A Comparative Study on Leadership and Collaborative Role of National Libraries, with Special reference to the National Library of Sri Lanka and the National Libraries of Europe

Abstract

The library is a social institution as it is essentially responding to the total communication pattern of modern society. The renaissance and reformation in Europe witnessed the growth of various types of libraries such as public, special, academic and national. Among these types of libraries the national library is a unique institution not only in Europe but also in the countries all over the world. As knowledge has become most significant intangible assets to the present day world, dissemination of information to the society is the major responsibility of any type of libraries. Free access to information is a human right. According to United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and especially Article 19 :”Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”(UNO,1948). A clear indication about the duties and responsibilities of a library is providing right information to the right reader at the right time. Therefore, it is a major responsibility of a library to provide its service to all the members of their communities, regardless of age, race, nationality, religion, culture, political affiliation, physical or other disabilities, gender or sexual orientation, and any other status. Among the various types of libraries the national library has a major role to play to fulfil this requirement. To fulfil this role the national libraries/library of a particular country has to play two roles that of collaborative and leadership. In analysing these roles national libraries all over the world could be categorized into two that of libraries in developed and developing countries, while some national libraries in developed countries playing collaborative role, some national libraries in developing countries are playing the leadership role. However in some extend the most of national libraries are playing a mix role of leadership and collaboration. The purpose of the study was to examine the existing leadership and collaborative roles of the national libraries with special reference to the national libraries in Europe and Sri Lanka. The research is based on a mixed method of qualitative and quantitative method in nature. Data collection procedures are based on interviews, questionnaires and content analysis. Findings of the research is given below National Libraries of Europe are playing a significant role in the context of Library and Information Science based on collaborative model. National Library of Sri Lanka is playing a structured (conventional) role in the context of Library and Information Science based on leadership model.