Professional Prestige Scale of Sri Lankan Librarians: With Special Reference to Librarians in Public, School & University Libraries.

Abstract

There are several factors involving the progress and development of a profession. Social recognition is one of the leading factors. Professional prestige is one entity, which can evaluate profession and its status and situation. Therefore, scale was used to measure the professional prestige of Sri Lankan Librarians. Due to its enormity, librarians in public, school and university libraries were selected to study their professional prestige scaling. Principal objective of the study is to investigate the professional prestige scale of librarians in public, school and university libraries. The other objectives are to identify the professional prestige scale of librarians towards the other professionals and to identify the professional prestige scale of librarians as according to the library reader’s point of view and how readers view and accept the librarians. Total study is based on two stages 200 librarians repressing public, schools and universities were taken 200 readers also were taken as the sample numbering 400 persons. Both end the school category as well as the top the University librarians were used since it is expected to cover whole librarians with the public librarians. Readers groups are also a category recognized by the society. Sample 400 applied using sampling techniques like cluster and multi stage sampling. Data analysis was done using the SPSS. It was revealed that professional prestige was rather low level. Low attitude and knowledge of the public, towards the library services is also prevailed. Other point that even though the librarians are educated and qualified it could not be visualized from the librarians. Pale attitude and mentality of the librarians themselves was another factor found. Social recognition was low hence, it affected for the librarians professional prestige. Suggestions are to develop attitudes and mentality of the policy makers, planners and administrators, top management towards the librarians and the library profession. Compiling a library service manifesto is a timely requirement. It is proposed to establish a library and information science commission for Sri Lanka. Formulation of a proper recruitment, promotion policy is another step. Role and responsibility of the libraries themselves is another factor to be reckoned with