A Study on Library Software usage in University and Special Libraries in Sri Lanaka

Abstract

The study was carried out to identify the software usage In university and special libraries in Sri Lanka, to identify the problems pertaining to the usage and to introduce the suggestions and recommendations to overcome the problems.

Twenty nine (29) university libraries (taking branches as seperate bodies) and thirty eight (38) special libraries were selected randomly as the sample, out of the existing 36 of university (and branches) and 76 of special libraries in Sri Lanka. A questionnaire was used as a method of primary data collection.

According to the analysis of the data, 81.82% of the university libraries and 57.14% of the special libraries have used me software for library automation.

KOHA (38.89%) and WINISIS (SO%) were the most popular software In Sri Lankan university and special libraries respectively. KOHA Is not being used In the special libraries. But 5.56% of the university libraries were using WINISIS software. 33.33% of the university libraries and 06.2S% of the special libraries were using Libsys software in the libraries. PURNA, and AOLS were not used In University libraries.

Lack of sufficient budgetary allocation, after-sales services, training workshops, active software user groups, ICT skills, and tow avallablllty of software tools working with Sinhala Language and, high cost of purchasing proprietary software were identified as major constrains and problems.

To use proper software, conducting feasibility study prior to purchase the software, conducting In-house and outdoor workshops, maintaining software user groups, allocated money for the software maintaining, shifting towards the Open Source Software (OSSl are the suggestions to overcome above mentioned problems