5th ICLIM - 2023

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/27200

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A case study on eliminating poverty through Public Library Services in Sri Lanka: A Special Reference to the Colombo Public Library
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Sewwandi, R.H.S.D.
The absence of a typical or socially acceptable level of wealth or material possessions is referred to as poverty. According to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), number one calls for eradicating all poverty by 2030. Thus, as in other sectors, Information and knowledge are essential for development, as mentioned by Singh in 2012. Therefore, libraries and information centers are crucial in this greater context. This study aimed to conduct an in-depth, detailed examination of an analysis of the contribution of public libraries to poverty alleviation, a sustainable development objective. The main objectives were to find the types of public library services provided by the Colombo Public Library to upgrade their lives, to find out how it effectively affects the users, and to find out the problems they are facing providing the services by the library. For this, the Colombo Public Library was purposively selected. The case study method was selected as a research method, and data was collected through face-to-face interviews with library staff and users. Qualitative data was analyzed accordingly. According to the findings, several services were provided by the Colombo Public Library to improve their physical and mental sustainability. These services' final aim was to support eliminating their poverty. Accordingly, the Colombo Public Library provides mobile library services, public lectures, book supply services for prisoners, self–employment training programs, gardening encouragement programs, health camps, counselling, and vocational training guides. Further, providing land in public libraries for the market, plumbing training, and informing about job opportunities directly contribute to poverty eradication.Moreover, readers to access the computer labs they need to become part of the information society, encouraging the enrollment of out-of-school children in classes, providing prison guards with career training, and giving the self-employed the option to pay in low-interest instalments through commercial banks and the setting up of loan arrangements and other ideas can be mentioned. Colombo Public Library faced some issues when implementing the services to end poverty and promote personal development. The primary issues were a lack of funding, skilled staff shortage, space, computer resources, etc. Further, library users were greatly satisfied with the Colombo Public Library's services, which helped them upgrade their lives to eliminate poverty. Colombo Public Library is also happy to maintain the existing support services for its users.
Improving Sinhalese Personal Name Authority Control in Sri Lankan Online Public Access Catalogues (OPACs)
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Wanigasooriya, Priyanwada
Personal names play a crucial role in locating books systematically and identifying individuals. Previous studies have emphasized that searching by an author's name is the most common method used by library users in automated systems. The objective of name authority control is to enhance searching and browsing capabilities by ensuring the accurate retrieval of all works associated with an individual, including variations of personal identity such as pseudonyms and family names. Unfortunately, Sinhalese personal names are quite common. These variations negatively impact information retrieval quality, the linking of related resources, and copyright management. Rather than that misspelled names and duplicated same name in data entries can be easily detected by machines. However, other variations, such as an author using their full name or an abbreviated form, one person having different name forms, or multiple people sharing the same name, cannot be easily identified by machines. Therefore, libraries employ authority control files for personal names, using a single, distinct spelling of the personal name (known as the heading) for each library material. The objective of this survey was to develop an automated authority file capable of accurately identifying books based on specific personal names. In pursuit of this goal, a statistical approach was utilized, which entailed compiling an extensive list of author names extracted from the university libraries of Kelaniya and Moratuwa. The dataset of author names (n=76,592 names) was obtained from the Tag 100 and Tag 700 data fields present within these libraries. To ensure data accuracy, a series of initial data cleaning steps were implemented to remove redundant, irrelevant, and incomplete entries from the dataset. It has been observed that libraries follow inconsistent patterns of name forms, without considering proper authority forms. Establishing a comprehensive automated author name authority file is essential to minimize confusion in these cases. Furthermore, adopting a proper transliteration process is important for effective authority control functions. To minimize errors in searching personal names, as identified by the survey, suitable name forms were automatically detected and separately compiled for authors. This compilation can help facilitate easier information searching across libraries.
Library user behavior in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Training and Research Institutes in Sri Lanka
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Liyanaarchchi, R. S.; Balasooriya, B.A.P.
The global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, libraries in Sri Lanka faced unprecedented challenges, compelling them to transcend traditional roles. This study, conducted in Colombo, focuses on special libraries' transformation in the Western Province. Combining quantitative and qualitative methods, it examines patrons' needs, emphasizing the importance of online resources, digital collections, and social media networks. The findings underscore the demand for 24-hour access and remote facilities. Librarians, particularly in research and academic settings, are seen as pivotal in guiding information searches. Recommendations highlight the need for continual verification of online resources to ensure reliability in a rapidly evolving information landscape.
