University of Colombo e-Repository

UCER (University of Colombo Electronic Repository) is a collection of scientific research publications by researchers at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. This e-Repository serves to manage, preserve and make available the academic works of the faculty, postgraduate students, and research groups. The collection includes faculty publications, master's and doctoral theses abstracts. This repository is updated regularly, and new works are added to collections on a continuous basis

Guidelines

Authors are responsible for obtaining copyright permission from the publisher and submitting the signed declaration to ir@lib.cmb.ac.lk.

Recent Submissions

An Explorative Study on Information Communication Associated with the Fisheries Industry in Sri Lanka
(National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS), 2013) Malkanthi, D.G.A.S.
Fisheries industry is one of the major income sources of Sri Lanka. The success and the sustainability of this industry highly dependent on the amount and the quality of important information they possess. However, whether the necessary information reaches today’s fishing community is a question that warrants investigation. Therefore, a study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of information transfer between the fishing community and the relevant authorities. Data was collected from Negombo area of Gampaha District from 50 fishing families using a questionnaire. Eight respondents were selected an “information producers” and they were interviewed regarding their role and main mass communication methods. The study revealed that the information transfer to the fishing community is poor and inadequate mainly due to the lack of a direct link between them and the authorities. Further it was identified that by developing an effective communication system, necessary knowledge and infrastructure facilities needed for a sustainable development of the industry can be efficiently transmitted.
An Evaluation of the Use of Empowering 8 Information Literacy Model in Resource Based Teaching-Learning Process
(National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS), 2013) Pemadasa, P.G.
The objective of the survey was to evaluate the success of the Empowering-8 Information Literacy model introduced in 2004. The study reveals that E-8 model is successful when the (teacher) librarian actively teach in the classroom rather than resorting to the library management. However, the school community is not knowledgable on the resource based learning concept. Therefore, even when the teacher librarians teach students, the task of him/her has been limited to teaching some information skills only. Therefore, it is necesary to educate school administrators that the role of 'teacher librarians' is broad, and that they must teach at least 10 periods a week as per the government circular issued on this regard. Out of 20 participants (teachers and teacher librarians who followed postgraduate studies at the institution during 2008-2013) responded in the survey, only 5 had used E-8 model in designing lessons. Only 2 had started from the first step, namely 'identifying the problem'. All others had started from the second step, namely 'exploring information'. Only 11 have gone beyond the 5th step (creating). Therefore, it is recommended that E-8 model is implemented in extended learning activities, promoted and advocated by the provincial educational administrators.
The Impact of the Standing Committee on Libraries and Information Sciences (SCOLIS) of UGC For the Development of University Libraries
(National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS), 2013) Jayatissa, L.A.
University libraries in Sri Lanka functioned without any formal coordination during the initial period of 1942 to 1986. However, due to the intervention of His Excellency the President, Mr. J.R. Jayewardene in his capacity as the Minister of Higher Education, a coordination mechanism evolved in the form of a Standing Sub-Committee of the University Grants Commission. This was named the ‘Inter University Committee of Librarians’ (IUCL) and renamed as the ‘Standing Committee of Libraries and Information Sciences’ (SCOLIS) in March, 2003. The IUCL / SCOLIS was instrumental in airing the need to improve library infrastructure, manpower resources, funding, dialogue with the teaching staff, ICT facilities and a host of other issues. Above anything else, it acted as the main communication channel between the University Librarians and the UGC. The foregoing discussion provides a brief overview of this aspect.
Beyond the Walls: Outreach Initiatives in Library, University of Moratuwa
(National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS), 2013) Kodikara, R.C.; Seneviratne, T.M.; Punchihewa, C.N.D.
Outreach librarianship – a concept which had a history of more than 40 years - has been diversely used in libraries all over the world as well as in Sri Lanka. Outreach Librarianship is aimed to reach out to traditional and non-traditional library users, extending beyond the walls of a physical library to serve underprivileged communities. Establishment of Outreach Services Division in Library, University of Moratuwa has fulfilled a long-felt need to serve the community living in the vicinity of University of Moratuwa. “Child Development Programme” at Sumudu Preschool located in the University premises and “Reading Camp” at Bodhiraja Vidyalaya, Katubedda, Moratuwa are two outreach initiatives that the staff of Library, University of Moratuwa are currently engaged in. This paper describes the accomplishment of these two outreach initiatives through management of physical and human resources without an outreach budget.
Providing Knowledge Services in a Challenging Environment: Experiences of Practical Answers Sri Lanka
(National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS), 2013) Kularathna, C.
Financial sustainability is a key challenge which any donor funded knowledge sharing service as “Practical Answers Sri Lanka” has to face inevitably. Most institutions running with donor funds tend to discontinue the affiliated knowledge services or reduce the funding allocations considering them as cost entities. Hence it is very important to investigate innovative strategies, ownership models and unique management systems to ensure financial sustainability, while continuing to maximize the expected social impact through sharing knowledge.Financial sustainability is a challenge which Practical Answers Sri Lanka is striving to address in the long term. Practical Answers Sri Lanka adopted a new strategy to expand its vital services while moving the organizations towards self-sufficiency. In this paper the author presents the experiences of Practical Answers Sri Lanka in the process of transformation towards a sustainable knowledge sharing service.