Libraries and Cultural Heritage Preservation in Nepal Libraries play a crucial role in preserving Nepal’s rich cultural heritage by safeguarding historical manuscripts, rare books, and archival materials. As custodians of knowledge, they ensure that centuries-old traditions, languages, and literary works remain accessible to future generations. In Nepal, libraries such as the Nepal National Library, Keshar Library, and Dilliram Kalyani Regmi Library serve as key institutions for cultural preservation. They house invaluable collections that document the country’s diverse ethnic, linguistic, and historical heritage. With the rise of digital technology, efforts are being made to digitize rare texts and artifacts, ensuring their protection from natural disasters, aging, and loss. This initiative highlights the shared responsibility of librarians, scholars, and policymakers in safeguarding Nepal’s cultural identity. Strengthening library infrastructure, promoting research, and leveraging digital preservation techniques are essential to maintaining Nepal’s historical legacy in the modern era. This presentation explores the evolving role of libraries in Nepal and their impact on cultural heritage preservation in both local and global contexts.

1. Libraries And
Cultural Heritage
Preservation
Global Library Summit 2025
5-7 February 2025
New Delhi, India
Pushparaj Subedi
President
Nepal Library Association (NLA)

2. Introducti
on
Libraries have long been recognized as vital
institutions in the preservation of cultural
heritage, serving as custodians of our
collective memory and as bridges connecting
past, present, and future generations. This
presentation explores the transformative role
libraries play in safeguarding cultural,
historical, and literary artifacts, while also
adapting to the challenges and opportunities of
a rapidly evolving digital era.

3. Defining Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritage includes tangible
elements such as manuscripts,
books, artifacts, architectural
heritage, and paintings. It also
includes intangible aspects like oral
traditions, folklore, languages, and
rituals, along with digital resources
including digitized collections and
born-digital materials. Libraries, as
knowledge repositories, facilitate the
preservation and accessibility of
these cultural assets by:
Archiving rare manuscripts and
historical documents.
Digitizing ancient texts to ensure
longevity.
Supporting language preservation
programs.
Serving as knowledge hubs, fostering
heritage preservation for future
generations.

4. Types of
Cultural
Heritage
Libraries play a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage, categorized as:
Documented Cultural Heritage – Books, manuscripts, archives,
photographs, and audiovisual materials preserved through cataloging,
conservation, and digitization.
Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) – Traditions, languages, folklore, and
oral histories documented via audio/video recordings and research.
Tangible Cultural Heritage – Rare books, inscriptions, and historical
documents safeguarded through climate control and restoration.
Digital Cultural Heritage – E-books, digital archives, and multimedia
collections preserved through digitization and metadata creation.
Intellectual Heritage – Scholarly works, indigenous knowledge, and
academic research maintained in repositories and open-access platforms.
Linguistic Heritage – Endangered languages and dialects preserved through
linguistic studies and audio recordings.
Architectural & Art Heritage – Libraries as heritage sites, preserving historic
buildings, artworks, and cultural artifacts.
Libraries ensure cultural continuity by safeguarding and providing access to
these invaluable resources.

5. Role of Libraries in Cultural Heritage
Preservation
Libraries serve a custodians, educators, and accessibility
facilitators for rare and valuable resources, key contributions
include:
Conservation & Restoration – Protecting and restoring fragile materials.
Digitization & Archiving – Ensuring accessibility and long-term preservation
of cultural documents.
Oral History Projects – Recording and documenting local traditions and
stories.
Exhibitions & Awareness Programs – Promoting cultural heritage through
library events.
Legal & Ethical Protection – Preventing illegal trafficking of cultural artifacts
and documents.