Mythological origins of Traditional Medical systems of Ancient Greek medicine and Ayurveda medicine
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Randiwela, R.M.D.S.
Initially, Medicine has been the Divine art or the gift in many cultures including Greek and Indian. To primitive man, the ability to heal and cure diseases seemed magical, even miraculous. From this, an awareness grew in him that diseases that ultimately cause death and suffering result from Demonic work while health and continuation of life are God related. In the identified traditional medical systems of Greek and Ayurveda, it is also noteworthy that Medicine had always been considered divinely gifted pointing out the fact that both systems have their beginnings in mythology and consequently in religion. For instance, the Greeks believed that medicine was a gift from the Olympian God Apollo while in Ayurveda it was the knowledge received from God Brahma. The objective of this paper was to analyze the mythological origins of the identified traditional medical systems of Greek and Ayurveda and identify the possible diffusions and the originality of each culture in terms of medicine and health. Thereby, the mythological origins connected with the Olympian religion for Greek medicine and Hinduism for Ayurveda medicine were analyzed along with Historical analysis and thematic analysis of primary and secondary sources under content analysis method in the light of the research objectives. The mythological origins of Greek and Ayurveda medicine suggest that both cultures had a sophisticated understanding of the human body and its healing processes, even at an early stage of their development. The divine associations of medicine in both cultures reflect the belief that healing is a sacred act and that the ability to heal is a gift from the gods. The fact that both systems have their roots in mythology and religion highlights the importance of these aspects in the early understanding and practice of medicine witnessing their individual and independent origins in the West and East free from any assimilation from either of the cultures.
A Study on Contribution of public libraries in the teaching and learning process: Kandy District
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Weerasinghe, S.A.A.N.
Learning and teaching are two processes. By combining these two processes, a person armed with knowledge makes valuable contributions to society, fostering progress in various fields. Learning is also a basic human need but due to the human incapability of learning everything alone, Public Libraries can be introduced as a community institution that supports the three areas of formal, informal and non-formal education. That is, public libraries can be further introduced as a type of institution that provides information services to people of all ages, from young to old. The world considers educational development as a priority and supporting formal and informal educational activities can be stated as an objective of public libraries. However, there is limited literature regarding the impact of libraries on the learning process. The problem is to study how public libraries in Sri Lanka can enhance their timely contributions to the teaching learning-process in Sri Lanka. The study aims to determine the benefits that readers get through the public library. As it is very difficult to cover all public libraries in Sri Lanka, 104 persons were selected from four public libraries in the Kandy district under a random systematic sample. Qualitative research methodology was used for this study, and a questionnaire method was used to collect primary data. The objective of the study is to identify the contribution of public librarians to formal, informal and non-formal education, examine their contributions to the teaching and learning process, investigate the social mission to the learning and teaching process taking place in public libraries and to identify barriers and solutions to the teaching- learning process within the public libraries. The findings highlighted that public libraries make a significant contribution to the learning process and that the teaching process progresses at a slower pace. According to the findings, a minimum of 10% is contributed to the teaching process while 55% support the learning process. This study also identified that public librarians to contribute about 65% of formal, informal and non-formal education. Libraries support unemployed people to think differently in diverse ways but lack of technical knowledge and lack of understanding of library specialization among the public library staff were identified as major obstacles in the learning and teaching process. This study suggested that staff in collaboration with public libraries, school libraries and other educational institutions should be equipped with technical knowledge to provide services using new technology in public libraries.
Review of Google Scholar-based studies on the use of social media for public relations in libraries from 2013 to 2022
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Gunarathna, D.G.R.L.; Kumara, H.U.C.S.; Karunarathna, W.N.P.M.N.N.
