Browsing by Author "Rajapaksha, M.P."

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    The contribution of the school librarian towards information literacy among school students- with special reference to selected national schools in the Gampaha district
    (University of Kelaniya, 2008) Rajapaksha, M.P.
    The people are engaged in lifelong education throughout their life time. In this process, the school education system has a major role to perform in formal education. The school library is the major centre for producing a high quality citizen to the society; also it enhances their knowledge, attitudes and skills. The major purpose of the school library is to fulfill the education and information needs of students as well as academic and non academic staff in the school. It is anticipated to develop the information skills of students by the school library which is an information and resource centre. For achieving a high quality education in the student centered education system it is essential to develop the information skills among students. In this context, a great contribution from the school librarian is expected. The main role of the school librarian is to contribute for achieving goals of the school. The school librarian has a responsibility to become a person who is skilled in creating a successful school programme for the students and teachers. The major purpose of this study was to identify the contribution of the school librarians with regard to the fulfillment of information literacy and to highlight the problems faced by the school librarians in developing information literacy among students. l;'he survey method was used as the research methodology of this study. Data was gathered using questionnaires and interviews. As the sample 5 national schools in the Gampaha district were taken out of 17 National schools. A total of 100 students were selected from A/L classes in commerce, arts and science from the above mentioned national schools. The analysis of the data revealed that the contribution of school librarians were not in a satisfactory level for developing the information skills of students and also it was revealed that the majority of students do not have the ability to gain information through prescribed sources. However the major problem was the inability of school librarians to help the students to access right sources at the right time. To overcome this situation it is recommended to initiate well organized information literacy programme among students and it is recommended to introduce training programmes for school librarians in information literacy awareness. Relationship between students and teachers should be improved further more.
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    Electronic Information Resources Utilization by Medical Students in General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Library, Faculty of Medicine
    (Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Rajapaksha, M.P.
    This study evaluated the utilization of electronic information resources in General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Library by Medical students by addressing four objectives namely; identifying the awareness of e-resources by Medical students in General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, determining the level of use and the relevance of e-resources in General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Medical library, identifying the problems in accessing e-resources and lastly proposing strategies to promote the usage of e-resources by Medical students. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to elicit data from undergraduate students from Medical faculty of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. One hundred and eighty respondents participated in the study. Data was collected by use of questionnaires personally circulated among the students and various documents analysis. The study found that majority of medical students, i.e. 80 (69.6%) did not aware about the available e-resources at the library. Further it was revealed that majority of the participants (67%) prefer to access both electronic and print version of information but whereas a few of the respondents 10 (8.7%) prefer to access print version of information. The main problem associated with accessing e-resources was poor internet connection. In addition, the utilization of e-resources was affected by lack of computer skills by the respondents. Results shows that more than half of the respondents (76%) had computer skills in intermediate level. Only 3.5% rated their computer skills as experienced. It is quite interesting, that the majority of the respondents (53%) use e-resourcesweekly. The above findings suggest limited use of electronic resources by Medical students, mainly due to unawareness of available e-resources at the library. In order to exploit the full potential of e-resources, the library should undertake a more active role in informing, promoting, and educating the members of the academic community in the university.
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    Empowering Education in Challenging Times: Unveiling the Virtual Reading Room Initiative at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Library Through Open Access Resources
    (Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Seneviratne, W.; Rajapaksha, M.P.; Kanchana, U.D.H.; Ranawella, T.C.
    This study explores the successful implementation of Virtual Reading Rooms (VRRs) at Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Library as a solution to financial constraints in higher education. It focuses on the adoption of Open Access Resources (OAR) to enhance information access. The paper discusses how digital transformation addresses changing user preferences, especially through open science initiatives. The compilation of virtual reading rooms (VRRs)of the KDU are presented as solutions to financial constraints faced by Sri Lankan higher education due pandemic situation. The objectives of the study are to present designing of the VRR and its implementation. The study employs a case study design to explore into KDU Library's experiences in establishing VRRs. The discussion outlines parameters considered, the implementation process, challenges (content selection, technical expertise, OA content longevity), and recommendations for future VRR expansion. In conclusion, this study underscores VRRs' importance in overcoming financial constraints and accommodating diverse information needs. It highlights Open Access as a means to promote knowledge dissemination. The challenges and recommendations provide insights for future library services and information access.
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    A study on the use of internet by academic staff of the Uva Wellassa University
    (University of Kelaniya, 2011) Rajapaksha, M.P.
    The progressive increase in the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education has drastically changed the teaching/learning process. A great deal of research has proven its benefits in educational quality. Among the ICTs, the internet has been a single major force of change in higher education. Since 1991, and especially with the use of the www browser in 1993, the internet has gradually become the main vehicle of scholarly communication. However, the intensity of internet use varies from individual to individual, institution to institution, and from country to country. In this context it is true that Internet has become the most prominent source of Information, which is used by most of the academics in the university system. The prime objective of this study is to investigate the patterns of internet use by the university academic staff, including purposes for use, its impact on teaching and research, internet resources that they use, and the problems faced while using the internet. This paper will be based on the academic staff of three faculties of Uva Wellsassa University i.e. Entrepreneurship and Management, Science and Technology, Animal Science and Export Agriculture. This study uses both qualitative and quantitative methods, including a questionnaire and discussions with members of the academic staff. Out of 85 academics, 50 participants were randomly selected as the sample. A large majority have been using the computer and internet for more than five years. They use the internet mostly for e-mail, search engines, and WWW resources mainly for communication, teaching and research purposes. It has helped them to save time, find up-to-date information, and cooperate with their colleagues. Slow speed, lack of time, and lack of access from home are the major problems. To overcome these difficulties, improving IT infrastructure including providing distance access and formal training in the use of internet resources are required.
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