Browsing by Author "Senevirathna, R.A.P.S"

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    Sustainable Academic Library Transformation Approach: Hybridizing University Publication Collection of Ruhuna University Library
    (3rd International Conference on Library and Information Management, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Fernando, I.D.K.L.; Senevirathna, R.A.P.S
    Transformation of academic libraries and its services marked a prevailing necessity at the present days, where almost all the aspects of peoples’ lifestyles are digitally disrupted. Library transformation is a time consuming, serious process that should be conduct with a proper plan. However, the sustainable way of library transformation will add more value to the patrons and the suitable future to the library. Hybridization of library collection is such proactive approach that can initiate at most of the academic library levels. Present study selected university owned copyrighted collection maintained since 1985 as the source of hybridizing. These artifacts were digitized though a cascading process until it reached up to 80,000 pages. Digitization were outsourced under the supervision of library staff. The collection was kept physically at the library shelf while the digitized materials were archived in an online institutional repository (IR). The IR was based on DSpace version 6.3 and customized according to the requirements of the university. Materials in the collection were classified and catalogued into the KOHA integrated library management system, while linking to the IR. Ultimately, a library collection that hidden as gray literature were opened to a vast community though hybridizing. As a result, the collection is now available physically and electronically, accessible from any cloud device, and visible through multiple search interfaces. İt can be recommend all the academic libraries should embark on collection transformation through hybridizing as an initiative to sustainable library transformation
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    VAFA Map: well use of academic library resources and services by providing better visibility, availability, flexibility, and accessibility
    (Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2021) Fernando, I.D.K; Senevirathna, R.A.P.S
    Academic libraries are enriched with diversified resources and services. Libraries need to take necessary actions to make the better use of its library materials by every possible mean. The growing information communication landscape has resulted many alternatives for the conventional library services and even more new information services. However, the libraries are still serving the society with equality among different social levels. To withstand and sustained in the competition, librarians need to attract and provide a delightful service to its patrons. showcasing the library products and services to its users is a timely necessity to promote and ensure the better use of library materials. Conventional libraries need to be transformed towards hybrid type of libraries, even a paradigm shift if necessary to secure the competitive advantage over the alternative services in the information services ecosystem. Attracting more users in the community will ensure the sustainability of the library, including funding. Visibility, availability, flexibility, and accessibility (VAFA) are simple but effective strategies for showcasing the intimacy of a library to its society. Libraries can consider about these strategies to visualize it products and services to a larger community and sustain. Thus, this concept paper attempt to map these four strategies to be used by the librarians to lead their libraries towards well used and sustainability. VAFA mapping will contrast the diversity of resources and services available in library, methods that can be adopted to overcome the constraints that prevent their visibility, availability, flexibility, and accessibility from a larger community. Accordingly, libraries can restructure their library processers, and policies to implement new services by overcoming the limiting factors of information dissemination. Making a VAFA map will enable the library to showcase their product and services, attract more community share, lead the library towards the sustainability while becoming a challenging competitor in the information landscape.