3rd ICLIM - 2019
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/20685
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Item Impact of Public Libraries in Fulfilling Information Needs of User Communities: a Study based on Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Colombo and Batticaloa districts(3rd International Conference on Library and Information Management, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Rangani, B.G. G.; Kumara, A.G.R.P.Due to various activities such as educational, research, economic, political and cultural activities, information flowing to human knowledge has become a major stream. With the fast of beginning this information, readers' information needs are rapidly growing, and information is so closely linked to human life. The responsibility of transmitting the information thus generated to the reader and inheriting it for future needs rests with the Library and Information Centers. Though there is internet, its access for general public particularly the marginalized communities has been a severe problem and made a severe information gap too. In this context public libraries extend information services for all communities. Public libraries can be introduced as an institution for all people with equal access to all members for knowledge, information and imaginative purposes through a wide range of resources and services. The main objective of this research is to study the usefulness of public libraries in the achievement of reader information needs. Identifying the information needs of the readers, identifying the nature of the information required for the readers, identifying the types and sources of information, how important are the public libraries to the information needs, what are the existing problems, and the personal development of the readers, information literacy. How important are public libraries to developing reading skills.The Population of the study comprised of public libraries established in Sri Lanka and the research sample was five public libraries in five districts in the three provinces. The research method was the survey design and used questionnaire and the interview technique. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques, such as tables, charts and percentages.As a result of the research, it was found that public libraries are not in a proper status of satisfying the user’s information needs. It was also revealed that users face several problems when they find information. This is mainly due to lack of up-to-date information sources in the library, lack of good information management, lack of reader advocacy programs, lack of familiarity with the staff and lack of support and guidance from staff in fulfilling information needs and services. This ensures that public libraries need to implement an effective, efficient and informative mechanism for accurately identifying user’s information needs.Item Libraries Behind Bars and Information Society: Drawbacks and Potentials(3rd International Conference on Library and Information Management, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Bandaranayake, P.; De Silva, P.This research into the use of Sri Lankan prison libraries in rehabilitative process is being undertaken as part of PhD study at Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Colombo. Information poverty is one of biggest issues faced by incarcerated people. As they do not have the same level of rights as normal citizens they have limited access to libraries and information sources. Incarceration itself creates need for certain information related to their new life in prison as they are deprived of freedom. As their information needs cannot be met easily and quickly they are always information poor. Illiteracy among prisoners make this issue more critical. Understanding these needs, their perspectives on prison libraries and role of the library in prison correctional programmes offer insight for librarians and libraries and library associations as well as prison authorities seeking to better serve incarcerated populations. The poorly managed libraries are not funded and are not staffed by library-trained personnel. Therefore, their information needs remain unmet as other prison staff focus only on custody, care and correctional programmes. In addition, no formal research has been undertaken to evaluate prison rehabilitation programmes and to understand the role of prison library or on user experience. Following an in-depth qualitative analysis of the transcripts of interviews, several aspects were identified to describe the experience of using a prison library. Not only prisoners, majority of prison staff have no understanding of how they experience their libraries, or of the role of these libraries play in rehabilitative process of the prisons and quality of prisoners’ lives. In this study several implications for practice are identified that may be of interest to prison administrators and library professionals, both in Sri Lanka and overseas