A library is a collection of informational resources and related materials that are available to a specific community for borrowing or reference. Public relations (PR) is a collection of tactics and methods for managing how information about a person or company is disseminated to the general public, particularly the media. Social media platforms facilitate the dissemination of information, ideas, messages, and other types of content. Using social media platforms offers libraries of all types a promising opportunity to strengthen their public relations efforts. The study's objectives are as follows: To examine the annual growth of scholarly papers on the use of social media for public relations in library settings, to explore the many forms of publications that were used to convey data, to learn about the various types of libraries featured in social media for public relations publications, and to investigate the distribution of publications based on authorship. The study uses bibliometric analysis as its methodology to evaluate a large volume of scientific data. From 2012 until 2022, the study period lasted eleven years. Only scholarly articles written in English were considered for study. A total of 546 research publications were obtained, with 492 articles chosen. The survey found that most of publications 59 (12%) were published in 2021, and that a considerable majority of the publications were written by a single person 241 (49%). This study suggests that future research investigate the methods and behaviors used to develop public relations (PR) utilizing social media.
Impact of Bibliotherapy for Solving the Students' Matters Using the ‘IMIF’ Model: Case Study
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Gunawardhana, D.N.T.
Bibliotherapy is a therapeutic technique for different mental problems. Although it is a popular therapeutic tool in foreign countries, it is a rare experience in Sri Lanka. The researcher has been practicing this tool in the selected university. The IMIF model is a model that the researcher herself introduced based on the experiences she had collected from the bibliotherapy practice. The research objective of this research was to identify the impact of the ‘IMIF’ model to solve the student's matters. The model has four stages: Initial, mirroring, insight, and follow-up. Identifying and analyzing the issue, assessing the problem, deciding the risk level, and giving book prescriptions are included in the initial stage. Task allocation through reading, writing, drawing, role-playing, and post-reading discussion are included in the Mirroring process. The Insight increases awareness, empowers problem-solving skills, and strengthens inner feelings. The final stage is the follow-up, where an assessment is carried out. According to the evaluation process, clients can return to the mirroring or insight stage. The ‘IMIF’ model was used to solve student matters of the selected university. This is qualitative research. Data collection tools were observations and interviews. The population of this research study was the students of the selected university. Thirty students were included in the sample according to the purposive sampling method. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The majority have been cured with bibliotherapy. At the follow-up stage, it was observed that 10% of the participants had not followed the counselor’s recommendations. 60% of the participants requested a list of book prescriptions from the counsellor. 30% of the participants selected books from the Library according to their preference and got the counselor's recommendation. 20% of the participants requested a new list of book prescriptions from time to time without fulfilling the tasks. The counselor used creative bibliotherapy techniques to assign different tasks accordingly. Almost all students have pointed out the benefits they received after attending these sessions. This research was limited to a small sample since it needed in-depth analysis. Further research is needed to create different book prescription lists for each mental disease.
Bibliometric Analysis of ‘Bibliotherapy’ in the Digital Environment: Based on JSTOR Scholarly Publications
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Attanayake, Geethani; Weerasooriya, W.A.
Bibliometric analysis makes a significant contribution to directing researchers to more effective studies even before they start reading. It also allows them to quickly discover research gaps in the field, inspire new ideas for research, reveal research trends and map the research field for conceptual, social, or cognitive purposes. Accordingly, the main objective of this article is to provide an analysis of publications on bibliotherapy in JSTOR from 2010 to 2020. The bibliometric analysis method was used as the research method for this study. Data were collected using a standardized search approach through JSTOR using the keyword "bibliotherapy". A total of 906 books, book chapters and journal articles on bibliotherapy have been published across the world during the relevant period. The retrieved data set was analyzed with the text-mining facility of JSTOR. The findings of the study will be important for researchers to conduct more effective studies of bibliotherapy and library professionals to support their clients.
A Study on E-services Introduced During the COVID-19 Pandemic by Kelaniya University Library
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Somananda Thero, B.
