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Item Library professional ethics and its related problems and challenges faced by Library and Information Science students during their library training(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Rathnayaka, R.M.J.N.; Weerasooriya, W.A.Internships are hands-on experiential training for many careers. Many professional apprentices enter the world of work with the experience gained from these internships. Training and ethics are not concepts unique to the library field. It is an interrelated process if followed it will bring multifaceted effects. In order to successfully run any field in the world, one must maintain its own ethics as well as training. Training ethics are three fold, one is in trainee’s perspective, the other is in trainer’s perspective and the next is those who direct the trainees for trainers. Therefore, library training is essential to efficiently manage the library career of the students leading to the library profession. Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka also hired the students for the internship. Thus, students are employed in various institutions to get library training. Thus, it is essential for all institutions providing training to maintain a code of ethics related to this training. Accordingly, the principal aim of this research is to conduct a detailed investigation of the issues and challenges faced by students who studied library and information science during library professional training and to create a value system in developing a code of ethics associated with library training in anticipation of a solution. Accordingly, a researcher has used mixed methodology for this research. The sample used for this purpose is the 2015/2016, 2016/2017 groups of students who studied in the Department of Library and information Science including those lecturers who were in charge of training and some selected staff of the principal two institutions which offered training, namely the Library of the University of Kelaniya and the National Library and Documentation Board. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect the primary data. Accordingly, it was identified that many of the institutions that provided the training did not have a formal documented code of ethics of trainees. They used this trainee ethics by practice. A simple code ethics for trainees was stated in the Departmental training guide book/record book given to student trainees. Accordingly, a formal ethical system should be introduced for three categories namely the trainee students, those lecturers who are in charge of training and the trainers attached to training institutions.Item A study on the palm leaf manuscripts containing indigenous medical systems (with reference to Anuradhapura District).(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Puspakumara, R.M.K.; Weerasooriya, W.A.The principal aim of this study was to explore the original Knowledge of Indigenous Medicine, which avails in the Palm leaf Manuscripts (PMs) in order to clear out what are indigenous medical systems practiced in Sri Lanka. History indicates that there was a prosperity in the Indigenous Medicine, which spread through popular usage, orally, as well as through PMs. The research problem of this study is the investigation of how and whether there existed an Indigenous Medicine in the PMs. The objectives of this paper are to examine the indigenous medical systems practiced in Sri Lanka conventionally, to identify the diagnosis methods in indigenous medicine and to explore the reasons for dwindling use of this valuable medical method. Method of the study was the historical method. Population was the PMs, which contained Indigenous Medicine in Sri Lanka. Sample of the study is 104 PMs which contained Indigenous Medicine that were available in the Anuradhapura district. Primary sources were the study of PMs, interview technique and field observation. When focusing on the Indigenous Medicine, main indigenous medical systems related to the medical subject like pathology, ophthalmology, pediatrics, gynecology, treatment of cancer, veterinary medicine, mystical medicine, science of healing and organ treatment revealed including the treatment of abscess were found. The methods of diagnosis were messenger method, care and treatment including use of certain medicines, pulsology, and venomology. The factors related to dwindling use of indigenous medicine and medical systems were the ignorance of the validity of this medicine, undue recognition, found including the deviation of the indigenous medical practitioners and their generations owing to socioeconomic and familial factors. The youngsters of indigenous medical practitioners were very reluctant to learn and use this practice instead, they prefer joining other employment. This has affected very seriously the propagation of this noble profession.Item 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.Item Importance of Staff Capabilities to Provide a Quality Service in University Libraries: Users’ Perspective in Sri Lankan Context(Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Arachchige, J. J.G.; Weerasooriya, W.A.The research methodology employed a sample survey, encompassing 2131 participants, consisting of 1638 undergraduates and 493 academic staff members. These individuals were selected at random from seven state universities across different provinces of Sri Lanka. A structured Likert-type scale, ranging from 1 to 9, was utilized to gauge the users' perceptions of service quality based on nine key staff capability attributes. These attributes encompassed qualities such as dedication to instilling confidence in users, personalized user care, the ability to address user queries, user empathy, competency in responding to user queries, dependability, courtesy and politeness, willingness to serve, and the ability to understand user needs. The analysis of the collected data employed descriptive analysis and importanceperformance analysis. These