Archive · 16 Dec 2025
Naga Village Library Thrives on Trust
In a village called Kigwema in Nagaland, there's a special library where people can take, share, and return books without any rules or locks.
Two brothers started this library in 2021 to encourage reading and trust among the villagers.
Now, it has over 600 books, and everyone in the village, from kids to elders, can enjoy them.
The library shows that learning can happen outside of schools and that trust is important for sharing knowledge.
Other nearby villages are also starting similar libraries, making the region more focused on reading and learning.
The Community Library of Kigwema was established in July 2021 by two brothers, Akho and Thepfukelie Phira.
The library operates on a trust-based system with no locks, registers, or prescriptive rules.
It has grown to include over 600 books, contributed by residents and well-wishers.
The library promotes intergenerational dialogue and intellectual curiosity within the village.
Inspired by Kigwema's library, neighboring communities have started similar initiatives.
- Who
- Villagers of Kigwema, Nagaland
- What
- A community library based on trust and openness
- When
- Established in July 2021
- Where
- Kigwema, Nagaland
- Why
- To cultivate a culture of reading and promote communal trust
- Location
- Kigwema, Nagaland
- Founders
- Akho and Thepfukelie Phira
- Establishment Date
- July 2021
- Number of Books
- Over 600
- Unique Feature
- No locks, registers, or prescriptive rules