The Information and Information Seeking Behavior of Sri Lanka Administrative Service Cadet Officers: A Study Based on Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration.

Abstract

The Library of the Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration (SLIDA) plays a leading role in catering to diversified information needs of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Cadet Officers (SLASCOs) who are undergoing their induction training in SLIDA. The principal purpose of this study is to ascertain the service quality in the progress of the information needs of Sri Lanka Administrative Service Cadet Officers undergoing their induction training in SLIDA. The other objectives are to identify what sources they use, and how, when, where they locate information and finally the user satisfaction of the library services provided by the SLIDA Library. Survey by administering a pre-prepared questionnaire was the principal research methods and the population was the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Cadet Officers of 2017 batch. Sample was 60 SLASCOs to whom the questionnaire was given and interviews were held for collecting primary data. The principal information needs of SLASCOs were related to their occupation, study and research. They were adequately satisfied with the Library and the availability of its information services. Data revealed that the SLASCOs used a variety of resources and employed several information seeking patterns to fulfil their information require to write their assignments. Of the huge repository of information source in the library the SLASCOs,they used only a limited information sources related to their information needs, related to the training at SLIDA. Only a very small group of people uses books to obtain additional knowledge for leisure. The library can provide sufficient facilities, as well as provide e-library services, they can locate information through automate library services, as well as if it is better to use in the library books for distribution in the library books. The results show that development of a user-friendly Library Service is a prime requirement for SLASCOs and more information sources needed for them have to be acquired. This will facilitate to maintain of a more productive and useful library service in the future and would lay the foundations for the creation of an international library.