analytical approaches allowed for an examination of the gap between users' expectations and their perceived experiences in the library regarding the nine staff capability attributes. The findings of this research demonstrate that, out of the nine staff capability attributes, seven were perceived by users as highly important and highly performed. This suggests that library staff excel in these areas and meet or exceed user expectations. However, two attributes, namely, employees' caring for users and their proficiency in addressing user queries, were deemed both low in importance and performance. Notably, attributes related to instilling confidence in users and providing crucial component of university libraries, even in the age of crucial component of university libraries, even in the age of digitalization and automation. It highlights the need for libraries to focuse on developing and enhancing various aspects of staff capabilities, particularly in the context of the evolving digital networked environment. By addressing the identified gaps in staff capabilities, libraries can continue to serve as vital hubs of knowledge and support in the academic journey of students and researchers, enriching the overall library experience.Item The Impact of Natural Disasters on Library Resources and Services: with Special Reference to Galle Richard Pathirana, Matara Kumarathunga Munidasa and Tangalle Public Libraries(3rd International Conference on Library and Information Management, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Chandrawansa, M.P.S.; De Silva, A.P.U.; Weerasooriya, W.A.Basically, public libraries that are situated in Sri Lanka mostly have been faced with lots of disasters that occurred in natural ways as well as manmade actions. This research was conducted, based on the research questions on how public libraries face any disasters and how they conserve and preserve their collections and do they have proper disaster management plan for their libraries, Throughout the research findings, it is crystal clear that any library does not have such kind of disaster plan, and lack of knowledge and weakness in management mainly caused the extinguishment of the libraries. This research has presented a proper disaster management plan based on the research resultsItem Study of Information Literacy Skills among Male Prison Inmates in Sri Lanka(3rd International Conference on Library and Information Management, Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Chandani, J.G.; Weerasooriya, W.A.The purpose of this study is to explore and explain the information literacy skills and information resources use by Sri Lankan prisoners. The study employed the survey research design. It recommended that prison administrators should be in collaboration with prison library officers and various organization bodies to introduce library hour, provide information resources and provide conducive environment in the prison to motivate information use by prison inmatesItem Threats and opportunities in library education: new strategies in the Curriculum Development in the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka(Reviewing International Encounters 2015, Research Center for Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2015) Weerasooriya, W.A.The principal aim of this study is to identify the threats and opportunities face by the library education movement in Sri Lanka with special reference to Department of Library and Information Science (DELIS), University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka and to investigate the measures and strategies for answering them. The paper explores how the DELIS could counter these threats with the help of curriculum development strategies. Objectives of the study were to study threats and factors affecting library education with special reference to DELIS, to explore how DELIS overcome these threats and to develop a model of a curriculum design system. Methodology adopted in the study comprised the analysis of vision, mission, stakeholder, content and SWOT. The factors and threats affecting the library education in Sri Lanka can be categorized in to two aspects as macro and micro. Macro aspects are non-recognition and non-identification of the library sector in the government hierarchy particularly the higher education sector, dubious bureaucracy, and lack of cooperation among the principal library education contributors. Micro aspects of threats are the grass root level factors. These threats are rapidly changing subject knowledge content and relevancy, lack of communication and ICT skills among the Library and Information Science (LIS) students, perennial decrease of library science students‟ intake, negative thinking and attitudes among LIS professionals. Identifying this critical situation, the DELIS is in the process of revising its LIS curriculum drastically suiting to the current demands and requirement in the Student Centered Learning (SCL) context. The others measures for answering these threats are the inclusion of extraordinary course units, revising curriculum at every four year period, empowerment of industrial training component, identification of series of competencies, allocation of more ICT course units, inclusion of project based English course unit at every semester, introduction of more practical project based course unites particularly in Classification, Cataloguing, compilation of bibliographic tools and Literature survey project reports in Science and Technology, Social Sciences and Humanities. ICT, communication, management and language skills are some of the essential soft skills which should inculcate among the undergraduates. It is proposed to empower the curriculum evaluation process and further propose to set up a Curriculum Revision Committee with the representation from the principal library education contributors in Sri Lanka, library professionals and the government and private sector. It is observed that a benchmark system introduced so far has to be revised accordingly. These