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Item Emerging Knowledge Management Competencies of LIS Professionals.(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka., 2017) Chandani, J.G.In the age of the globalization and increased worldwide competition, many organizations and professions are looking for new ways to gain competitive advantage. Knowledge management (KM) is a relatively major topic for this concept and Librarianship is one of the professions not only vying for a position of prominence in KM, but also whose track record in the field is widely acknowledged. According to working definition of International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), KM is “a process of creating (generating, capturing), storing (preserving, organizing, integrating), sharing (communicating), applying (implementing), and reusing (transforming) organizational knowledge to enable an organization to achieve its goals andobjectives”. Further, IFLA clarifies that the term knowledge is not limited to published information; it also covers tacit knowledge (expertise), implicit knowledge, explicit knowledge, and procedural knowledge. This study aims to identify, collect and critically review the research literature on the concepts of knowledge management (KM) competencies among Library & Information Science (LI S) professionals. KM differs significantly from the theory and practice of librarianship, information management, and information resource management. It requires a new set of skills among LIS professionals if they wished to have any effective role in this domain. This will require not only enhanced self-knowledge, but also an understanding of how LIS skills can be applied in a new and often commercial context. Reviewing the literature among the various characteristics identified, five clear categories have emerged. These are: professional skills for a commercial context, communication skills, management skills, team-working skills and IT skills. To leverage these LIS skills to best effect, library and information professionals will need to acquire other skills. The success of libraries as organizations is determined by the actions of the individuals who work in those libraries, the success of those individuals in carrying out the missions of those libraries is in large measure a reflection of the type and quality of leadership. Successful library leaders demonstrate certain skills that are instrumental in the delivery of desired outcomes. Knowledge management is a major one of that and KM offers potential benefits for the development of libraries. However, the success of KM initiatives requires additional skills and competencies among LIS professionals which they are lacking. They must gain organizational political understanding, understanding of business practices and leadership skills for their involvement in KM.Item Design and development of a desired Graduate Profile (GP) for the BA (Honors) Degree program in Library and Information Science (BLISC) conducted by the Department of Library and Information Science (DELIS), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Weerasooriya, W.A.; Weerasinghe, M.K.; Wanigasooriya, Priyanwada; Piyarathana Thero, Lagumdeniye; Suraweera, S.A.D.H.N.; Chamara, K.A.T.The principal objective of this paper is to explore the design and development a Graduate Profile for the BLISC honors degree, at the DELIS, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and to map it with the K-SAM model (Knowledge is what student can and should know, Skills is what they can and should do, Attitude is how they think and behave and should, Mindset is how they perceive and should perceive the world) developed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) Sri Lanka. Graduate Profiles are the descriptions of attributes like the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behavioral elements (characteristics, qualities, ethics and norms, way of behavior, vision, mission, mindset, world of work are also considered) which a parent university or the educational authority expects from its graduates through the contact and non-contact hours with a view to position these graduates as universal citizens recognized with competent, social, cultural, good mannered, employable and environment friendly groups fitting local, regional, national and international demands and requirements. This is a result of a qualitative study performed on the basis of action research, content, needs and SWOT analysis and observation and experience matching and also of an ongoing study covering the BLISC degree program and its undergraduates. All the local and foreign curriculum standards relevant to study were also used. The 14 attributes expected from the BLISC Graduates are the 1.Subject Knowledge Capable (K), 2.Skilled (S), 3.Behavior Changer (A), 4.Information Literate and Lifelong Learner (SAM), 5.Language and Communication Competent (SAM), 6.Researcher and Scholar (SAM) 7.Analytical and Critical Thinker (SM), 8.Agent of Attitudes (A), 9.Planner and Time Manager (SA) 10.Problem Solver (SAM), 11.Environment and Social Friendly Group (AM) 12.Courageous Leader (SA) 13.Honest and Cultural Obedient Person (AM) 14.Dedicated Serviceman (K-SAM) and the final goal expected from GP is to develop a Visionary Global Citizen. How the BLISC undergraduates realize the major domains of K-SAM developed by the UGC are marked and mapped with the 14 attributes of the proposed GPabove. The attributes are mapped and embedded in the BLISC Degree program. There are altogether 42 study units in the curriculum and out of that, 26 are theory papers, 11 independent assignment based units, three practical or laboratory based units, 01 industrial training unit and the independent dissertation, altogether 42 units positioning in total 123 credits. While total study units attempt to inculcate the Knowledge domain of the undergraduates, 22 units develop Skills and 08 address the Attitudes and 6 units focus the Mindset domain. The dissertation and the industrial training units both play a major role in K-SAM. In addition to the BLISC curriculum, the field trip, library workshop method, Library and Information Science Student Association, three students’ societies namely English, IT and Library and all other creative and social functions like Teachers Day have been planned to improve these four domain K-SAM introduced by the UGC. Everything is directed to achieve the objectives of the GP.Item Emerging Trends of Future Library and Information Services Leadership in 21st Century(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Duraipandi, R.Library is a growing organism forever and the leadership the skills are a vital element in positioning executives to make thoughtful decisions about their organization's mission and goals and suitably allot resources to accomplish those directives. Precious leadership skills include the capacity to delegate, inspire and communicate effectively.Library professions arenow forced to decide tactically important decision on chain management. The library leadership development becomes very vital to guaranteed for leaders for their organisation and at present the nature of duties and services are took tremendous changes for librarianship in time to time. Besides the advancement of technologies, ICT applications and internet paved the pivotal role to attract the users became the knowledge society, where adopted the new inventions and innovations very sharply. Librarians must understand the new behaviorand attitudes of the users to handle with care towards to survive this profession. To face these challenges of library services, it is needed and indeed that real leadership skill for libraries to reshape the future to thrive and grow further. This paper describes the emerging leadership skills required for 21st century library leaders based on the changing perspectives of the new knowledge society to address them exactly. It also explainshow to develop the core leadership skills which need to move this profession well into the 21st century as a great library leader.Leadership development programs are required in high demand today and certainly inevitable for future.Item Graduates’ Employability Skills: Final Year Undergraduates’ Perspective(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Weligamage, S.S.Enhancing graduate employability skills is considered as an important task within the Sri Lankan University community. In order to enhance competitive advantage for graduate employment, students need to develop employability skills in addition to the acquisition of subject-specific knowledge. Employability skills include cognitive skills, subjectspecific skills and key skills. The labour market needs and the employers’ requirements for skills from graduates are changing. Undergraduate students should be aware of the labour market needs and future employability skills requirement from the labour market. This study was conducted with the objectives of identifying the final year undergraduates’ perspective on the nature of their employment situation after graduation and identifying undergraduates’ understanding and competencies on employability skills. Data for the study were gathered from the selected sample of final year undergraduates from Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Kelaniya through a survey using a structured questionnaire. Survey questions were designed to obtain information on skill needs of sample respondents based on the employability skills identified from the literature review. Findings reveal that the majority of final year undergraduates were expected to select future employment in a government sector and employment expectations are different from one study programme to another. Perspectives on competencies on employability skills showed differences among study programmes. Undergraduates also show lack of knowledge on skill needs of the labour market. This study concluded that graduates should improve their understanding on requirement of the skill needs of the labour market and enhance their employability skills in order to add competitive advantage for graduate employment.