National Library and Archives of Bhutan

The National Library and Archives of Bhutan (Dzongkha: རྒྱལ་ཁབ་གཞུང་གི་དཔེ་མཛོད་) was established in 1967 in Thimphu on the orders of the Third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, as part of the modernisation programme that also created the National Museum of Bhutan. It functions as the principal institutional repository for Bhutan's published literature, archival records, traditional manuscripts, and government documents, and as the national agency responsible for promoting reading culture and bibliographic standards across the country. The library holds one of the most extensive collections of Dzongkha-language materials in the world, including thousands of rare religious texts preserved on traditional Bhutanese lokta paper.

Collections

The library's holdings are divided across several distinct categories. The modern collection encompasses contemporary Bhutanese publications in Dzongkha, English, and Nepali, including government reports, academic research, textbooks, newspapers, and journals. The archival collection holds official government records documenting the administrative history of the kingdom from the early monarchical period to the present, including royal decrees, ministerial correspondence, and parliamentary documentation.

The manuscript collection is the most historically significant component of the holdings. It includes thousands of hand-copied Buddhist texts — commentaries, ritual manuals, biographies of saints, and philosophical treatises — produced over several centuries by Bhutanese monks and scribes. Many are written on traditional dezo paper made from the Daphne plant (lokta), a durable material well suited to the Himalayan climate. Some manuscripts date to the seventeenth or eighteenth century and represent the only surviving copies of their texts. The library has undertaken systematic cataloguing and digitisation of its manuscript holdings to guard against the loss of irreplaceable materials through deterioration or accident.

A separate section preserves historical maps, photographs, and cartographic materials documenting Bhutan's territories and landscape. The photographic archive includes images from the early twentieth century that provide visual documentation of Bhutan's built environment, festivals, and social life before the transformations of the development era.

Digitisation and Preservation

Recognising the fragility of paper-based records — particularly in a climate prone to moisture, insects, and occasional seismic events — the library has pursued digitisation partnerships with international institutions. The Buddhist Digital Resource Centre (BDRC, formerly TBRC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has collaborated with the National Library on scanning Tibetan and Dzongkha manuscripts, making digital surrogates available to researchers worldwide while the originals remain in Bhutan. Norwegian development assistance and other bilateral funding have supported archive digitalisation projects.

The library also participates in the National Digital Library programme, which aims to provide online access to government publications, educational materials, and digitised manuscripts through a portal accessible to schools, government offices, and the public. These initiatives align with the Digital Drukyul Strategy, which envisions digital access to cultural and educational resources as a component of national development.

Legal Deposit and Publications

As the national library, the institution administers Bhutan's legal deposit system, under which publishers are required to deposit copies of new publications with the library for permanent preservation. The library assigns International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) and International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSNs) to Bhutanese publications, integrating Bhutan into the international bibliographic network. It also publishes the Bhutan National Bibliography, a periodic record of new publications that provides a foundation for research into Bhutan's literary and intellectual output.

The library cooperates with the Dzongkha Development Commission on the promotion of Dzongkha literacy and the standardisation of Dzongkha orthography, contributing linguistic resources and publication support to that body's work.

Public Services and Outreach

The National Library operates as a public reading room open to researchers, students, and the general public. Reference services assist users in locating materials within the collection and in accessing resources held at other institutions. Interlibrary loan arrangements provide access to materials from abroad for registered users. The children's library section promotes reading among younger Bhutanese, contributing to broader government goals of improving literacy rates and fostering a culture of learning.

The library has organised workshops, exhibitions, and public lectures around the country's literary heritage, including events timed to the annual celebrations of the Dzongkha language on Dzongkha Day. These outreach activities are part of a broader effort to make the national collections relevant and accessible to a public that may not regularly visit the physical institution.

References

1. "National Library and Archives of Bhutan." Official website.
2. "National Library of Bhutan." Wikipedia.
3. "Digitisation Partnership." Buddhist Digital Resource Centre.
4. "National Library digitising rare manuscripts." Kuensel Online.
5. "Bhutan: National Library." International Federation of Library Associations.