are some of the new strategies in the curriculum development in the Department and they could be applied in the other curriculum development processes. Academic feedbacks well received and responded by the audience in International conference on Social Sciences and Humanities, on 8th, 9th and 10th September, 2014, Istanbul, Turkey. They suggested to consider Industrial Training (IT) be mandatory and let it be given the students for a whole semester free of lectures. Their view was to overseer Industrial Training process very carefully. They informed it is better to students be given a trainee allowance. Innovative ideas they pointed are making a fixed time period for syllabi revision, allowing students to develop their soft-skills within and outside the curriculum, conducting SWOT, Need Analysis getting more feedbacks from library education stakeholders such as LIS teachers, library professionals, library schools etc. The suggestion to include a course unit on Knowledge management and Indigenous knowledge system was well responded by the audience. Since the internet and ICT development makes a radical development in the libraries and information sector, they suggested considering giving a higher weightage to that component in curriculum development. They endorsed the fact that Outcome Based Education could be achieved using Student Centered Learning. One value added emphasis was the utilization of Online Learning Management System (OLMS) for undergraduate education.Item Some Salient Points to be Considered in Designing and Developing Undergraduate Honors Curriculums: An Experience from BA Honors Degree in Library and Information Science (LIS) in the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka(Reviewing International Encounters 2018,The Research Center for Social Sciences (RCSS), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Weerasooriya, W.A.Designing and developing curriculum is more rigorous when the subject fields are too philosophical, theory bound and non-job focused. However, this situation is not there when the subject is job or professional oriented. The principal objective of this paper is to investigate the salient points to be considered when designing and developing honors curriculums, to examine the qualities like pragmatic value, appropriateness, suitability and the motivational factors impounded on the curriculum. Survey method adopted and content analysis, interviews, discussion and observation were commenced a few months back with the purpose of collecting primary data. Data and information related to the researcher’s experiences in designing and developing curriculums, and the exposure in pedagogy, advice, consultations, industry experience, interactive communication with the students and the major stakeholders were very useful for this research. There are some hard and soft points to be considered when designing curriculums. Soft points are more significance than the hard points. Some of the soft points are student’s skills, competencies, attitudinal and behavioral conducts, leadership, communication skills, perseverance etc. This factor has been validated by the views, pointed out by the key library employers. Experience of a job is another point and therefore the Industrial Training (IT) has been made as compulsory. Particular point here is that the students go three days to recognized library and information centers for the training while the other two days taking part for the lectures. Additionally, two to four hour period, the Academic Training Advisor of the Department holds Practical Training Discussion (PTD) with the students. For the evaluation purpose, the students are asked to submit an innovative training report, a project proposal for developing a new library, a library newsletter, report containing the duty list for library attendants, Assistants including Assistant Librarians and with curriculum vitae of the students. Both IT and PTD are targeted to develop the soft skills of the students. It was planned to inculcate and develop the five points like 1. Subject knowledge and practical exposure 2. Attitudes and behaviors 3. Skills and competencies 4. Mindset and vision, and 5 World of work and experience through the syllabus, classroom discussions, IT, PTD and so on. More attempts have to be made use the syllabus as well all through other strategies. These five sets are discussed in the Sri Lanka Qualification Framework (SLQF) of UGC Sri Lanka. 7 independent assignments are embedded in the syllabus for group work and individual work for developing soft skills. Through stakeholder analysis, it has been found those points depicted are better to use when design and developing a curriculum.Item Use of Top Down and Bottom Up approaches in Library and Information Management (LIM) research with particular reference to the identification of a research problem: A best method for undergraduate and postgraduate study programs.(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka., 2017) Weerasooriya, W.A.Identification of a research problem has been considered as one of the difficult functions of the whole research process in a given field. Research problem and the research title are considered as two sides of a single coin that give a value for researching. Writing style of a research problem is different from its research title. In the advanced research process, first activity is the identification of a research problem while formulating a research title is secondary to it. Many novices including experienced researchers faced a challenge in this Research Problem Identification Process (RPIP). The principal purpose of this study is to explore how to apply top down and bottom up approaches in identifying a research problem. Other objectives are to examine the strategies applying in top down approach in RPIP, to investigate the strategies applying the bottom up approach in RPIP and to identify the best approach in RPIP in LIM. Method used a mixed method of research and the data collected through literature