6. Books are borrowable for 30 days, and can be renewed once for the same period.
  7. The member is expected to return borrowed books on or before the due date stamped on the date label in the book. An overdue charge will be levied for the late return of the book as follows: No overdue charge for first three days, and for rest of the days Rs. 3/- per vol. per day.
  8. If the due date lies during holidays or vacation period, the book should be returned to the library on the opening day. Failure to return on the opening day is subject to overdue fines of the holidays/vacation period too. Books may be renewed if not required by other readers.
  9. Journals, newspapers and reference materials are to be used only within the library.
  10. The library books are for the benefit of not only the present but also the future members of the library. They should, therefore, be handled with every care and consideration.
  11. Food, drink and smoking are not allowed in the library.
  12. Identity Card is not transferable.
  13. In case of loss or damage of the Identity Card, a duplicate card can be made with a fee of Rs. 150.00.
  14. Identity Card should be returned to the library while obtaining library clearance.
  15. Those who tear out the pages from any magazine or book will have to pay a fine and the fine will be decided by the Librarian.
  16. The following are the penalties for doing malpractice in the library:
    1. First Chance:
      • A fine of Rs. 1000.00 or the triple amount of the book which is going to be stolen; the higher is charged.
      • Notify the Director, Student’s Affairs, as well as in the Notice Board.
      • Inform the guardian.
    2. Second Chance:
      • All of the penalties mentioned in (a).
      • Suspension of the membership period for the remaining semester or year.
    3. Third Chance:
      • All of the penalties mentioned in (b).
      • Action to be taken for expulsion.
  17. As the university library is a place of individual study and research, it is necessary to maintain an atmosphere of SILENCE and DIGNITY inside the library. Members are, therefore, reminded that conversation (direct or on mobile) or noisy consultation among themselves or demonstrative greetings inside the library is not permissible.

Services:

Library provides various services like:

  • Circulation
  • Inter-library loan
  • Reference and referral services
  • Reprographic services
  • User education
  • Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI)
  • Current Awareness Services (CAS)
  • Paper clippings
  • OPAC services
  • Internet and e-mail services

 Online e-Resources

Being research-cum-teaching university, focus has been given to enrich the reference collection with less priority for text books which on the other hand the students themselves would be able to purchase. With this view, the library spent most of the budget in purchasing reference materials. Thus, the collection has proved to be a best collection in the respective field and is admired by faculty members and researchers within the campus, as well as the outsiders and visitors. The access to online e-resources received through Research4life further enriched the resources as well as the research activities in KU.

Internet:

Wi-Fi hotspot available at Library Building inside for all to help them in their study, research and project work.

Library Automation:

Library automation means automating all the housekeeping operations of the library such as, acquisition, cataloguing, serials control, circulation, OPAC, etc. KU library previously used CDS/ISIS for information storage & retrieval. It was just a computerized catalogue. The technological development and the increasing demand of the users compelled us to think of the library automation, which resulted to install the Software for University Libraries (SOUL) developed by INFLIBNET Centre, an inter-university center of UGC of India, which made KU library the first academic library to have library automation in Nepalese context. Being more up-to-date, we have switched into the popular online library software KOHA (Open Source) which provides online access (search as well as status check) to our users from anywhere anytime. It also integrates KUCL with other KU libraries situated at different locations.

Online resources

Research4Life content is grouped into the following collections: (Please visit the Central Library for User and Password)