6. Challenges in Cultural Heritage Preservation
FINANCIAL
CONSTRAINTS: LIMITED
BUDGET ALLOCATION.
TECHNOLOGICAL
BARRIERS: RAPID SHIFTS
IN DIGITAL FORMATS,
HIGH COSTS & LACK OF
EXPERTISE.
ACCESS & COPYRIGHT
ISSUES: BALANCING
ACCESSIBILITY &
OWNERSHIP RIGHTS.
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS:
NATURAL DISASTERS,
HUMIDITY, POLLUTION,
CONFLICTS RISKS TO
PHYSICAL HERITAGE
COLLECTIONS.
POLICY GAPS: THE
ABSENCE OF CLEAR
NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL POLICIES
WEAKENS PRESERVATION
EFFORTS

7. Solutions & Recommendations for
Cultural Heritage Preservation
Expansion of digital library
projects to safeguard Nepal’s
heritage.
Historic Preservation:
Identifying, protecting, and
enhancing sites
Strengthening collaborations
between libraries, government
agencies, and cultural
institutions; museums, archives
and academia for knowledge
exchange programs.
Policy development to
establish national guidelines for
cultural heritage preservation.
Community engagement :
encourage grassroots
participation in heritage
documentation.
Adapt Emerging Technologies:
AI driven metadata
generation, Use of Blockchain
technology to verifies the
authenticity, 3D modeling and
virtual reality aid for
reconstructing and preserving

8. Cultural
Preservati
on
Practices
in Nepal
Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, Hindi, Newari and Nepali; some on very
fragile writing supports such as palm-leaf and birch-bark, others
on more solid traditional paper. An estimated 25–30 % of the
known 180,000 manuscripts in Nepal are kept in public
institutions
• National Library of Nepal preserves government documents,
archives rare manuscripts and historical texts, ensures public
access to knowledge, supports research through
collaborations with academic institutions, and advances digital
library initiatives for wider accessibility and efficient
information retrieval.
• National Archives: repository of government records
• Kaiser and Dilliraman Kalyani Regmi Library, house rare
books and historical collections
• Partnerships with universities and institutions for heritage
conservation. TUCL, KUCL, PUCL and other Universities
• Āśā Saphūkuthi (Asha Archives)-Preserving Newari literatures
• Tharu Cultural Museum in Chitwan and Dang
• Developing Nepal National Digital Library.

9. Āśā Saphūkuthi (Asha
Archives)
•Āśā Saphū Kuthi (आशा सफू कुथि) – The Āśā Archives
is a free library dedicated to Nepal Bhasa (Newar)
materials and is the largest repository of its kind,
housing inscriptions, chronicles, and a vast
collection of texts.

10. Nepal National Archive: Preserving
cultural heritage through
microfilming and digital formats.
Source:
http://narchives.gov.np/content.aspx

11. Tharu Cultural Museum
and Research Center,
Chitwan
Source: https://www.tharumuseum.org/

12. Tharu Cultural Protection Center,
Chakhaura Dang Nepal
Source:
https://www.facebook.com/touristdestinatio
ntharuindigenousculturalmuseumdng/

13. Tharu Cultural Protection
Center, Chakhaura Dang
Nepal

14. Multimedia collections
by UNESCO Nepal
Source:
https://www.unesco.org/arch
ives/multimedia/place/nepal

15. International
Practices
UNESCO Memory of the
World Program.
Europeana – A European
digital library, museum &
archive.
Library of Congress- digital
archives & global
preservation initiatives.

16. UNESCO,
Europeana and
Library of
Congress

17. Technology
Adaptation
in Heritage
Preservation
Digitization: Scanning rare
manuscripts & books.
AI & Machine Learning: Automating
metadata creation & restoration.
Blockchain Technology: Ensuring
authenticity & tracking ownership.
Virtual Reality (VR): Creating
immersive experiences of heritage
sites.

18. Role of
Stakeholder
s
Governments
: Policy &
funding for
preservation
projects.
Libraries & Institutions:
Implementing
conservation strategies.
Communities
: Contribution
to oral history
& local
knowledge
preservation.
Technology Providers:
Supporting innovation in
digital archiving.

19. Future
Strategies
for
Libraries
STRENGTHENING
INTERNATIONAL
COLLABORATIONS.
EXPANDING DIGITAL
PRESERVATION
INITIATIVES.
CAPACITY BUILDING FOR
LIBRARY
PROFESSIONALS.
ENGAGING
COMMUNITIES IN
HERITAGE
CONSERVATION.

20. Conclusion
Libraries are key players in
cultural heritage preservation.
Collaboration, technology, and
policy are crucial for
sustainability.
Call to action: Strengthen
preservation efforts for future
generations.