survey and their content analysis, experience matching, action research and followed by the observation. Strategy like getting hold or clutching of a research clue or research problem from a teacher or from any other person belongs to top down approach. Many students and novices are mindful of this strategy, which is not excessively appropriate. If a novice or student tends to deduce a research problem on his or her inner mind or self-observing or self-though it is considered as bottom up approach strategy, which is much appropriate. A student or a novice should apply techniques like literature survey and literature review for filtering a plausible research hints and research problem in this case. For this purpose, Database Search Approach (DSA) is time important. The best sources for LIM researchers are the scholarly articles and the quality theses and research reports. These strategies are belonged to bottom up approach. Books particularly the textbooks are not a worthy type of source in literature survey. Choice in the area of research problem, place of work and its internal and external environments, lessons belongs to study courses and ideas and hints given by the teachers of study programs, ideas of peer groups, seminar and conference approach which mean invisible college source approach, industry approach which means that research clues, hints or research problems are taking from libraries, information science organizations in a given country are belonging to bottom up approach. When a research clue or a research problem is instituted, discussion with a senior researcher or a teacher, peer groups is appropriate. In this case, Research Problem or Title Defense Strategy (RPRTDS) should be used. RPRTDS means a group discussion with a gathering of experience senior researchers or teachers with all peer students either undergraduate or postgraduate. Students do not prepare PowerPoint presentation at this stage and they do just a face-to-face discussion. After obtaining an approval in this gathering, the secondary method is asking all students to prepare a presentation using PowerPoint or any other method. After its approval, all students should be asked to submit a research proposal duly endorsed and signed by the supervisors appointed for each students. In this proposal construction stage, the role of genuine intervention of the appointed supervisor or guide is compulsorily and ethically needed.Item Design and development of a desired Graduate Profile (GP) for the BA (Honors) Degree program in Library and Information Science (BLISC) conducted by the Department of Library and Information Science (DELIS), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Weerasooriya, W.A.; Weerasinghe, M.K.; Wanigasooriya, Priyanwada; Piyarathana Thero, Lagumdeniye; Suraweera, S.A.D.H.N.; Chamara, K.A.T.The principal objective of this paper is to explore the design and development a Graduate Profile for the BLISC honors degree, at the DELIS, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka and to map it with the K-SAM model (Knowledge is what student can and should know, Skills is what they can and should do, Attitude is how they think and behave and should, Mindset is how they perceive and should perceive the world) developed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) Sri Lanka. Graduate Profiles are the descriptions of attributes like the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behavioral elements (characteristics, qualities, ethics and norms, way of behavior, vision, mission, mindset, world of work are also considered) which a parent university or the educational authority expects from its graduates through the contact and non-contact hours with a view to position these graduates as universal citizens recognized with competent, social, cultural, good mannered, employable and environment friendly groups fitting local, regional, national and international demands and requirements. This is a result of a qualitative study performed on the basis of action research, content, needs and SWOT analysis and observation and experience matching and also of an ongoing study covering the BLISC degree program and its undergraduates. All the local and foreign curriculum standards relevant to study were also used. The 14 attributes expected from the BLISC Graduates are the 1.Subject Knowledge Capable (K), 2.Skilled (S), 3.Behavior Changer (A), 4.Information Literate and Lifelong Learner (SAM), 5.Language and Communication Competent (SAM), 6.Researcher and Scholar (SAM) 7.Analytical and Critical Thinker (SM), 8.Agent of Attitudes (A), 9.Planner and Time Manager (SA) 10.Problem Solver (SAM), 11.Environment and Social Friendly Group (AM) 12.Courageous Leader (SA) 13.Honest and Cultural Obedient Person (AM) 14.Dedicated Serviceman (K-SAM) and the final goal expected from GP is to develop a Visionary Global Citizen. How the BLISC undergraduates realize the major domains of K-SAM developed by the UGC are marked and mapped with the 14 attributes of the proposed GPabove. The attributes are mapped and embedded in the BLISC Degree program. There are altogether 42 study units in the curriculum and out of that, 26 are theory papers, 11 independent assignment based units, three practical or laboratory based units, 01 industrial training unit and the independent dissertation, altogether 42 units positioning in total 123 credits. While total study units attempt to inculcate the Knowledge domain of the undergraduates, 22 units develop Skills and 08 address the Attitudes and 6 units focus the Mindset domain. The dissertation and the industrial training units both play a major role in K-SAM. In addition to the BLISC curriculum, the field trip, library workshop method, Library and Information Science Student Association, three students’ societies namely English, IT and Library and all other creative and social functions like Teachers Day have been planned to improve these four domain K-SAM introduced by the UGC. Everything is directed to achieve the objectives of the GP.