LIBRARY AUTOMATION SOFTWARE USAGE IN

UNIVERSITY & SPECIAL LIBRARIES IN SRI LANKA

R.M.Nadeeka Rathnabahu,M.S.Sc.(Kel’ya) Assistant Librarian,Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University Of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.rathnabahu@kln.ac.lk

Nimal Hettiarachchi, M.S.Sc.(Kel’ya) Senior Assistant Librarian,University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. nimal@lib.ruh.ac.lk

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Paper Presented by

R.M.Nadeeka Rathnabahu

at the

National Conference on Library & Information Sciences (NACLIS):

10th Anniversary Conference,

27th June 2013,

Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Organized by the Sri Lanka Library Association (SLLA).

we owe a debt of gratitude to NACLIS Organizing Committee.

OUTLINE

•Objectives•Population and sample•Data collection•Data analysis•Response•Findings•Problems•Recommendations

OBJECTIVES • to identify the software usage in University Libraries (UL) and Special Libraries (SL) in Sri Lanka • to identify the problems pertaining to the usage • to provide recommendations

POPULATION & SAMPLE

Types of Libraries

Population Sample Percentage

UL* 36 29 81%

SL* 76 38 50%

Purposive Sampling Method

*UL- University Libraries *SL-Special Libraries

DATA COLLECTIONSemi-Structured Questionnaire

DATA ANALYSIS

Microsoft Excel

version 7

Results

RESPONSE

FINDINGSAVAILABILITY OF LIBRARY AUTOMATION SOFTWARE

USAGE OF LIBRARY AUTOMATION SOFTWARE BY TYPES

*Afw-Alice for Windows *AOLS-Automated Online Library Systems

• there was no remarkable difference of quantitative usage of KOHA and Libsys in the University Libraries.• but there was a noticeable difference of quantitative usage of

WinISIS and Purna.

Cont.

Types of Libraries

1st Priority 2nd priority 3rd priority

UL KOHA(39%) Libsys(33%) AfW* (22%)

SL WinISIS (50%) Purna(19%) AfW*(13%) AOLS*(13%)

PRIORITY SOFTWARE

• It was noted during my research that Sabaragamuwa was the only University in Sri Lanka that was using WinISIS. But it is well to note that Sabaragamuwa has now shifted from WinISIS to Libsys.

• Purna and AOLS was being used in Special Libraries, but in non of the University Libraries.

• KOHA was being used in University Libraries, but in non of the Special Libraries

• University libraries were moving towards the Open Source concept. But, the Special Libraries were still experiencing with simple, limited facilities.

• In conclusion, it can be recorded that the Sri Lanka University Libraries are far more advanced than the Special Libraries of Sri Lanka in using the Library Software.

MAJOR CONSTRAINS AND PROBLEMS

• Insufficient:• budgetary allocation,• after-sales services, • train manpower with ICT skills • active software user groups, • DBMS operational in working with Sinhala Language

RECOMMENDATIONS

• allocate adequate finances for the software maintenance• conduct feasibility study prior to purchase the

software, • conduct indoor and outdoor workshops,• organise and maintain software user groups,• Shift to the Open Source Software (OSS)

Thank You!