School Libraries in Bhutan: Birth of a Reading Culture

Abstract

Modernization of Bhutan began in 7962, with the launching of the country's first five-year development plan. In 1963, the government invited a Canadian Jesuit educationist. Father William Mackey, to come to Bhutan to help establish a secular school system. This article briefly sketches the development of a modern education system and early attempts at library provision, and then studies in detail the ongoing School Library Development Project that is being implemented with funding support from donor agencies and through World Bank-funded (but education sector-inspired) development projects. Significant achievements in library development and reading promotion activities are being brought about through the vision and commitment of career education officers working closely with sympathetic donor agency counterparts toward the realization of longstanding goals.