Public Libraries Today: A Case Study in Anuradhapura District Public Libraries in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Public libraries play a major role in gathering, indexing, circulation, storing and finally dissemination of knowledge to satisfy the information needs to the knowledge based society. Entire public libraries under the provincial councils, urban councils and local government authorities perform their maximum duties and cater to the needs of general public in the respective areas. There are thirty four (34) public libraries in the Anuradhapura District of the North Central Province (NCP). Two libraries remained closed during the data collection period. The researcher personally visited each library and a structured questionnaire was distributed among thirty two (32) library staff members to collect data by conducting in-depth interviews. Collected data were analyzed using Microsoft excel calculations and findings were presented accordingly. Fifty percent (50%) of public libraries in Anurdhapura district are managed by Library Assistants. Nineteen percent (19%) libraries are managed by Labourers (Marga Kamkaru) indicating that they do not have a subject knowledge and administration powers especially under local government authorities. The research also found that there is no any public library staff recruited or promoted within the last fifteen years in NCP. Authorities should identify these lacks and follow immediate actions to recruit qualified staff to the public libraries and encourage them by giving promotions with proper trainings in order to uplift a knowledge-based society.