1. LIBRARYAUTOMATION
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

2. 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.

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. DATACOLLECTION
Semi-Structured Questionnaire
DATAANALYSIS
Microsoft
Excel
version 7
Results

7. RESPONSE

8. FINDINGS
AVAILABILITY OF LIBRARY AUTOMATION SOFTWARE

9. USAGE OF LIBRARYAUTOMATION SOFTWARE BY TYPES

10. *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

11. • 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.

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

13. 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)

14. Thank You!