University libraries have a unique place in teaching and research activities. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the fulfillment of educational needs and maximum support to users through university libraries has been hindered, as most activities were paralyzed. As a result, e-services such as Digital Repositories, Past Paper Repository, Subject Liaison, Library Services (SLLS), Chat Services, Audio Book Collection, Braille Collection, Mobile App, Webinar Series have been established as challenges to the COVID-19 epidemic. The case study research method was used for this research, and for data collection, users of the University of Kelaniya were taken as the entire population, and data was collected from all the students. Online questionnaire-interview methods were used for data collection. In focusing on the use of electronic library services by Kelaniya University students, it was possible to identify the lack of awareness of the use of electronic services and those services as a major problem. Also, the inability to use the mobile app for some phones, the non-functionality of some programs, the nonimplementation of reader education programs on new electronic programs started with the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, and the non-availability of books in electronic form as required by each subject, as well as other problems, were possible. The library already has a mobile app. Taking the department as a whole to carry out awareness programs about electronic services in the library through librarians, implementing information delivery services for students who do not have internet facilities, and starting courses for readers that include the English and computer knowledge required to use library electronic services have been suggested. keywords: Library, University Library, Covid-19, Library Services, Electronic Library Services
A comparative study on Television Media Libraries and their collection.
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Ranahansi, L.A.N.V.
In the electronic media of Sri Lankan mass communication, television occupies a special place. “It is necessary to create an existing library for a concerned institution. To achieve these objectives, a library is maintained in a building or a small room owned by the institution.” (Thompson, 1943, P. 80). This is a study on television media libraries and their collections. Libraries are also created in association with electronic mass media institutions with the purpose of depositing and preserving them. The programmes that were aired at the beginning of television will end after the end of their broadcast time. Due to this, the opportunity of re-broadcasting certain programmes was not available. Re-production of the programmes required a lot of money, time, effort, and resources, so the programmes were broadcast and recorded. Rebroadcasting of broadcast programmes also enables the production of other programmes. The libraries built by storing the tapes and discs created by the recording of programmes can be called media institute libraries or electronic media institute affiliated libraries. As the task assigned to these media libraries, it can be pointed out that programmes are deposited for broadcast, programmes are released for broadcast, and programmes are deposited after broadcast, recording, and reproduction of recorded programmes. (Electronic media institutions affiliated libraries in Sri Lanka; collection; services; User study,2000, P.2) This study is aimed at determining the organisation and collection of television media libraries. Two television media libraries were selected as samples from the public and private sectors in the television media library. To collect primary data, a detailed questionnaire was distributed among a random sample selected from the relevant categories of media personnel within the selected two broadcasting organizations. The data analysis shows that the library collections of both media institutes are made up of different types of audio and visual discs. The respondents indicated that they primarily resort to media resources. Establishing proper categorization systems for all media libraries, As a suggestion to construct the collection, a consortium to exchange human and other resources, developing an all-encompassing collection rather than audio or video materials, is offered.
The impacts of the television on G.C.E (O/L) Examination results of the school children in Sri Lanka.
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Kumara, M.R.S.; Thilakarathna, K.A.A.N.; Wijesuriya, M.W.A.D.N.; Weerasinghe, M.K.
Television is a medium that has made such an impact on human society and the world that we are always creating metaphors to describe its role and place as a communicator. Although it is indeed correct to view television as a “Window to the world," a fitting metaphor that relates most closely to the thrust of this book is to also see it as an audiovisual tapestry on which is being woven a complex and ever-changing national and international set of images that are hung on the small screen for all to see. In accordance with the aforesaid fundamental reveals, grass-roots evidence-based studies are important to human beings towards the perspective of the true-to-type impacts of watching television. The present study has made an attempt to investigate the impact of the television on the G.C.E. (O/L) examination results of the school children in Grama Niladari Division 574, Mampe-West, in the Piliyandala Divisional Secretariat of the Colombo District in Sri Lanka. The study mainly used sample surveys. The stratified sampling method has been used for the study. Size of the sample: 50 children. Data was analyzed in the respondent with the help of questionnaires. The collected data was analyzed by the computer using the statistical package for social sciences. This empirical study highlights the evidence-based relationship between the number of hours devoted to watching television and the G.C.E. (O/L) examination results, and it introduces the attitudes of the school children on the impact of watching television on their educational achievement. Further, it presents information about the parent’s attitudes towards their children watching television and their educational achievements. According to the findings of the research, it has been debated that the majority of examination failures have watched television for more than three hours per day. This finding provides clarification that children who watch television more than three hours per day have lower examination results. It has been examined that there is a relationship between the number of hours devoted to watching television and the examination results. The majority of children's attitudes were that watching television has been less helpful to their examination results. On the other hand, the majority of parents' attitudes were that watching television has both positive and negative impacts on their children's educational achievements. There is no doubt that these research findings may be helpful for parents and children to genuinely understand the impacts of watching television programs on educational achievements.
