Abstract:
This study was conducted among the undergraduates of Bachelors of Arts new
entrants 2015 of the University of Peradeniya. Objectives of this study were to study
the prior experiences of using the school library, to find the reasons for not using the
school library, to inquire into the sources of information they used, to find out the
experience of information seeking skills on new entrants andto identify the barriers
to use the Main Library, University of Peradeniya. Methodology used in this study
was a survey research design and the survey strategy was carried out in January
2015. Total number of 706 new entrants of the Bachelor of Arts who were
registered at the Main Library voluntarily participated in this survey. A
questionnaire was administered to a targeted group to gather information on
library usage. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistical method and SPSS.
The study findings indicated that the majority of the new entrants have used and
obtained the experiences of using the library and 89% students have borrowed
books, 78% students have used the library for studying purposes. The findings
highlight that the teachers have instructed the students how to use the library. The
study revealed that the new entrants of the Bachelors of Arts of University of
Peradeniya have basic skills of library use. There is a need to create an awareness of
the new library technologies and services to new entrants. User education is the
important role for these new entrants and it must be incorporated into the
curriculum of the first year to final year syllabuses
