The publication of serials in Nepali began in the late 19th century. At that time, many Nepalis were living in cities across North India, particularly in Varanasi, a city in present-day Uttar Pradesh. Due to this trend, most early Nepali-language publications began in India, not in Nepal. The first continuous Nepal-based Nepali serial was Gorakhāpatra, published in 1901. One of the earliest women's magazines in Nepali was Svāsnīmāñche, which was established in 1959.

The Library has holdings of Asmita, a Nepali magazine published by Asmita Women's Publishing House, Media & Resource Organization. Founded in 1988, this publishing house is one of the only entirely female-run publication operations. Many of the other Nepali serials such as Mahilā bolchin, Nārī vikāsa buleṭina, and Śakti, began publishing in the 1980s and 1990s. Government and non-governmental serials were published both in Nepali and English, covering topics such as the state of women in Nepal (Mahilā Vikāsa Vibhāgako vārshika pragati prativedana), trafficking of women and children (Annual report : combating trafficking of children and women), and women-focused NGO reports (LACC lens = Lyāka lensa).

Serials in South Asian languages are available in the Library’s Asian Reading Room, while serials in English are available in the Library’s Main Reading Room. See the Item Availability section of a bibliographic record to learn what issues are available at the Library of Congress.