Abstract:
The concept of the library goes back
man began to make and keeP written
to the origin of the lluman civilization' When
records, library came into existence'
.t After the renaissance and reformation in Europe, philosophy of the libraries
underwent a change. The libraries wele considered as store houses of knowledge from
ancient time to middle ages. A{ter the invention of printing and the dissemination of
liberal thoughts, consequently the library became a dissemination centre of human
knowledge. The concept of the National Library(Nl) atso emerged against this
background.
The origin of the NL concept goes back to ancient libraries of the world' According to
some librarians and historians, the library of Alexandria was a NL. It performed some
functions, which the present NLs are carrying out' However there is no agreement
about the origin of the NL concePt'
Sri Lanka is an Island situated in the Indian Ocean and is situated about 645 km north
of the equator and is separated from india by the Gul{ of Mannar as well as the Palk
strait. The total lanc1 area of the country is about 65610 square kilometers'
The population of the country is about 20 miilion. The rnajority of Sri Lankans are the
Si*halese and other cornmunities are Taurils, Muslims and Burghers. Literacy rate of
the countr y is 94%.It is a multilingual and a rnulti cultural country' The main religion
of the country is Buddhism.