A Study on Parent Organizations’ Contribution to Functioning Special Libraries in Sri Lanka: with special reference to International Water Management Institute Library, National Institute of Education Library and National Science Foundation Information Center Library
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Jayamanne, J.M.O.
The main objective of this study was to study the contribution of the parent organisation to the functioning of special libraries in Sri Lanka. For this, 03 out of 70 special libraries were selected as the sample using convenience and non-random sampling methods. The survey method and interviews were used as the research method of data collection for the study. Accordingly, data were collected through the questionnaire. In this study, data were collected under the following sections on the contribution of parent institutions to library performance. That is, the provision of library resources and services, how to obtain financial resources, human resource management, provision of infrastructure, etc. A qualitative method was used for data analysis. As revealed by the data analysis, in the study of the contribution of the parent Organization to the library function of the special libraries in Sri Lanka, the contribution of the mother organisation to the library function of the three libraries, namely the International Water Management Institute Library, the National Institute of Education Library and the National Science Foundation Information Centre Library is at a reasonable level. It was revealed that the contribution of the parent institution in library resources and service provision, financial resources, human resource management and infrastructure provision is reasonable. In this study, compared to the other two libraries, it was found that the contribution of the mother organisation to the International Water Management Institute library is high. It was revealed that delays in purchasing computers and other equipment from the parent institution, insufficient financial provision, various rules, and regulations existing in the mother organisation, and delay in fixing errors in the equipment have adversely affected the functioning of the special libraries as the problems faced by these libraries. This study also presents solutions to solve these problems.
Social factors of suicides in Sri Lanka
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Subasinghe, Wasantha
Suicide is becoming an immense social problem from end of 19th century. Both quantitative and qualitative researches are important to understand the issue. Research findings help to select suicide preventing programs. Eight hundred thousand suicides were reported in 2019 worldwide. Statistics reported that it is nearly about three thousand suicides per year in Sri Lanka. The unexpected/miserable loss of a family member affects directly or indirectly not only to the family but also to the society. The research problem is ‘how does lack of social morals affect to suicides in Sri Lanka? There are four objectives of this research as to reveal social life of person who attempted to suicide, to examine social interrelationships of them, to realize their personal traits, challenges, and barriers, and to recognize preventing techniques. The ontological approach of this research is subjectivism and epistemological approach is interpretivism. The research type is descriptive, cross sectional and qualitative. Underpinning theory is Collective Consciences and Moral Poverty Index which was introduced by Durkheim. Research method is case study method and data collecting techniques are in-depth interviews. Sample consists of persons who have attempted to commit suicide. Theoretical and conceptual review was done. The study looks at the main socio-demographic factors such as ethnicity, age, gender, civil status, educational level and causes about suicides from 2016-2019 based on police crime statistics as first part of the study. Literature revealed the background identification on sociodemographic information such as; maximum number of suicides was from Sinhalese Buddhists, minimum number of suicides was reported from Muslims and Islamic people; Age between 21-25 and age over 70 can be considered as the age ranges with the highest number of people who committed suicides; Suicide rate of married persons was higher than unmarried; The female students’ suicides were higher than male but in all other occupations male suicides were higher than female; Most of the persons who had committed suicide had educated up to secondary education; Most common reasons for suicides were harassments in family, disappointments and harassment, economic issues, psychological disorders and chronic diseases; Unemployed persons had committed suicide more than the employed people; Second highest category who had committed suicide was the agricultural sector and the category with the lowest number of people who had committed suicide was politicians. The main finding of this demographic data is that 90% of the factors that affect suicide are social factors. The integration between the individual and society has diminished, and society has become indifferent to the needs of the individual.
The Library Trailblazers: A Satisfaction Survey Expedition
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Rathnayaka, R.M.D.P.
