Provision of Internet access among public libraries in Sri Lanka: Special reference with Tsunami reconstructed Public Libraries in South Coastal area

Abstract

December 26th, 2004 tsunami killed thousands of people and caused a massive damage to properties. It was recorded as the worst tragedy of the century. It devastated 65 public libraries in coastal areas and out of these 65 public libraries 28 Libraries were completely destroyed. Though several reconstruction projects were operated to facilitate the tsunami affected public libraries in south coastal areas, there are no adequate internet facilities provided for them. The present research attempts to address this problem. The principle objective of this paper was to identify the availability of internet facilities among tsunami reconstructed public libraries in Sri Lanka. The other objectives were to identify reasons for not having sufficient facilities for libraries and to examine to what extent these libraries were providing Internet facilities. The population of the study consists of all tsunami affected public libraries in south coastal area. The researcher visited all of the above libraries and investigated the situation and gathered data using research techniques such as, structured questionnaires, direct observations and 16 librarians and library assistants were interviewed during the survey to gather data. Out of the reconstructed libraries in the sample only 12.5% had Internet facilities and the rest, namely 87.5% did not have this facility in the library. From all the reconstructed libraries in the sample 50% libraries didn‘t have computers and the provision of computer facilities too in them was limited. According to results, the following measures are recommended: Provision of sufficient computer facilities, improvement of infrastructures and making internet facilities available at the library.