THE SUBSCRIPTION LIBRARY SYSTEM IN THE BRITISH PERIOD OF SRI LANKA: SPECIAL REFERENCE TO D. S. SENANAYAKA MEMORIAL LIBRARY, COLOMBO PUBLIC LIBRARY AND JAFFNA PUBLIC LIBRARY

Abstract

In Sri Lanka a methodical library system was established during the British period. British government established libraries to meet the reading requirements of army officers and civil servants. We can refer to these libraries as subscription libraries. To access these libraries they had to pay a small amount as a subscription fee. Colombo public library, Jaffna public library and D. S. Senanayaka memorial library are significant libraries which were built in the British colonial period. In the first half century of the British period there were three main libraries in Colombo, named as Colombo library (1812), Ceylon United Service library (1813) and Colombo Pettah library (1829). By merging these libraries Colombo public library was established in 1925. In 1841 Kandy Central Town Library was formed. In 1884 this library was managed by Kandy Municipal and named it as Kandy Municipal free library. At present this library is named as D. S. Senanayaka memorial library. Jaffna public library was formed in 1934 by a social worker named as K. M. Chellappah. Qualitative research approach was applied to study this research. Since this research is a historical study historical primary sources like Ferguson’s Directory, Ceylon Blue book, Ceylon Calendar, 20th century Impression of Sri Lanka, Area Handbook of Ceylon were used to collect data. The study revealed that at first libraries were limited to Colombo. With the improvement of planting sector subscription libraries were distributed around the country. These subscription libraries can be considered as the foundation of present public library system. D. S. Senanayaka Memorial Library, Colombo Public Library, Jaffna Public Library are significant libraries which was established in the British Period.