Browsing by Author "Balasooriya, B.A.P."

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The Information and Information Seeking Behavior of Sri Lanka Administrative Service Cadet Officers: A Study Based on Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration.
(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka, 2017) Balasooriya, B.A.P.
The Library of the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) plays a leading role in catering to diversified information needs of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Cadet Officers (SLASCOs) who are undergoing their induction training in SLIDA. The principal purpose of this study is to ascertain the service quality in the progress of the information needs of Sri Lanka Administrative Service Cadet Officers undergoing their induction training in SLIDA. The other objectives are to identify what sources they use, and how, when, where they locate information and finally the user satisfaction of the library services provided by the SLIDA Library. Survey by administering a pre-prepared questionnaire was the principal research methods and the population was the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Cadet Officers of 2017 batch. Sample was 60 SLASCOs to whom the questionnaire was given and interviews were held for collecting primary data. The principal information needs of SLASCOs were related to their occupation, study and research. They were adequately satisfied with the Library and the availability of its information services. Data revealed that the SLASCOs used a variety of resources and employed several information seeking patterns to fulfil their information require to write their assignments. Of the huge repository of information source in the library the SLASCOs,they used only a limited information sources related to their information needs, related to the training at SLIDA. Only a very small group of people uses books to obtain additional knowledge for leisure. The library can provide sufficient facilities, as well as provide e-library services, they can locate information through automate library services, as well as if it is better to use in the library books for distribution in the library books. The results show that development of a user-friendly Library Service is a prime requirement for SLASCOs and more information sources needed for them have to be acquired. This will facilitate to maintain of a more productive and useful library service in the future and would lay the foundations for the creation of an international library.
Library user behavior in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Training and Research Institutes in Sri Lanka
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Liyanaarchchi, R. S.; Balasooriya, B.A.P.
The global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, libraries in Sri Lanka faced unprecedented challenges, compelling them to transcend traditional roles. This study, conducted in Colombo, focuses on special libraries' transformation in the Western Province. Combining quantitative and qualitative methods, it examines patrons' needs, emphasizing the importance of online resources, digital collections, and social media networks. The findings underscore the demand for 24-hour access and remote facilities. Librarians, particularly in research and academic settings, are seen as pivotal in guiding information searches. Recommendations highlight the need for continual verification of online resources to ensure reliability in a rapidly evolving information landscape.
A Study of Library Collection in Sri Lanka Advanced Technological Educational Institutions in Sri Lanka (SLIATE)
(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Balasooriya, B.A.P.
The library is the place where rapidly increasing huge volume of knowledge and information is collected, organized for the dissemination to the users. The knowledge and information gathered in different resources are collected in libraries and these emulative resources belong to library collection. Within this content, library collection plays a significant role. This study is based on the evaluation of library collection. Objectives of the paper is to identify the library collection in Advanced Technological Educational Institute libraries to study the collection pattern and how organized it, to examine the suitability of collection with the study programs in SLIATE, to investigate the uptodateness of the collection. The research method adopted was the survey and the population was total students and academic staff and the sample were 250 Diploma final year students and 10 Lecturers including of library staff selected from all SLIATE in western and southern provinces. It was identified total collections cover with mainly textbook, there was a lack of other library materials. Library service conducted on traditional method, no internet facilities. The collection was not updated and weeding has not been done. Suggestions are made to improve library collection with additional books which are related to course conducted by SLIATE. Library opening hours have to be extended on readers demands, new collection development policy and weeding should be initiated. It is better if libraries take action to utilize new methods in the acquisition of library material.