Within the ambit of libraries, library user education is a vital service that serves as a conduit for users to gain the fundamental skills and information needed for efficient information access, evaluation, and usage. Notably, guided library tours are an effective way to introduce new patrons to the library's wealth of resources and provide insightful advice on how to utilize them wisely. The primary objective of this survey was to assess the ability of 2965 newcomers to use the library services of the University of Kelaniya after taking part in a tour of the facility. It also aimed to determine how satisfied these beginners were overall with their guided library tour experience. A complex research strategy included qualitative and quantitative approaches in the quest for a complete understanding. The distribution of structured questionnaires using Google Form was used to collect data, and the outcome was the compilation of a sizeable dataset comprising 343 replies. The distribution of responses across faculties was as follows: The Faculty of Humanities attracted 87 responses (25.4%), the Faculty of Science attracted 81 responses (23.6%), the Faculty of Social Sciences attracted 78 responses (22.7%), and, proportionally, the Faculty of Computing and Technology contributed four responses (1.2%) via the Google Form. Both male and female students demonstrated unwavering pleasure with their library tour experiences across various faculties. In conclusion, this study's results unambiguously support the library-guided tour's effectiveness in providing newcomers with the necessary skills and information, as seen by their noticeably higher satisfaction ratings.
Leveraging Social Media Analytics for Enhanced Library Services: A Case Study of User Engagement and Feedback
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Ransara, P.W.A.S.D.; Dayananda, A.P.M.M.D.B.; Siwali Thero, Palukandewe
Libraries are rethinking their roles as information hubs and community spaces in the age of digital transformation, and social media has become a potent tool for communicating with users. Furthermore, in the millennial era, SM (Social Media) plays a crucial role in our day-to-day lives. SM Provides a dialogic approach to the production of content as well as to the exchange of ideas, distribution, interpersonal connections, and social orders. As a result, social media outpace traditional media in developing readership and authorship relationships. Thus, in the current era of computerized innovation, the unique distribution of information and the quick delivery of that information to the readers can easily be done through this SM (Social Media). SM has been gaining importance in recent times due to the 3.5 billion active users' presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, linked, etc. In such an atmosphere, an exploration of leveraging social media analytics to improve library service should be initiated, with special emphasis on improving user engagement and gathering valuable feedback. It explores the nexus between SM data Analytics and information science with the goal of utilizing the abundance of data presenting social media platforms to support libraries in their endeavor to deliver services that are focused on the needs of library users. .The research uses qualitative research methods for qualitative exploration. In this qualitative analysis, the collection and analysis of user engagement such as SM shares, comments, clickthrough rates, and reaching social media platforms was done. Using these obtained data, the information needed for SM data analysis was created and explored through the SMA (Social media Analytics) Dashboard. At the end of the research, best practices and recommendations will be developed for libraries looking to use social media analytics to improve their service. These suggestions will include methods for enhancing user participation, gathering feedback more successfully, and using data to inform decision-making. In a time when digital engagement is essential to community outreach, this study attempts to equip libraries with the tools they need to use social media analytics wisely. Wayamba Library may increase user enrolment, expand service, and obtain priceless input by judiciously employing social media platforms. This will ultimately strengthen its position as a vibrant user-focused organization in the digital age.
Use of Digital Libraries for the Learning Process by Students of Sri Lankan Universities in the post Covid-19 era: Special reference to Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Lakmini, T.M.I.; Somananda Thero, B.
Digital libraries are needed to successfully address the strategic goals of higher education with appropriate technologies. This study was conducted based on the research problem of how Sri Lankan university students use the digital libraries for the learning process in the postCovid era. The aim of this research with this background is to examine the use of digital libraries for searching information needed for the learning process of university students in the post Covid era. The research approach used in this is the quantitative method and research strategy is the survey research method. All the BA Hons undergraduate’s students of the Faculty of Social Sciences in University of Kelaniya were considered as the selected research population. The sample was selected with a confidence level of 90% using the mathematical formula called “Sample Size Calculate” and the stratified random sampling method was applied in selecting the sample. Primary data was collected through an online questionnaire and the Excel software was used to analyze the quantitative data. Secondary data were collected through the printed sources, which were considered relevant to the research. The study revealed that 63.4% of university students used digital libraries had increased in this period and that digital libraries had received more attention during the Covid pandemic and 63.4% of them used both local and foreign digital libraries. Suggestion is made to implement the awareness programs through Seminars, Webinars and interactive sessions for the first year students of the university on the digital literacy for improving the knowledge and application of including the need and utility of such libraries. It reveals that an adequate number of digital libraries and sources are yet to develop relevant to local curriculum based subjects hence initiatives have to be taken by relevant stakeholders to design and develop such digital libraries for the education system of Sri Lanka as done by the other countries of the world.
