Two Class XII students of Motithang Higher Secondary School have transformed a common library challenge into a practical digital solution by developing an e-library system that allows students to search for and reserve books online. Commerce student Tshering Tobgay and science student Pravakar Chhetri, friends since Class VI, spent around seven months developing the platform, which is accessible through the school’s website. Students can search for books using their library ID and reserve available titles online, after which the system generates a reservation ID to be presented when collecting the book. The idea emerged when the two students struggled to find out whether specific books were available in their school library and realised there was no digital platform for checking the collection. Working independently, they used JavaScript skills learned at school to develop the system. Chhetri said his interest in coding began at a young age and grew during the 2020 lockdown, when he used online resources and courses to learn programming. The students also faced challenges, particularly limited internet access, forcing them to work at friends’ homes or stay late at school. School librarian Sherab Wangchuk said the new platform has improved efficiency compared with the earlier form-based and Excel systems, which became slow when used by many students. The new system is linked directly to Google Sheets and works more efficiently with an internet connection. The project demonstrates how classroom learning can be applied to solve everyday problems while highlighting the potential of young Bhutanese students to contribute to the country’s growing digital ambitions.
