An investigation into the implementation into the implementation of the Human library concept at the Sabaragamuwa University library

Abstract

The concept of human library can be identified as a concept used in university libraries to supply the unlimited information needs of readers. This research has been done based on the research problem of studying the functioning of the human library concept and reader satisfaction in the Sabaragamuwa University library. The main purpose of this study is to study the importance of applying the human library concept to the Sabaragamuwa university library system. Mixed research methodology was used for this research on human libraries operating in the Sabaragamuwa university library. The Questionnaire method was used in the collection of primary data and also data was collected by giving questionnaires to 106 readers who participated in the human library programs implemented in the Sabaragamuwa university library and to the Assistant librarian engaged in the coordination of the human library programs in the library. The population of this study is the entire university library system operating under the university grants commission of Sri Lanka. From the total population, using the purposive sampling method, the Sabaragamuwa university library, where the human library concept is implemented was selected as the sample here. It was revealed by 100% that the performance of the human library concept in the Sabaragamuwa University Library and the satisfaction of the readers in this regard is at a positive level. It was identified that 92% of the readers were properly educated by the library staff, 64% online, 24% physically and 12% of the readers participated in human library programs and the concept of human library is being implemented properly in the library. Further, efforts to increase reader participation, further awareness of the concept of human libraries, digitization of human books, organizing continuous human library programs etc. have been shown as proposals for successful implementation of the concept of human libraries in Sabaragamuwa University Library.