Design and Development of Digital Repository of Biodiversity for Bharathidasan University
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Jaya Suriya, Dheva R.S.; Gayathri, S.; Srinivasaragavan, S.
Organizing the information resources into different studies in physical form as well as in a digital form in a library is very much necessary to bring posterity of the knowledge which is available in the public domain. It is very relevant to carry out the collection and organization of specific resources which belong to a particular region and also exhibit the same to make aware of the importance of the resources pertinent to the particular region. It may be of social, it may be of cultural, it may be of historical, or it may be of lingual. In that context, heritage documentation is very relevant. The processes used to make sure that digital materials remain accessible are referred to as "digital preservation." All the procedures designed to maintain the availability of digital biodiversity resources for as long as they are required can be grouped under the umbrella term of digital preservation.
Intelligent Synoptic Discovery and Semantic Annotation of Ubiquitous Library Literature
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Sabar, M.I.
Key to all academic ventures and scholastic exploits is bibliographic reference. Traditionally however, the eager student has been burdened by the significant toll involved in researching for referential content. Volumes not available in the local physical libraries, have to be searched for online. Textrelated indexes are abstract and terse, often not fully-reflective of the actual backend content, its depth, breadth, and/or knowledge-rending quality. Critical comparison of multiple texts of the same subject area are nearimpossible. This research presents a novel, intelligent technique for semantic evaluation and synoptic discovery in ubiquitous library texts, both physical and online, affording efficacious volume searching, comparison, and optimal selection. This paper is organised into multiple sections. The first section provides an introduction to this research, the second section enunciates the problem statement, the third section states the objectives of this research, the fourth section provides the methodology used to achieve the findings herein, the fifth section asserts the significance of this research, the sixth section provides the results and the discussion, the seventh section asserts the conclusions and recommendations, and the eighth section lists the key references used.
Impact of ‘Tik Tok’ Social Media Platform as a Tool for Building Personal Brands
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Dewanarayana, D. A. P. T.
The social media platform has transformed from a space for individual and personal entertainment into a bustling hub for business. Many personal businesses now utilise social media as an instant tool to establish their brands among a wider audience. Platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and WhatsApp have already become saturated with business promotions. Consequently, social media platforms such as TikTok have introduced new trends and interests, attracting a diverse audience, both young and old. This presents a significant challenge for businesses and influencers aiming to capture attention for a specific video. The ability to captivate audiences on TikTok has become a powerful tool for building personal brands, allowing brands to instantly stand out among competitors and reach a vast audience. A study was conducted to assess whether the TikTok platform can effectively serve these purposes, through a questionnaire evaluating TikTok videos. The questionnaire was presented to three experts in a related field. Based on the analyzed responses, TikTok emerged as a successful platform for establishing personal brands and creating a distinct presence. Furthermore, this research serves as a foundation for future studies exploring the integration of social media platforms and personal branding.
Empowering Education in Challenging Times: Unveiling the Virtual Reading Room Initiative at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University Library Through Open Access Resources
(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Seneviratne, W.; Rajapaksha, M.P.; Kanchana, U.D.H.; Ranawella, T.C.
This study explores the successful implementation of Virtual Reading Rooms (VRRs) at Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Library as a solution to financial constraints in higher education. It focuses on the adoption of Open Access Resources (OAR) to enhance information access. The paper discusses how digital transformation addresses changing user preferences, especially through open science initiatives. The compilation of virtual reading rooms (VRRs)of the KDU are presented as solutions to financial constraints faced by Sri Lankan higher education due pandemic situation. The objectives of the study are to present designing of the VRR and its implementation. The study employs a case study design to explore into KDU Library's experiences in establishing VRRs. The discussion outlines parameters considered, the implementation process, challenges (content selection, technical expertise, OA content longevity), and recommendations for future VRR expansion. In conclusion, this study underscores VRRs' importance in overcoming financial constraints and accommodating diverse information needs. It highlights Open Access as a means to promote knowledge dissemination. The challenges and recommendations provide insights for future library services and information access.