KATHMANDU, Dec 9: Lalita Mishra, a master´s degree student at Kathmandu Shiksha Campus on Ramshahpath, prefers secondhand books over new ones as they are cheaper; and the money saved by buying second-hand books can be used for purchasing stationery items.
“Some secondhand books are cheaper by as much as 50 per cent,” says Lalita. “I can buy note-books and pens with the money that I save by buying secondhand books.” Also, Lalita can exchange the used books with other books at a secondhand book stalls. [break]
Secondhand books are getting popular among college students. Secondhand book stalls not only offer course books but also various types of magazines and novels. There are many secondhand book stores in Kathmandu valley. Bhrikutimandap, Tebahal and Dillibazar are some of the places where one can find secondhand bookstores.
Nowadays, even the parents of school going children prefer secondhand books because they cost less.
“I always buy secondhand books because it saves money and at the same time it is easier to find correct answers in such books because they are all checked,” shared Sandesh Ghimire, a student at Kathmandu Engineering College (KEC).
Saraswati Khatri, a student at Public Youth College, manages her father´s secondhand book store. “My dad used to run the shop, but now he has left it under my care,” said Khatri. .
At a time when the prices are shooting up, these stores help reduce the burden of expensive books on students. For those who cannot afford new books, the secondhand books stores come as a relief. Student can even also sell books they don´t need and get money in return.
“I started this business in 2051. At the time, books were not easily available. I was doing a good business then. Nowadays, I find it difficult to cope with the changes in syllabus every year,” said Narayan Sapkota, a secondhand book shop owner.