Abstract:
Public libraries play a major role in gathering, indexing, circulation, storing and finally
dissemination of knowledge to satisfy the information needs to the knowledge based
society. Entire public libraries under the provincial councils, urban councils and local
government authorities perform their maximum duties and cater to the needs of general
public in the respective areas. There are thirty four (34) public libraries in the
Anuradhapura District of the North Central Province (NCP). Two libraries remained
closed during the data collection period. The researcher personally visited each library
and a structured questionnaire was distributed among thirty two (32) library staff
members to collect data by conducting in-depth interviews. Collected data were analyzed
using Microsoft excel calculations and findings were presented accordingly. Fifty percent
(50%) of public libraries in Anurdhapura district are managed by Library Assistants.
Nineteen percent (19%) libraries are managed by Labourers (Marga Kamkaru) indicating
that they do not have a subject knowledge and administration powers especially under
local government authorities. The research also found that there is no any public library
staff recruited or promoted within the last fifteen years in NCP. Authorities should identify
these lacks and follow immediate actions to recruit qualified staff to the public libraries
and encourage them by giving promotions with proper trainings in order to uplift a
knowledge-based society.
